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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 (September 18, 2020)
Lake Minnetonka: 928.82 feet | Gray's Bay Dam: 20 CFS
Date Lake Level (feet above sea level) Dam Discharge (cubic feet per second) Explanation
September 18, 2020 928.82 20 Discharge will likely remain at the minimum discharge rate of 20 cfs through Sept. With minimal rain in the forecast it's anticipated that in late Sept./early Oct. the lake level will fall below 928.60 ft which will require the dam to be closed.
September 16, 2020 928.86 20 Discharge will likely remain at the minimum discharge rate of 20 cfs through Sept. With minimal rain in the forecast it's anticipated that in late Sept./early Oct. the lake level will fall below 928.60 ft which will require the dam to be closed.
September 14, 2020 928.87 20 Dam discharge remains at 20 cfs as this is the minimum discharge rate dictated by the operating plan when the lake level is above 928.80 ft. during the first half of September.
September 11, 2020 928.86 20 Dam discharge remains at 20 cfs as this is the minimum discharge rate dictated by the operating plan when the lake level is above 928.80 ft. during the first half of September.
September 9, 2020 928.89 20 Dam discharge remains at 20 cfs as this is the minimum discharge rate dictated by the operating plan when the lake level is above 928.80 ft. during the first half of September.
September 4, 2020 928.97 20 Dam discharge remains at 20 cfs as this is the minimum discharge rate dictated by the operating plan when the lake level is above 928.80 ft. during the first half of September.
September 2, 2020 929.03 20 Dam discharge remains at 20 cfs as this is the minimum discharge rate dictated by the operating plan when the lake level is above 928.80 ft. during the month of September.
August 31, 2020 929.09 20 Dam discharge remains at 20 cfs as this is the minimum discharge rate dictated by the operating plan when the lake level is above 928.90 ft. during the month of August.
August 28, 2020 929.11 20 Dam discharge remains at 20 cfs as this is the minimum discharge rate dictated by the operating plan when the lake level is above 928.90 ft. during the month of August.
August 26, 2020 929.09 20 Dam discharge remains at 20 cfs as this is the minimum discharge rate dictated by the operating plan when the lake level is above 928.90 ft. during the month of August.
August 24, 2020 929.10 20 Dam discharge remains at 20 cfs as this is the minimum discharge rate dictated by the operating plan when the lake level is above 928.90 ft. during the month of August.
August 21, 2020 929.07 20 Dam discharge remains at 20 cfs as this is the minimum discharge rate dictated by the operating plan when the lake level is above 928.90 ft. during the month of August.
August 19, 2020 929.09 20 Dam discharge remains at 20 cfs as this is the minimum discharge rate dictated by the operating plan when the lake level is above 928.90 ft. during the month of August.
August 17, 2020 929.12 20 Dam discharge remains at 20 cfs as this is the minimum discharge rate dictated by the operating plan when the lake level is above 928.90 ft. during the month of August.
August 14, 2020 928.99 20 Dam discharge remains at 20 cfs as this is the minimum discharge rate dictated by the operating plan when the lake level is above 928.90 ft. during the month of August.
August 12, 2020 929.02 20 Dam discharge remains at 20 cfs as this is the minimum discharge rate dictated by the operating plan when the lake level is above 928.90 ft. during the month of August.
August 10, 2020 929.04 20 Dam discharge slightly increased to 20 cfs as the operating plan dictates this rate as a minimum discharge when the lake level is above 928.90 ft. during the month of August.
August 7, 2020 928.75 12 Dam discharge remains at 12 cfs as the operating plan dictates this discharge rate when the lake level has fallen below 928.90 ft. in the month of August.
August 5, 2020 928.81 12 Dam discharge remains at 12 cfs as the operating plan dictates this discharge rate when the lake level has fallen below 928.90 ft. in the month of August.
August 3, 2020 928.84 12 Dam discharge remains at 12 cfs as the operating plan dictates this discharge when the lake level is below 928.90 ft. in the month of August.
July 31, 2020 928.93 12 Dam discharge remains at 12 cfs.
July 29, 2020 928.95 12 Dam discharge remains at 12 cfs as the operating plan dictates this discharge rate when the lake level has fallen below 929.10 ft. in the month of July.
July 27, 2020 929.01 12 Dam discharge remains at 12 cfs as the operating plan dictates this discharge rate when the lake level has fallen below 929.10 ft. in the month of July.
July 24, 2020 928.99 12 Dam discharge remains at 12 cfs as the operating plan dictates this discharge rate when the lake level has fallen below 929.10 ft. in the month of July.
July 22, 2020 929.01 12 Dam discharge remains at 12 cfs as the operating plan dictates this discharge rate when the lake level has fallen below 929.10 ft. in the month of July.
July 20, 2020 929.04 12 Dam discharge remains at 12 cfs as the operating plan dictates this discharge rate when the lake level has fallen below 929.10 ft. in the month of July.
July 17, 2020 929.04 12
July 15, 2020 929.08 12 Dam discharge reduced to12 cfs as the operating plan dictates this discharge rate when the lake level has fallen below 929.10 ft. in the month of July.
July 13, 2020 929.11 20 Dam discharge remains at 20 cfs. The forecast for July 14 predicts 1.5 inches of rain. Discharge and water levels will be reassessed on July 15.
July 10, 2020 929.18 20 Dam discharge remains at 20 cfs.
July 8, 2020 929.16 20 Dam discharge remains at 20 cfs.
July 7, 2020 929.19 20 Dam discharge remains at 20 cfs as Monday's precipitation totals in the upper watershed were insignificant.
July 6, 2020 929.22 20 Dam discharge and water levels will be reassessed Tuesday (7/7) after Monday's rain.
July 3, 2020 929.26 20 Dam discharge adjusted to 20 cfs as minimal precipitation is forecast for the next 7 days
July 1, 2020 929.22 25 Dam discharge remains at 25 cfs as minimal precipitation is forecast over the next 7 days.
June 29, 2020 929.27 25 Dam discharge slightly increased to 25 cfs after recent rain. Water levels will be reassessed on Wednesday (7/1).
June 26, 2020 929.19 20 Dam discharge remains at 20 cfs as there continues to be no significant rain in the 7 day forecast.
June 24, 2020 929.20 20 Dam discharge remains at 20 cfs as approximately 0.5 inches of rain is forecasted for the next 7 days.
June 22, 2020 929.20 20 Dam discharge remains at 20 cfs as approximately 0.5 inches of rain are forecast for the next 7 days.
June 19, 2020 929.24 20 Dam discharge remains at 20 cfs as less than 0.5 inches of rain fell on the upper watershed and the 7 day forecast is relatively dry.
June 17, 2020 929.18 20 Dam discharge remains at 20 cfs. Water levels and discharge will be reassessed on Friday after the forecast inch of rain Thursday night (6/18).
June 15, 2020 929.20 20 Dam discharge remains at 20 cfs. The dam operating plan allows a minimum discharge of 20 cfs when the lake level is above 929.10 feet during the month of June.
June 12, 2020 929.25 20 Dam discharge reduced to 20 cfs as the 7 day forecast remains dry.
June 10, 2020 929.37 75 Dam discharge increased to 75 cfs in an effort to mitigate approximately 75 cfs of inflow from the upper watershed streams. Minimal rain fell across the watershed on 6/9 and the 7 day forecast is for dry weather.
June 8, 2020 929.37 50 Dam discharge reduced to 50 cfs to provide storage capacity in Minnehaha Creek as 1.5-2 inches of rain is forecast for Tuesday (6/9) and Wednesday (6/10).
June 5, 2020 929.39 150 Dam discharge remains as 150 cfs.
June 3, 2020 929.42 150 Dam discharge remains at 150 cfs.
June 1, 2020 929.45 150 Dam discharge reduced to 150 cfs, as the dam operating plan allows a maximum discharge of 150 cfs when the lake level is below 929.60 feet during June.
May 29, 2020 929.52 250 Dam discharge remains at 250 cfs as we continue to mitigate the inflows to Lake Minnetonka from upper streams while balancing the carrying capacity of Minnehaha Creek after approximately 1 inch of rain fell across the watershed earlier this week.
May 27, 2020 929.57 250 Dam discharge increased to 250 cfs to mitigate the inflows to Lake Minnetonka from upper streams while balancing the carrying capacity of Minnehaha Creek after approximately 1 inch of rain fell across the watershed.
May 26, 2020 929.51 225 Dam discharge remains at 225 cfs. Thunderstorms are predicted for the watershed this afternoon and evening. Dam discharge will be reassessed tomorrow.
May 22, 2020 929.48 225 Dam discharge adjusted to 225 cfs to provide a bit of relief to creek levels prior to 0.5-1 inches of rain Saturday 5(23) - Monday (5/25). The 14 day outlook predicts below average precipitation.
May 20, 2020 929.49 250 Dam discharge remains at 250 cfs as mitigate the inflow into Lake Minnetonka from upper watershed streams after last weekend's rain.
May 18, 2020 929.47 250 Dam discharge raised to 250 cfs to mitigate the inflow into Lake Minnetonka from upper watershed streams after more than 2.5-3.1 inches of rain fell Saturday and Sunday.
May 17, 2020 929.43 150 Sunday (5/17) at 2:30 PM, Dam discharge raised to 150 cfs to mitigate the inflow into Lake Minnetonka from upper watershed streams after more than 2.5 inches of rain fell Saturday and Sunday.
May 15, 2020 929.27 20 Dam discharge remains at 20 cfs. Water levels and discharge will be reassessed after the forecast inch of rain Saturday (5/16) night through Sunday (5/17).
May 13, 2020 929.24 20 Dam discharge remains at 20 cfs as less than 0.5 inches of rain are forecast for the next 7 days.
May 11, 2020 929.29 20 Dam discharge remains at 20 cfs with approximately 0.25 inches of rain forecast for Wednesday (5/13).
May 8, 2020 929.31 20 Dam discharge remains at 20 cfs as the forecast predicts around a quarter of an inch precipitation over the next 7 days.
May 6, 2020 929.35 20 Dam discharge remains at 20 cfs as the 7 day forecast is for dry weather.
May 4, 2020 929.32 20 Dam discharge reduced to 20 cfs as the 7 day forecast is mostly dry and the 14 day weather outlook continues to forecast below average precipitation.
May 1, 2020 929.35 30 Dam discharge remains at 30 cfs as the forecast predicts less than a half inch precipitation over the next 7 days. The long range forecast (14 day) continues to predict below average precipitation.
April 29, 2020 929.35 30 Dam discharge reduced to 30 cfs as the 7 day forecast remains dry. Dam discharge may be modified on Friday (5/1) to adjust to change in flows from the upper streams flowing into Lake Minnetonka.
April 27, 2020 929.30 50 Dam discharge increased to 50 cfs. Tuesday's (4/27) forecast predicts approximately 0.70 inches of rain. Dam discharge may be increased Wednesday after Tuesday's rain.
April 24, 2020 929.27 20 Dam discharge remains at 20 cfs. The 7 day forecast predicts approximately 0.50 – 0.75 inches of rain. Dam discharge will be reassessed after these rain events.
April 22, 2020 929.27 20 Dam discharged reduced to 20 cfs due to ongoing dry weather and below average precipitation for the month of April.
April 20, 2020 929.32 40 Dam discharge reduced slightly to 40 cfs as the 7-day forecast remains mostly dry.
April 17, 2020 929.33 50 Dam discharge reduced to 50 cfs as the 7 day forecast remains dry.
April 15, 2020 929.36 75 Dam discharge reduced to 75 cfs as the 7 day forecast remains dry.
April 13, 2020 929.40 100 Dam discharge remains at 100 cfs. The estimated water content of the snow that fell yesterday (4/12) is ~0.30 inches. Dam discharge may be reduced later this week as the 14 day outlook predicts minimal precipitation.
April 10, 2020 929.38 100 Dam discharge lowered to 100 cfs as the 14 day outlook predicts minimal rain/snow. The forecast, lake level, and dam discharge will be reassessed on Monday (4/13).
April 8, 2020 929.40 150 Dam discharge slightly reduced to 150 cfs as the 7 day forecast remains relatively dry and we are nearing a desirable lake level of 929.35 ft. for spring.
April 6, 2020 929.42 200 Dam discharge slightly reduced to 200 cfs as the 7 day forecast remains dry and we are nearing the desired lake level for spring.
April 3, 2020 929.49 250 Dam discharge has been increased to 250 cfs as the current seven day forecast is for dry weather.
April 1, 2020 929.46 200 As the forecast has decreased to 0.50 inches of rain for Friday (4/3), dam discharge remains at 200 cfs.
March 30, 2020 929.46 200 Dam discharge temporarily increased to 200 cfs as 1.25 inches of rain is forecast Thursday (4/2) -Friday (4/3). We continue to monitor the forecast and discharge will be reduced closer to the rain event.
March 29, 2020 929.45 150 Dam discharge increased to 150 cfs to mitigate the inflow into Lake Minnetonka from upper watershed streams after approximately 1.25 – 1.50 inches of rain fell.
March 27, 2020 929.31 75 Dam discharge remains at 75 cfs as 1-1.25" of rain is forecast Friday overnight (3/27) - Sunday morning (3/29). Dam discharge will be raised after the rain event to mitigate inflow from upper streams.
March 25, 2020 929.30 75 Approximately 1-1.5 inches of rain is forecast from Wednesday (3/25) - Saturday(3/28) overnight. Dam discharge raised to 75 cfs to mitigate water coming into Lake Minnetonka from upper streams as Minnehaha Creek has capacity.
March 23, 2020 929.28 50 Dam discharge remains at 50 cfs.
March 20, 2020 929.27 50 Dam discharge remains at 50 cfs for the weekend.
March 18, 2020 929.22 50 The Gray's Bay dam was opened Monday afternoon and is discharging at 50 cfs. Water levels and dam operations will continue to be updated Mon, Wed, and Fridays.
March 17, 2020 929.22 50 The Gray's Bay dam was opened yesterday afternoon and is discharging at 50 cfs. Water levels and dam operations will continue to be updated Mon, Wed, and Friday.

* 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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