Turtle-Flambeau Scenic Waters Area
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- Securing the Future
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Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program
Turtle-Flambeau Scenic Waters Area
Water Levels
DNR Photo
Chippewa and Flambeau Improvement Company (CFIC) is a private corporation created by the legislature in 1911 [see s. 182.71 Wis. Stats. [PDF exit DNR]], for the purpose of building, maintaining, and operating dams and reservoirs on the Chippewa and Flambeau Rivers and their tributaries. The law directs the Company to produce as nearly a uniform flow of water as practicable in the Chippewa and Flambeau Rivers, by storing in reservoirs surplus water for discharge when the water supply is low, to improve the usefulness of the rivers for all public purposes, and to reduce flood damage.
CFIC constructed the Turtle Dam creating the Turtle-Flambeau Flowage in 1926 and they continue to own and operate the dam as directed by state statute. A Memorandum of Understanding [PDF 2MB] between CFIC and the Department of Natural Resources guides dam operations.
Current Conditions
| Pool Elevation in Feet Above Mean Sea Level (MSL) | Pool Elevation in Feet Below Full | Discharge at the Dam in Cubic Feet per Second (cfs) |
|---|---|---|
1568.05 MSL |
3.95 feet |
231 cfs |
Summary of Recent Water Levels
Summary of Recent Water Discharges at the Turtle Dam
Drought Condition Forecast
The Turtle-Flambeau Flowage did not completely fill this spring due to lack of snowmelt, spring rainfall and reduced river inflow into the flowage. The peak elevation reached was 1571.05 ft., which is 0.95 ft. below the normal full elevation of 1572.0 ft. Winter discharge flows were approximately 245 cfs, well below the minimum flow requirement.
Based on the current reservoir level, inflow rates, and the anticipated needs for water downstream, CFIC intends to draw down the reservoir to elevation 1568.0 ft. (4 ft. drawdown) this summer. The extended period of below normal precipitation that has been experienced over the past several years will likely continue to negatively impact inflows to the reservoir through the remainder of 2009.
Current projections are to maintain reservoir elevations above 1570.0 ft. through the end of June, if inflows to the reservoir do not decrease from current levels (150 cfs). If electrical generation needs increase in June due to hot weather, unanticipated power plant outages, or if the current drought situation intensifies, additional water could be removed from the reservoir during June to increase generation at hydro plants downstream. Discharge from the dam may also be increased to serve downstream industrial needs.
CFIC will continue to update its forecasts as necessary as drought conditions persist in northern Wisconsin
See Also
- s. 182.71 Wis. Stats. The Chippewa and Flambeau Improvement Company [PDF exit DNR]
- Summary of water levels 1984 through 2007 [PDF 521KB]
- Summary of water levels mid-July through end-of-year 2008 [PDF 170KB]
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