For further information any MVC Advisories, click on the following link:
Mississippi Valley Conservation Website

Interpretation of the Chart

The chart provides a weekly 'snapshot' of water levels on Mississippi Lake. During periods of rapid change in water levels (spring runoff or severe storms) the chart may be updated at more frequent intervals. Throughout most of the year, the levels should track within the target range (black lines). During the spring runoff, there is no target range due to the variability in timing of spring melt and ice conditions.

Through most of the summer we would expect to see a gradual decline in levels (within the target range). Since most of the lake residents are used to periodically lowering their docks during the July to September timeframe, it will be useful to monitor the levels to make sure that water levels are not rising or falling beyond the norm.

It is important to note that severe storms, with subsequent heavy rainfall, may result in fairly rapid increases in water levels. The MLA website has a direct link to the MVC website flood warning page. When you access the MLA website, simply click on "MVC issues Advisories" to access the latest advisories or flood warnings.

Carleton Place Dam Operation

The operating range for the Carleton Place Dam is between 133.93 m and 134.50 m. Within this range, the dam is operated to achieve a summer target level on Mississippi Lake of 134.35 m by the long weekend in May and to maintain a target range of 10 cm above and below the optimum level for Mississippi Lake, from the end of May to the start of the following freshet (spring runoff). Due to constrictions in the natural channel at Bridge Street in Carleton Place, which has less conveyance capacity than the Carleton Place Dam, water levels on Mississippi Lake cease to be influenced by the operation of the dam once 25 stop logs have been removed and/or stream flows have exceeded 150 cms. This will result in water levels on Mississippi Lake normally ranging from 134.9 m in the spring to 133.95 m in the fall. Stream flows in excess of 150 cms will result in higher water levels on Mississippi Lake.

For further information on actual values, click on the following link:
Actual numeric values for the above chart