Lake Zumbro Fall Drawdown Begins October 15
ROCHESTER, MN— Rochester Public Utilities (RPU) will begin the fall drawdown of Lake Zumbro on Wednesday, October 15. This means the water level will be lowered to allow for inspection and maintenance work at the hydroelectric facility, as well as other shoreline and park projects. This year’s drawdown will be larger than usual, with the lake lowered about six feet instead of the typical two feet. The timing and water levels may change depending on rainfall and runoff.
RPU’s drawdown plan is as follows:
- Wednesday, October 15: Begin the six foot drawdown.
- October 15–October 27: Lower the lake level by 0.5 feet per day while maintaining a minimum flow of 70 cfs.
- Monday, October 27: Hold the lake level at 908.5 MSL (about six feet below the spillway) for two weeks.
- Monday, November 10: Begin refilling the lake level until it reaches the winter pool elevation of 913.0 MSL.
- November 10 onward: Continue refilling while maintaining a minimum flow of 70 cfs.
The drawdown plan is subject to change depending on weather conditions.
During the months of December through March, Rochester Public Utilities (RPU) will attempt to maintain the lake level at the winter pool of 913.0 MSL.
Real-time lake level information, along with Lake Zumbro hydro updates, are available on the RPU website (www.rpu.org).
As winter approaches, RPU also reminds the public to take extra precautions when using Lake Zumbro for seasonal activities.
Tips for lake ice safety:
- Be extremely careful during winter activities that involve Lake Zumbro such as ice fishing, snowmobiling, or just walking out on the frozen lake.
- Watch the weather and river flow conditions.
- Ice thickness and condition can vary greatly. Be very cautious.
- Look out for ice heaves and exposed logs and snags.
- Be cautious in the vicinity of the dam. De-icing equipment has been installed along the upstream face of the dam resulting in open water and/or thin ice.
- Do not proceed past the warning signs and buoys.
About Rochester Public Utilities
As the municipal utility of Rochester, Minn., RPU provides high-quality and reliable electricity to more than 61,000 customers, along with water services to over 42,000 customers. RPU is governed by a five-member Utility Board and the Rochester City Council. The utility continually explores innovative technologies to help customers maximize the value of the services they receive, with current initiatives including photovoltaic offerings, wind energy, energy and water-efficient equipment, and electric vehicle charging.
Tags: drawdown, ice safety, Lake Zumbro