Here are the results of this season’s highly successful drawdown: 

• LAKE ICE IN ~ 12/22/24
• LAKE ICE OUT ~ 3/14/25 

Drawdown lake level BSD (below the spillway deck) occurred as follows:

3’ to 4’ BSD    ~ 42 total days

• 24 hr sub-frz:      10 days 
• AM only sub-frz: 14 days

2’ to 3’ BSD    ~ 44 total days

•  24 hr sub-frz:      27 days
•  AM only sub-frz: 12 days

Weed tuber death at the drawdown depths above occurred.

Lakebed compaction, desiccation and riparian owner cleanup occurred.

The two 12″ siphons stopped flowing before the deep freeze set in during December-February and the siphons froze up unable to be restarted. The 6″ siphon stayed flowing throughout the winter since it drew water from below the ice level.

During the freeze the inflow to the lake was minimal. Water level rose significantly during a late February rainstorm and lake level returned to board depth soon after that.

More detail:

• 11/14/24 All three siphons were flowing. Then various shut-downs occurred and restarts were initiated by P&LC. 
• 12/8/24 Drawdown level all-time max of 44” BSD was reached for the first time. West 12” and 6” siphons continued flowing. (East 12” siphon restarted 12/13.)
• 12/16/24 East 12” siphon stopped flowing when lake reached drawdown level of 37” BSD. No restart needed.
• 12/26/24 West 12” siphon stopped flowing when lake level reached its max of 44” BSD for the second time. No restart needed. Only the 6” siphon continued flowing. 
• 1/31/25 January drought month with only 1.2“ rainfall significantly helped the drawdown maintain 2’ to 3’ BSD while only the 6” siphon flowed.
• 2/28/24 February was a normal wet month with 3.1” SWE (snow water equivalent) but the 12” siphons could not be restarted – plugged by frozen water in the tubes. OK where drawdown is concerned, because it was so successful this season. (Lake rose quickly from 2/12 on.)
• 3/15/25 And on the Ides of March, the 6” siphon continues to flow with lake at summer level.