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Wisconsin River Report January 13, 2006

Wisconsin Valley Improvement Company 2301 North Third Street Wausau, WI  54403 For more information contact Sam Morgan Phone: 715.848.2976, ex 301 Email: morgan@wvic.com

 

Winter River Flows Near Normal After Dry Summer

 

Heavy rains in early October and normal precipitation in November and December partially recharged the northern reservoir system and boosted river flows to near normal according to Wisconsin Valley Improvement Company (WVIC) of Wausau. By the end of last summer, river flows had dropped to less than half of normal and reservoir storage was down to only 35% of capacity. Then heavy rains in the north in early October generated enough runoff to push reservoir storage to over 55% of capacity before winter. The combination of higher reservoir storage and increased natural river flow from the fall rains has held flows close to normal this winter. The weekly average river flows of 1,840 cfs at Merrill and 2,800 cfs at Wisconsin Rapids were both within 10% of the January normal.

Total precipitation for 2005 averaged 7% below normal in the upper river basin north of Tomahawk and 9% below normal in the central basin between Tomahawk and Wisconsin Rapids. The year was characterized by dry conditions in early spring and summer, and very wet conditions in the north in October.

The annual winter drawdowns of WVIC’s natural-lake reservoirs are about 75% complete. Full winter drawdown levels will be reached during early February. Water levels in the five larger man-made reservoirs are also falling as water is released to augment winter river flows and prepare for spring runoff. The winter drawdowns of the five large reservoirs are scheduled to be complete by late March. Overall reservoir storage dropped 2% last week to 48% of capacity.

 

 

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