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Water Levels: Lake Minnetonka and Gray's Bay Dam

Questions about water levels, canoeing, or the MCWD's operation of the Gray's Bay dam? Learn more about Gray's Bay Dam.

You can view real-time water level readings of Lake Minnetonka here and Minnehaha Creek here, as part of a partnership between MCWD and the U.S. Geological Survey. Please note, the USGS refers to creek flow as "discharge" on their site.

Ideal creek flows for paddling are between 75 and 150 cubic feet per second (cfs). We do not recommend paddling when the creek's flow is higher than 150 cfs. Conditions can change rapidly, especially after rainfall. We recommend using the real-time flow at Hiawatha Ave to gauge how fast the creek is flowing in the lower half of the creek, and the Gray's Bay Dam discharge to gauge how fast the creek is flowing in the upper half of the creek. Learn more about paddling the creek.

Follow Gray's Bay Dam on Twitter for regular updates on water level and dam discharge.

Most recent reading (July 26, 2021)
Lake Minnetonka: 928.53 feet | Gray's Bay Dam: 0 CFS
Date Lake Level (feet above sea level) Dam Discharge (cubic feet per second) Explanation
July 26, 2021 928.53 Dam closed The dam is closed per the operating plan, which dictates closure when Lake Minnetonka falls below 928.6ft. The dam will remain closed unless the watershed receives enough rain to increase the lake level above 928.6ft. Rain totals are 5.3 in. below normal.
July 23, 2021 928.58 Dam closed The dam is closed per the operating plan, which dictates closure when Lake Minnetonka falls below 928.6ft.The dam will remain closed unless the watershed receives enough rain to increase the lake level above 928.6ft. Rain totals are 5 in. below normal.
July 21, 2021 928.59 Dam closed The dam is closed per the operating plan, which dictates closure when Lake Minnetonka falls below 928.60ft.The dam will remain closed unless the watershed receives enough rain to increase the lake level above 928.60ft. Rain totals are 4.8in. below normal.
July 19, 2021 928.64 12 Discharge remains at the min. allowed rate of 12 cfs. The release or 12 cfs is being done to both retain water on the lake and prolong creek flow as rain totals are 4.5 inches below normal. The dam will close when the lake falls below 928.60 ft.
July 16, 2021 928.67 12 On 7/14 approx. 1-2" of rain fell over the upper watershed & Lake Minnetonka's water level rose above 928.60 ft. The Gray's Bay dam was opened and is discharging 12 cfs. When the lake level falls below 928.60 ft. the dam will be closed again.
July 14, 2021 928.58 Dam closed The dam is closed per the operating plan, which dictates closure when Lake Minnetonka’s water level has fallen below 928.60 ft. The dam will remain closed unless the watershed receives enough precipitation to increase the lake level above 928.60 ft.
July 12, 2021 928.61 12 Discharge remains at the min. allowed rate of 12 cfs. The release or 12 cfs is being done to both retain water on the lake and prolong creek flow as rain totals are below normal. Approx. 1.5" rain is forecast Wed 7/14.
July 9, 2021 928.65 12 Discharge remains at the min. allowed rate of 12 cfs. The release or 12 cfs is being done to both retain water on the lake and prolong creek flow as rain totals are 3 inches below normal. The dam will close when the lake falls below 928.60 ft.
July 7, 2021 928.70 12 Discharge remains at the min. allowed rate of 12 cfs. The release or 12 cfs is being done to both retain water on the lake and prolong creek flow as rain totals are 3 inches below normal. The dam will close when the lake falls below 928.60 ft.
July 6, 2021 928.72 12 Discharge remains at the min. allowed rate of 12 cfs. The release or 12 cfs is being done to both retain water on the lake and prolong creek flow as rain totals remain below normal. Approx. 0.5-1" rain forecast through Wed (7/7).
July 2, 2021 928.80 12 Discharge remains at the min. allowed rate of 12 cfs. The release or 12 cfs is being done to both retain water on the lake and prolong creek flow as rain totals remain below normal. There is minimal rain in the 7 day forecast.
June 30, 2021 928.84 12 Dam discharge remains at the min. allowed rate of 12 cfs. The release or 12 cfs is being done to both retain water on the lake and prolong creek flow as rain totals remain below normal. There is no rain in the 7 day forecast.
June 28, 2021 928.84 12 Discharge remains at the min. allowed rate of 12 cfs. The release or 12 cfs is being done to both retain water on the lake and prolong creek flow as rain totals remain below normal. There is minimal rain in the 7 day forecast.
June 25, 2021 928.84 12 Discharge remains at the min. allowed rate of 12 cfs. The release or 12 cfs is being done to both retain water on the lake and prolong creek flow as rain totals remain below normal. There is minimal rain in the 7 day forecast.
June 23, 2021 928.87 12 Discharge remains at the min. allowed rate of 12 cfs. The release or 12 cfs is being done to both retain water on the lake and prolong creek flow as rain totals remain below normal. There is minimal rain in the 7 day forecast.
June 21, 2021 928.95 12 Discharge remains at the min. allowed rate of 12 cfs. The release or 12 cfs is being done to both retain water on the lake and prolong creek flow as rain totals remain below normal. There is minimal rain in the 7 day forecast.
June 18, 2021 928.99 12 Discharge remains at the min. allowed rate of 12 cfs. The release or 12 cfs is being done to both retain water on the lake and prolong creek flow as rain totals remain below normal. Rain is forecast for Sunday 6/20/21.
June 16, 2021 929.02 12 Discharge remains at the min. allowed rate of 12 cfs. The release or 12 cfs is being done to both retain water on the lake and prolong creek flow as rain totals remain below normal. There is minimal rain in the 7 day forecast.
June 14, 2021 929.08 12 Discharge remains at the min. allowed rate of 12 cfs. The release or 12 cfs is being done to both retain water on the lake and prolong creek flow as rain totals remain below normal. There is no significant rain in the 7 day forecast.
June 11, 2021 929.16 12 Dam discharge remains at the min. allowed rate of 12 cfs. The release or 12 cfs is being done to both retain water on the lake and prolong creek flow as rain totals remain below normal. There is no rain in the 7 day forecast.
June 9, 2021 929.19 12 Discharge remains at the min. allowed rate of 12 cfs. The release or 12 cfs is being done to both retain water on the lake and prolong creek flow as rain totals remain below normal. There is no significant rain in the 7 day forecast.
June 7, 2021 929.21 12 Dam discharge reduced slightly to the min. allowed rate of 12 cfs. The release or 12 cfs is being done to both retain water on the lake and prolong creek flow as rain totals remain below normal. There is no rain in the 7 day forecast.
June 4, 2021 929.29 20 Dam discharge remains at the minimum allowed rate of 20 cfs. The release of 20 cfs is being done to both retain water on the lake and prolong creek flow, in case rain totals remain below normal. There is no precipitation in the 7 day forecast.
June 2, 2021 929.28 20 Dam discharge remains at the minimum allowed rate of 20 cfs. The release of 20 cfs is being done to both retain water on the lake and prolong creek flow, in case rain totals remain below normal. There is no precipitation in the 7 day forecast.
June 1, 2021 929.29 20 Dam discharge remains at the minimum allowed rate of 20 cfs. The release of 20 cfs is being done to both retain water on the lake and prolong creek flow, in case rain totals remain below normal. There is no precipitation in the 7 day forecast.
May 28, 2021 929.30 20 Dam discharge remains at the minimum allowed rate of 20 cfs. The release of 20 cfs is being done to both retain water on the lake and prolong creek flow, in case rain totals remain below normal. Minimal precipitation is forecast over the next 7 days.
May 26, 2021 929.28 20 Dam discharge remains at the min. allowed rate of 20 cfs. 1-inch of rain is forecast May 27-28. Dam discharge and water levels will be reassessed after this rain on May 28.
May 24, 2021 929.35 20 Dam discharge remains at the min. allowed rate of 20 cfs. The release of 20 cfs is being done to both retain water on the lake and prolong creek flow in case rain totals remain below normal.
May 21, 2021 929.33 20 Dam discharge increased slightly to 20 cfs as rain over the past few days increased the lake level over 2 in. The dam operating plan allows a minimum discharge of 20 cfs at this lake elevation. Despite the recent rain, rain totals remain below normal.
May 19, 2021 929.15 12 Discharge remains at the min. allowed rate of 12 cfs. Due to below normal rain, water levels are low & the release rate of 12 cfs is being done to both retain water on the lake and prolong creek flow in case conditions remain dry.
May 17, 2021 929.14 12 Discharge remains at the min. allowed rate of 12 cfs. Due to below normal rain, water levels are low & the release rate of 12 cfs is being done to both retain water on the lake and prolong creek flow in case conditions remain dry.
May 14, 2021 929.18 12 The dam is open & is releasing the min. allowed rate of 12 cfs. Due to below normal rain, water levels are low & the release rate of 12 cfs is being done to retain lake water and prolong creek flow in case conditions remain dry.
May 12, 2021 929.19 Dam closed Due to a dry forecast the dam will remain closed until 5/13. Per the operating plan the dam will open 5/14 & release the min allowed discharge (12 cfs). Water levels are low throughout the watershed due to below normal rain.
May 10, 2021 929.20 Dam closed Due to a dry forecast the dam will remain closed until 5/13. Per the operating plan the dam will open 5/14 & release the min allowed discharge (12 cfs). Water levels are low throughout the watershed due to below normal rain.
May 7, 2021 929.23 Dam closed Due to minimal rain in the 7-day forecast the dam remains closed. Minnehaha Creek is flowing at 7 cfs at Hiawatha Avenue.
May 5, 2021 929.23 Dam closed Due to minimal rain in the 7-day forecast the dam remains closed. Minnehaha Creek is flowing at 9 cfs at Hiawatha Avenue.
May 3, 2021 929.25 Dam closed Due to an on-going dry 7-day forecast the dam remains closed. Minnehaha Creek is flowing at ~11 cfs at Hiawatha Avenue.
April 30, 2021 929.23 Dam closed Due to an on-going mostly dry 7-day forecast the dam remains closed. Minnehaha Creek is flowing at ~19 cfs at Hiawatha Avenue.
April 28, 2021 929.24 Dam closed Due to minimal rain in the 7-day forecast the dam remains closed. Minnehaha Creek is flowing at 32 cfs at Hiawatha Avenue.
April 26, 2021 929.19 Dam closed Due to minimal rain in the 7-day forecast the dam remains closed. Minnehaha Creek is flowing at 15 cfs at Hiawatha Avenue.
April 23, 2021 929.20 Dam closed Due to minimal rain in the 7-day forecast the dam remains closed. Minnehaha Creek is flowing at 12 cfs at Hiawatha Avenue.
April 21, 2021 929.22 Dam closed Due to an on-going mostly dry 7-day forecast the dam remains closed. Minnehaha Creek is flowing at ~14 cfs at Hiawatha Avenue.
April 19, 2021 929.23 Dam closed Due to an on-going mostly dry 14-day forecast the dam remains closed. Minnehaha Creek is flowing at ~17 cfs at Hiawatha Avenue.
April 16, 2021 929.22 Dam closed Due to a mostly dry 14-day weather forecast the dam remains closed. Minnehaha Creek is flowing at ~22 cfs at Hiawatha Avenue.
April 14, 2021 929.21 Dam closed Due to a mostly dry 14-day weather forecast the dam remains closed. Minnehaha Creek is flowing at ~26 cfs at Hiawatha Avenue.
April 12, 2021 929.22 Dam closed Due to a mostly dry 14-day weather forecast the dam remains closed. Minnehaha Creek is flowing at ~27 cfs at Hiawatha Avenue.
April 9, 2021 929.16 Dam closed The dam remains closed due to a dry 14-day forecast, a lower than average lake level for early April, and because Minnehaha Creek is flowing at approx. 50 cfs near Hiawatha Ave. from this week's rain.
April 7, 2021 929.07 Dam closed Over the last two days the upper watershed has received approximately a half inch of precipitation and the lake has risen minimally. Another 1-1.5 inches of rain are expected over the next few days. Water levels will be reassessed on Friday.
April 5, 2021 929.02 Dam closed Due to a lower than average lake level for early April the dam is currently closed. Dam operations will be reassessed after this week's forecasted rain

* Flow taken at McGinty Road because water levels were too high to measure at Gray's Bay dam

** Unofficial Lake Minnetonka water level reading due to ice still on the lake

You can view lake levels from 1906 to 2012 either as an Excel Spreadsheet or a graph.
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