Lake Chelan Lake Level - Will It Refill For Summer

Scott Buehn, Power Resources Division of the Chelan PUD, says that Lake Chelan’s ‘lake level’ may actually see a drop of as much as 6 inches in the next week or two, before heading up towards 1098 on or before July 1st.

Buehn’s comments are part of an interview with
GoLakeChelan’s Steve Byquist ~

CLICK HERE FOR STORY  (With Audio) - Return Here & Post Comments

Buehn’s comments come on the heels of a letter issued last Friday to the 6000 Chelan PUD customers of the Lake Chelan Valley advising them that the district has it’s eyes on Lake Level and the variations that the community is seeing this year - the first year that the PUDs management of the Lake Chelan Reservoir comes under the terms of the newly granted FERC License. ( See Story Below - Click Here)

 

 

 

 

A Statement from the PUD

Steve Lachowicz of the Chelan Coundy PUD requested that GoLakeChelan put the following statement on our Blog.
We do so with great pleasure:

We at Chelan County PUD appreciate the forum provided by GoLakeChelan for ongoing sharing of information and opinions about the management of Lake Chelan elevation. Balancing all the variables that can affect lake levels is certainly an inexact science, and we recognize the frustrations that can develop when we are unable to tell property owners and business people exactly how low the lake will drop or how fast it will refill each year.

We pledge to look for ways to share information about lake level issues as timely as we can, primarily by making use of our Web site which is viewable by lake users wherever they may live. The Internet and blogs like this are an excellent way to share information widely and rapidly as conditions change regarding operation of the project.

As a follow-up to Thursday’s noon meeting in Chelan, we would like to take this opportunity to restate the main points PUD presenters made, so those who were unable to attend can understand what guides our decision-making.

1. The PUD is working with a new set of lake level management guidelines that are part of the new 50-year license for the Lake Chelan Hydro Project approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in November 2006. While the lowest drawdown level (1,079 feet) and the maximum elevation (1,100 feet) have not changed from previous licenses (dating back to 1926), the priorities that the PUD must consider in managing the lake level have expanded significantly. Somewhat simply stated, the new guidelines for the next 50 years require the PUD to take into account:

* maintaining year-round flows (minimum of 80 cfs) in the Chelan River (license requires that this take precedence over lake levels) ,
* minimizing spill in the Chelan River because new enhanced fish habitat is being created there that should not be washed out (license requires that this take precedence over lake levels) ,
* recreation,
* power generation and
* weather conditions.

2. With the lake level at 1,082.67 as of Friday (a slim increase over Thursday), we are several feet above the allowable 1,079 minimum. Barring unusual weather circumstances, we expect the lake will refill by July 1. Between now and then we will do our best to balance uncertainties such as the low-elevation snowmelt, precipitation and temperature.

3. Power generation was reduced significantly at the lake on Wednesday (March 12) based on the latest forecasts of less precipitation and continued cooler weather. The lake is expected to stabilize near 1,082.5 feet unless there’s a significant change in weather forecasts.

4. Residents must expect that there will be occasional years when the lake level does drop near the minimum of 1,079 as weather conditions or other factors come into play.

5. The PUD wants to keep people informed about lake levels throughout the year, through the Web, local media, community meetings and answering your phone calls. We remain available to answer questions at any time.

Lake Chelan Lake Level

News stories on GoLakeChelan and other media, a press release by the Chelan County PUD, and a series of Emails from local residents prompts us to open this section:

A DISCUSSION OF LAKE CHELAN LAKE LEVEL
The annual draw down of the lake.

These photos were part of a story on GoLakeChelan on
Wed - March 5th.
(Click Here)

At about the same time the Chelan County PUD issued information (Click Here) detailing their plans to draw the lake down to levels not seen in many years.
The announcement and draw-down has caught at least two boat owners by surprise: Shelly Ward,  owner of the Innmorata Dinner Boat, and Bub Watson of Watson’s Resort are both reporting that they find their larger boats which, as we understand it,  have been moored all winter in Manson Bay, being grounded by the draw-down. In the case of Ms Ward - she has taken her case to Chelan County PUD Commissioner Ann Congdon and to the community via an Email sent to most everyone who might listen; including the media people in Western Washington. We are contacting both Shelly & Bub and inviting them to share their concerns in this Blog.And we invite our many readers to join in too.
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