12/27/2018 Water level 828.67

12/27/2018 Water level 828.67 Channel under bridge and channel to dam are clear

12/15/2018 Water Level 828.72 at the Bridge

12/15/2018 Water Level 828.72 at the Bridge

Ice frozen against Bridge gauge

Dam still clear and at 828.63

12/6/2018 Water level 828.94 Still some open water by the gauge

12/6/2018 Bridge Water level 828.94 Still some open water by the gauge

Dam gauge is at 828.87 with water flowing freely

12/4/2018 Water at Bridge is at 829.0 Ice is almost fully formed at the gauge

12/4/2018 Water at Bridge is at 829.0 Ice is almost fully formed at the gauge

12/2/2018 Water/ice level is 828.8. Snow is mostly gone but so far the ice has survived on most of the lake

12/2/2018 Water/ice level is 828.8.  

Snow is mostly gone but so far the ice has survived on most of the lake.  The water around the Bridge gauge is open.

11/25/2018 Taken before the snow Water Level at 828.66

11/25/2018 Taken before the snow Water Level at 828.66

11/19/2018 Water Level 828.68 Continuing with no stop logs in the dam.

11/19/2018 Water Level 828.68  Continuing with no stop logs in the dam.

Only a trace of rain since early November.  Water is beginning to recede.

11/10/2018 Bridge water level 828.86

11/10/2018 Bridge water level 828.86. Since the Slow No Wake levels of early to mid October, the lake has remained towards the higher range of the WDNR historical range.

10/7/2018 - Water continues to rise. Now at 829.52

10/7/2018 - Water continues to rise.  Now at 829.52 .  This is the highest level since July 16, 2017

Dam is a couple inches from over flowing the top

Culvert looking towards Dam

10/6/2018 Water at Bridge is 829.38 Water is flowing unobstructed. More rain coming

10/6/2018 Water at Bridge is 829.38  Water is flowing unobstructed.  More rain coming.  The water at the Powers Lake Culvert is flowing INTO Powers Lake, likely due to heavy flows from the North .  The culvert under Powers Lake/93rd street is at it's max on the upstream side but water is flowing towards Tombeau as it should.  It's going to take quite some time for the water to go down with all the rain still in the forecast.

Bridge Gauge

 Culvert to Dam

10/3/2018 Bridge gauge 2.22 Water Level 829.22 Board was taken out of the dam today and culvert was cleared

10/3/2018 Bridge gauge 2.22 Water Level 829.22  The Culvert before the dam was clogged with a Beaver Dam.  The board was taken out of the dam today and culvert was cleared

9/9/2018 Bridge gauge 1.7 Water Level 828.7 6 inch board is back in the dam

9/9/2018 Bridge gauge 1.7 Water Level 828.7  6 inch board is back in the dam.  The Board was proactively taken out during the heavy rains and is now back in.

8/21/18 Bridge gauge 1.64 - Water Level 828.64

8/21/18 Bridge gauge 1.64 - Water Level 828.64

Had the chance to get a free sample sign as an add on to the bridge sign.  It was put in today, just slid behind the true gauge, but will have to come out.  Generally it is pretty good but the line for the approximate slow no wake is wrong.  The approximate slow no wake should correlate to about 2.2 on the scale and it does not.  Here are pictures before it is taken out.

8/15/2018 Strange happenings on the lakes. Water Level at bridge is 828.6

8/15/2018  Strange happenings on the lakes. Water Level at bridge is 828.6  Water Level at Dam about 828.59 - The 6 inch board is in the Dam
Observations -
8/13 Algae at the Bridge appeared to be flowing TOWARDS Benedict (could be wind)
8/15 Very slow flow at the Dam.  Debris in Dam - not noticeably restricting flow
8/15 Powers Lake Culvert/Dam appears to be flowing slowly into Powers Lake
8/15 Powers Lake Culvert/Dam still has Beaver dam on Western Side of Culvert/Dam
8/15 First sign of beaver activity at the east side of the Forest Drive Culvert

All this gives the appearance that Tombeau and the area wetlands are the dominant body of water right now.  This is likely in part due to the beaver dam at the Powers Lake Culvert/Dam.  It is not known if there is other beaver activity on the creek from Powers to Tombeau

This could all change if we get some rain.

Video - Water flow at the Dam (after debris removal)

Looking upstream from the dam

Looking downstream (east to west) in Forest Drive Culvert

Beaver cuttings in Forest Drive Culvert

Bridge Gauge

POWERS LAKE Gauge on wing wall of Dam  This has gone UP .02 since 8/3/18  We have gone down .04 since 8/3/18

Looking west into Powers Lake Culvert - note debris at west end

Overhead shot of Powers Lake Culvert Debris

 

8/3/2018 Water level at the bridge is 828.64.  Inspection of the Powers Lake Culvert/Dam revealed blockage that looks like a beaver dam.  That MAY be having an impact on the water level of our lake through the reduction of incoming water flow.

 Dam Gauge above (red line corrected)

Powers Lake Dam - below

7/31/2018 Gauge on the bottom side of 1.7 Water level just a shade below 828.7 at the Bridge

7/31/2018  Gauge on the bottom side of 1.7  Water level just a shade below 828.7 at the Bridge

Red line corrected in this photo

7/24/2018 Water level at dam 828.72 The 6 inch board was put in the dam after this reading

7/24/2018 Water level at dam 828.72.  The 6 inch board was put in the dam after this reading.
The Dam had a large branch and some other debris in it when it was inspected.

Red Line corrected in this picture

Debris in Dam

7/23/2018 Bridge gauge 1.73 water level 828.73 There was no board in the dam when this reading was taken

7/23/2018 Bridge gauge 1.73 water level 828.73  There was no board in the dam when this reading was taken.  The Dam gauge was 1.62.  Immediately after a board was put in at the dam, the dam gauge went up to 1.68.  I expect to see a similar rise at the bridge by tomorrow afternoon.

Red Line corrected in this photo

Before Board

After Board

7/20/18 Noon Bridge Gauge 1.88 Water Level 828.88 After this reading all boards were taken out of the Dam

7/20/18 Noon Bridge Gauge 1.88 Water Level 828.88  After this reading all boards were taken out of the Dam.  We are trying to maintain the dam at or near 828.75.  The closest we have gotten was 828.76 for one day.  All other readings have been over 828.8.  The boards will stay out of the dam until we reach 828.75.  After that boards will be put back in as needed to maintain that level.

Red line is corrected in this photo

7/15/2018 Bridge Gauge 1.79 Water Level 828.79 6 inch board is still in the dam due to high temps and low rain in the forecast

7/15/2018 Bridge Gauge 1.79 Water Level 828.79 6 inch board is still in the dam due to high temps and low rain in the forecast

Red line is corrected in this picture

7/12/2018 Water level at the Bridge is 828.76 Inflow from Powers continues to slow

7/12/2018 Water level at the Bridge is 828.76 - Inflow from Powers continues to slow.  6 inch board is in the dam.  Water levels are checked regularly and resident photos of the gauge at the bridge are welcome.

7/10/2018 Water Level at the Bridge is 828.80 per resident photo

7/10/2018 Water Level at the Bridge is 828.80 per resident report

7/9/2018 Water still flowing in from Powers Lake pushed the water level back up to 828.84 at the Bridge

7/9/2018 Water still flowing in from Powers Lake pushed the water level back up to 828.84 at the Bridge.  6 inch board was removed and replace by the 4 inch board until water starts declining again.

7/7/2018 Water Level at the bridge is 828.8

7/7/2018 Water Level at the bridge is 828.8.  Water level has dropped just under 1 inch in the last 36 hours.  No measurable rain in the forecast for the next week.  The board was put back in the dam this morning.  Powers Lake continues to feed Tombeau and is still slightly more than 3 inches above the more normal March level and flowing consistently.

7/6/2018 Water Level at the Bridge is 828.84

7/6/2018 Water Level at the Bridge is 828.84.  This is about another 0.5 inches in about 16 hours

7/5/2018 Water level at the bridge is at 828.88

7/5/2018 Water level at the bridge is at 828.88.  This is about a 1.2 inch drop in the last 2.5 days.

7/3/2018 Water continues to recede As of Noon Water level was 828.98 at the Bridge

7/3/2018 Water continues to recede As of Noon Water level was 828.98.  With only minimal rain in the forecast and a expected string of 8 days with temps in the 80's and sunshine, the lake should get back to a more normal level in the near future.  The gauge will be watched and the dam will be managed to attempt to keep the water below the Historic High, but well above the Historic Low. 

At the present time there are no boards in the dam.

6/30/2018 Bridge water level 829.16. Above the WDNR Historic high of 829.0 but below the typical Slow No Wake level of 829.22

Bridge water level 829.16.  Above the WDNR Historic high of 829.0 but below the typical Slow No Wake level of 829.22

6/28/2018 Water level at the bridge is 829.3 Waiting on the Town of Randall to confirm but we should be at Slow No Wake

6/28/2018  Water level at the bridge is 829.3  Waiting on the Town of Randall to confirm but we should be at Slow No Wake

Note, While we still use the dam to adjust or maintain water levels, and inspections will continue to be done at the dam, the water level measurements will be taken at the bridge going forward.

6/27/18 9:40 am Local rain gauges showed up to 3 inches of rain last night.

6/27/18 9:40 am  Local rain gauges showed up to 3 inches of rain last night.  Burlington 1.7 inches, Pell Lake 3 inches.  The Dam gauge is 2.1 Water Level 829.05  The water level at the Bridge is 829.23  This is right on the border of Slow No Wake but as of this time that is not imposed.

6/25/18 Slow No Wake has been lifted as of 1:15

6/25/18  Slow No Wake has been lifted as of 1:15 pm

6/24/2017 Water is beginning to recede Dam at 1.94 Water 828.89 Bridge still at 829.1

6/24/2017 Water is beginning to recede Dam at 1.94 Water 828.89  Bridge still at 829.1

WE ARE AT SLOW NO WAKE - until further notice. Dam Gauge 2.11 Water Level 829.06

Dam Gauge 2.11 Water Level 829.06     Bridge Water Level 829.24

6/21/2018 Dam gauge at 2.14 Water Level at 829.09

6/21/2018 Dam gauge at 2.14 Water Level at 829.09  We are over the WDNR Historic High and 15 inches over the WDNR Historic Low