After gradually declining through the majority of October 2026, water levels across the Minnehaha Creek Watershed increased during the month’s final week and into November, as the region received significant precipitation during a series of late-fall storms that drenched much of the state.
From October 25 through November 5, the watershed received approximately 3 to 4 inches of precipitation, with higher totals in the upper watershed. More than half of this precipitation fell during the first week of November, which has a normal monthly precipitation total of 1.61 inches, meaning the watershed received over a month’s worth of rain in five days.
The rain caused Lake Minnetonka’s level to rise nearly 4 inches, reaching approximately 928.44 feet on November 5 with rainfall and drainage from the upper tributaries. Minnehaha Creek flow at Hiawatha Avenue surpassed 50 cubic feet per second (cfs) for the first time since August 1, peaking at nearly 66 cfs on November 4 before subsiding. Currently the Creek is flowing at 13 cfs at Hiawatha Avenue, and the Lake is sitting at 928.37 feet.
In accordance with the operating plan, Gray’s Bay Dam was closed on August 24 after the Lake level fell below its natural runout elevation of 928.6 feet. The Dam will remain closed unless the Lake level rises above this elevation prior to stoplog installation, which will winterize the Dam for the season. MCWD will continue to evaluate water levels, along with short- and long-term forecasts, to determine Dam operations and stoplog installation in advance of ice-in.
Also in this update
- 2026 Precipitation Trends and Forecasts
- Late-fall rain fails to surpass 2026 deficit, but eases drought
- Current Water Levels
- Gray’s Bay Dam Operations
- Water Level Resources