Gate operations underway at Outlet Bay

PRIEST LAKE — Gate operations to manage the lake level on Priest Lake for the recreation season commenced on June 15, according to the Idaho Department of Water Resources.

This year’s long, cool and wet springtime weather created high lake level and river flow conditions, which the department said delay the Idaho Water Resources Board to safely stabilize the water depths in the lake and the outlet channel.

“Moderately high river flows and lake levels will persist for a while longer,” the department said in a lake operations update.

The board’s aim is to ultimately manage lake levels at the lake gauge between 3.1-3.2 feet.

“However, due to periodic high winds and rainfall events, lake levels above and below the target levels may occur. As lake level conditions change, which may require modifications in gate operations, additional operations updates will be distributed through the Lakes Commission,” the update said.

The department and the Idaho Lakes Commission are working to develop a system for regularly updating the Priest community on Outlet Dam operations, lake levels, river flow conditions, and IDWR projects taking place locally, according to Lakes Commission Executive Director Molly McCahon.

The lake was as high as 3.6 feet on June 12, but has fallen to 3.3 feet by Friday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Water Information System. Priest River’s outflow was measured at approximately 4,500 cubic feet per second on June 12, but has since slackened to less than 3,000 cfs by Friday, USGS said.

The Outlet Dam, which was constructed in 1978, is owned by IDWR and operated by a contractor on behalf of IDWR.

The board has set Oct. 1 for the drawdown to begin. This date was established to enable rehabilitation construction to begin on the dam and Thorofare breakwater this fall.

Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.