The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, is closely monitoring water levels at its Gull Lake Dam, near Brainerd, Minnesota. Below average precipitation and drought conditions continue to impact water levels.
The current flow out of Gull Lake Dam has been releasing the minimum flow of 20 cubic feet per second, since July 11. Despite this minimal amount of water being released from the dam, the lake level has been slowly receding primarily due to evaporation from the lake surface.
The lake elevation is currently 1,193.66 feet; this is approximately 4 inches below the typical summer target level of 1,194 feet. The summer operating band is 1,193.85 to 1194.15 feet, which is the level maintained for water supply, environmental and recreational benefits. Water managers continue to monitor the lake’s reduced water levels along with the weather forecast.
As water levels drop throughout the region, it’s more important than ever to be smart while on the water. Low water conditions can expose hidden dangers. Boaters should always follow posted signage and wear life jackets.
All USACE reservoirs are operated in accordance with detailed water control manuals to ensure the system performs as designed.Current, historical lake levels and releases can be accessed [https://water.usace.army.mil/office/mvp/location/MissHW_Gull](https://water.usace.army.mil/office/mvp/location/MissHW_Gull).
