Lake level to rise

By Cameron Rasmusson
Reader Staff

Expect to see a higher lake level by the end of the month.

The Army Corps of Engineers announced this week that it plans to begin storing water in Lake Pend Oreille above 2,052 feet. While a flexible winter pool wasn’t expected for this season, warm temperatures are preventing work on Riley Creek bank stabilization, thus negating the need to keep the lake at low pool.

The Corps will instead begin storing water in Lake Pend Oreille, rising the level by 1.5 feet to 2.5 feet by the end of the month. This will allow the Bureau of Reclamation to begin work on drum gate maintenance at Grand Coulee Dam while keeping the lake within the flexible winter power operations range of 2,051 feet to 2,056 feet.