Home | Reservoirs | Hydroplants | Wisconsin River | Recreation | News | Data & Links | Public Safety | Water Levels | Hydropower Facts |

 

Wisconsin River Report June 25, 2004

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

 

Upper River Flows Plummet – Reservoir Release Begins

 

Dry conditions caused river flow on the northern portion of the Wisconsin River dropped rapidly last week requiring the release of water from the northern reservoir system to meet the target flow according to Wisconsin Valley Improvement Company (WVIC) of Wausau. Rainfall averaged only 0.20 inch last week in the northern basin upstream from Tomahawk and 0.23 inch in the central basin between Tomahawk and Wisconsin Rapids. Normal rainfall for a week in June is one inch.

River flow, which had been running above normal because of steady rains in May and early June, dropped sharply. Water was released from the northern reservoir system to augment the rapidly falling river flow. Reservoir water provided 18% of the river flow at Merrill last week. Storage in the northern reservoir system dropped 2% to 88% of capacity. Water levels in the large northern reservoirs fell about 4 inches during the week and are expected to decline at that rate during the upcoming week if no significant rainfall occurs.

Lower river flows remained above normal because of the heavy rains from two weeks ago. No release of water was required from the Big Eau Pleine Reservoir, which remained full last week. However, if dry conditions persist, the annual summer drawdown of the Big Eau Pleine Reservoir could begin next week.

            Temperatures averaged well below the seasonal normal last week. The weekly average temperature was two degrees below normal in the northern basin, five degrees below normal in the central basin, and six degrees below normal in the southern basin.

            Water temperatures along the whole length of the Wisconsin River averaged 68 degrees, 3 degrees below normal.

 

 

- 30 -