JeffK makes some good points. Somehow, DES seems afraid to let the lake go a little bit above full. Understood, as when we're way above full there can be shore damage, and everything downstream is likely high too. The difficulty in part of this is the saturation factor of the watershed. Half a dozen sensors located 0.5 -1.0 miles upgradient from the lake might give some indication. When the watershed is saturated; 0.5" of rain can translate to 2" increase in lake level, but it is some days later, not instant. We need high water right after ice out so debris can blow to shore and be stranded as the lake drops to full. To me, that is key: "Drops to full" not full and goes lower.
Some Forum members watrch the DES lake level apge and report it. Thank you. A weekly report from DES saying "The outflow for the coming week willl be "x" and here's the plan:...would help understand as opposed to just watching and wondering "Why did they do that?"
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