Lake level to drop near lowest level

By Cameron Rasmusson
Reader Staff

The Lakes Commission announced this week that the Army Corps of Engineers will begin dropping the lake level for the winter.

In a draw-down process that began Wednesday, the ACOE, which is responsible for operating Albeni Falls Dam, will drop the lake level at an average rate of about two inches per day. The goal is to reach a 2053.5-foot depth by Oct. 31, followed by 2052.8 feet by Nov. 4.

The lake draw down affects a variety of interest groups, from business owners who want a long summer recreation season to conservationists seeking ideal bull trout spawning conditions. An agreement struck between the ACOE and the state of Idaho in 2014 mandates that the draw down not begin until the third weekend in September or Sept. 18, whichever is later.