Protecting and Preserving Black Lake and the Surrounding Watershed

Dam & Lake Levels

05-09-19

The lake is at 612.77 up about an inch from yesterday because of the rain. The head pond at Alverno has been at 611.00 but is also up from the rain at 611.45. We are pulling that back down to 611.00 and we still are spilling water with our floodgate open 11”

01-13-19

    • Black Lake – 611.13
    • Alverno Head Pond – 610.33
    • Alverno Flow 490 CFS
    • Kleber Flow 206 CFS

12-24-18

  • Black Lake – 611.05
  • Alverno Head Pond – 610.24
  • Alverno Flow – 480 CFS
  • Kleber Dam Flow – 241 CFS

11/21/18

With the cold weather and low inflow from Kleber the Lake has been dropping steadily each day.

    • Black Lake Level 611.46
    • Alverno Pond Level 609.47
    • Alverno Total Flow 706 CFS
    • Kleber Dam Total Flow 203 CFS

11-14-2018

  • Black Lake 611.87 status- lake level is dropping
  • Alverno Head Pond 609.89 status- transitioning Head Pond Level down to 609.5
  • Alverno Flow -849 CFS status- steady flow
  • Kleber Flow – 285 CFS status- flow is decreasing

9/27/18

There seems to be some interest in the lake level so I am posting the current levels as of this morning. We had a very dry summer and had the plant shut down much of the summer and will have it shut down again unless we get significant rain in the system. The lake levels have been consistent all summer between 612.10 and 612.25. The last few days the wind has pushed the lake levels around changing it as much as 5 inches.
We are currently planning a normal draw down start date of November 1.

  • Black Lake level – 612.12
  • Alverno Head Pond level – 611.87
  • Alverno Dam Flow – 360 CFS
  • Kleber Dam Flow – 184 CFS

5/16/18

  • Alverno Head Pond – 609.63
  • Black Lake Level – 613.27
  • Alverno Total Flow – 1721 CFS
  • Kleber Dam Total Flow – 379 CFS

 5/15/18

  • Alverno Head Pond – 609.62
  • Black Lake Level – 613.43
  • Alverno Total Flow- 1791 CFS
  • Kleber Dam Total Flow – 455 CFS

 5/14/18

  • Alverno Head Pond -609.64
  • Black Lake Level – 613.56
  • Alverno Total Flow – 1948 CFS
  • Kleber Dam Total Flow – 453 CFS

5-7-18

  • Black Lake Level – 614.17
  • Alverno Head Pond Level – 609.58
  • Alverno Dam Total Flow – 2403 CFS
  • Kleber Dam Total Flow – 1369 CFS

We have seen our first significant drop in water flow at our Tower Dam upstream of Kleber Dam just in the last few hours this evening, its our first indication that the runoff may have peaked and is starting down now.

4/22/18

    • Black Lake Level – 611.50
    • Alverno Head Pond Level – 609.57
    • Alverno Total Flow – 809 CFS
    • Kleber Dam Total Flow – 616 CFS

4/16/18

  • Black Lake Level – 611.33
  • Alverno Head Pond Level – 609.38
  • Alverno Total Flow – 620 CFS
  • Kleber Total Flow – 243 CFS

4-1-2018

  • Black Lake Level – 611.08
  • Alverno Dam Level – 609.48
  • Alverno Dam Total Flow – 590 CFS
  • Kleber Dam Total Flow – 339 CFS

3/25/2018

  • Black Lake Level – 610.81
  • Alverno Head Pond Level – 609.65
  • Alverno Total Flow – 538 CFS
  • Kleber Dam Total Flow – 223 CFS

 3/18/18

  • Alverno Head Pond Level -609.54
  • Black Lake Level – 610.98
  • Alverno Dam Total Flow – 575 CFS
  • Kleber Dam Total Flow – 224 CFS

3/12/18

  • Black Lake – 611.14
  • Alverno Head Pond Level – 609.55
  • Alverno Flow – 698 CFS
  • Kleber Dam Flow – 255 CFS

 3/2/18

  • Alverno Head Pond Level – 609.56
  • Black Lake Level – 611.25
  • Alverno Flow – 674 CFS
  • Kleber Dam Flow – 359 CFS

2/19/18

  • Black Lake 610.75
  • Alverno Head Pond 610.20
  • Alverno Flow 364 CFS
  • Kleber Dam Flow 240 CFS

2/19/18

  • Black Lake 610.75
  • Alverno Head Pond 610.20
  • Alverno Flow 364 CFS
  • Kleber Dam Flow 240 CFS

2/12/18

  • Black Lake Level – 610.76
  • Alverno Head Pond Level – 610.23
  • Alverno Flow – 343 CFS
  • Kleber Dam Flow – 174 CFS

2/5/2018

  • Black Lake -610.76
  • Alverno Head Pond Level – 609.54

The Black Lake level has stayed below the 610.80 level for the required 72 hours as of 1411 today. At 1500 we started the transition from the 609.5 +/- .25 level we have been at, up to the normal winter operating target level of 610.20 +/-.25.

We will hold at this pond level for the winter period unless the lake goes back above the 610.80 level for 72 hours or if we see an extended warm period and shows a steadily increasing lake level. Under those conditions we will transition back down to the 609.50 +/- .25 level. We will send an update of the changes at that time.

1-28-18

  • Black Lake Level – 610.83
  • Alverno Head Pond Level – 609.48
  • Alverno Flow – 483 CFS
  • Kleber Dam Flow – 280 CFS

1/21/18

  • Black Lake Level – 610.81
  • Alverno Head Pond Level – 609.61
  • Alverno Dam Total Flow – 474 – 310CFS
  • Kleber Dam Total Flow – 196 CFS

We are running one unit full load and a second unit at Alverno some of the time to maintain level, so flows have varied depending on if we have two units or one unit online.

1/14/2018

  • Black Lake Level- 610.88
  • Alverno Head Pond Level- 609.57
  • Alverno Dam Flow- 471 CFS
  • Kleber Dam Flow- 304 CFS

1/7/18

  • Black Lake Level 610.87
  • Alverno Head Pond Level 609.46
  • Alverno Dam Flow 413 CFS
  • Kleber Dam Flow 216 CFS

1-1-2018

  • Black Lake Level – 610.9
  • Alverno Head Pond Level – 609.55
  • Alverno Dam Flow – 463 CFS
  • Kleber Dam Flow – 238 CFS

12-25-17

    • Black Lake Level 611.12
    • Alverno Head Pond Level 609.40
    • Alverno Dam Flow – 610 CFS
    • Kleber Dam Flow – 241 CFS

12/18/17

  • Black Lake Level – 611.27
  • Alverno Head Pond Level – 609.50
  • Alverno Dam Flow – 678 CFS
  • Kleber Dam Flow – 216 CFS

12/10/17

  • Black Lake 611.64
  • Alverno Head Pond 609.46
  • Alverno Flow 793 CFS
  • Kleber Dam Flow 287 CFS

12-3-2017

  • Black Lake Level 611.78
  • Alverno Head Pond Level – 609.58
  • Alverno Total Flow – 856 CFS
  • Kleber Dam Total Flow – 245 CFS

11/26/17

  • Black Lake Level 612.17
  • Alverno Head Pond Level 609.64
  • Alverno Flow 1125 CFS
  • Kleber Dam Flow 308 CFS

11/19/17

  • Black Lake Level – 612.36
  • Alverno Head Pond Level – 610.20
  • Alverno Dam Flow – 1126 CFS
  •  Kleber Dam Flow – 839 CFS
    Recent rain on an already saturated drainage basin has brought the flows back up. Here are the levels and flows today.

11/12/17

  • Black Lake Level – 612.17
  • Alverno Head Pond Level – 610.41
  • Alverno Dam Total Flow 991 CFS
  • Kleber Dam Total Flow – 246 CFS
    With the lower flows into the lake the lake level continues to drop. Alverno Head Pond will be at winter target level 610.20 this week.

11-3-2017

  • Black Lake Level – 612.75
  • Alverno Head Pond Level – 610.90
  • Alverno Dam Total Flow – 1188 CFS
  • Kleber Dam Total Flow – 374 CFS
    The lake continues to drop from our peak recorded level of 613.00 that was a result of the heavy rainfalls in the area and the drainage basin. The upstream dam is dropping as you can see the significant drop in the CFS output from the Kleber plant in the past week. We are still putting water thru the tainter gate at Alverno with the gate open 10 inches, but we are starting to see the water slow there also as the lake level drops. We are officially into our winter draw down now and will continue to draw the head pond level down from its present level.

10-26-17

    • Black Lake Level -612.80
    • Alverno Head Pond Level -611.25
    • Alverno Plant Total flow CFS -1210
    • Kleber Head Pond Level -701.26
  • Kleber Plant Total Flow CFS -1264

July 31, 2017

    • Black Lake Level 612.13
    • Alverno Head Pond Level 611.90
    • Alverno Flow 367 CFS
    • Kleber Dam Flow 235 CFS

July 18, 2017

Cheboygan County approved the installation of a Black Lake Level Gauge and it has been installed on the Harbor Light Bridge on Black River Road and a couple pictures of it are included below.

Harbor Light Bridge River Gauge

  • Black Lake Level 6121.17
  • Alverno Head Pond Level 611.90
  • Alverno Flow 340 cfs
  • Kleber Dam Flow 207 cfs

— Black River Limited Partnership

July 3, 2017

    • Black Lake Water Level- 612.42
    • Alverno Dam Water Level- 611.62
    • Alverno Dam Flow -719 CFS
    • Kleber Dam Flow- 340 CFS

June 17, 2017

  • Black Lake Level 612.05
  • Alverno Pond Level -611.85
  • Alverno Flow 278 CFS
  • Kleber Dam Flow 247 CFS

The Rainy River Bridge Lake Level Gauge has been installed. See attached pictures for location reference at the bridge. We expect the lake level gauge on the west side to be installed soon and will update when that is completed.

Rainy River Bridge Lake Level Gauge

— BRLP

May 29, 2017

  • Black Lake Level 612.36
  • Alverno Head Pond Level 611.78
  • Alverno Flow 763 CFS
  • Kleber Dam Flow 408 CFS

May 26, 2017

  • Black Lake Level 612.28
  • Alverno Head Pond Level 611.89
  • Alverno Flow 571 CFS
  • Kleber Dam Flow 406 CFS

May 24, 2017

  • Black Lake Level 612.25
  • Alverno Head Pond Level 611.87
  • Alverno Flow 571 CFS
  • Kleber Dam Flow 425 CFS

Friday 5/12/17

  • Black Lake Level -612.24
  • Alverno Head Pond Level -611.73
  • Alverno Total Flow -741 CFS
  • Kleber Dam Total Flow -366 CFS

Wednesday 5/10/17

  • Black Lake Level -612.41
  • Alverno Head Pond Level -611.49
  • Alverno Total Flow -963 CFS
  • Kleber Dam Total Flow -544 CFS

 Monday 5/8/17

  • Black Lake Level-612.50
  • Alverno Head Pond Level-611.66
  • Alverno Total Flow-1084 CFS
  • Kleber Dam Total Flow- 330 CFS

Friday 5/5/17

  • Black Lake Level-612.55
  • Alverno Head Pond Level-611.72
  • Alverno Total Flow-1072 CFS
  • Kleber Dam Total Flow-835 CFS

5/3/17

  • Black Lake Level – 612.41
  • Alverno Head Pond Level – 611.52
  • Alverno Total Flow – 1065
  • Kleber Dam Total Flow – 816 CFS

5/1/17

  • Black Lake Level- 612.45
  • Alverno Head Pond Level- 611.44
  • Alverno Total Flow- 1017 CFS
  • Kleber Dam total flow – 297 CFS
NOTE: On Monday at 3:50 pm the lake chart was calibrated to reflect the latest combined survey results from Porter and Granger Survey. The Lake chart was at 612.45 and was corrected .09 to 612.36 to show the corrected lake level.

4/28/17

  • Black Lake Level 612.75
  • Alverno Head Pond Level 610.35
  • Alverno Total Flow 1102 cfs
  • Kleber Dam Total Flow 507 cfs

— BRLP

4/26/17

  • Black Lake Level 612.80
  • Alverno Pond Level 611.27
  • Alverno Total flow 1318 cfs
  • Kleber Dam Flow 402 cfs

4/24/17

  • Black Lake Level- 612.96
  • Alverno Pond Level 611.29
  • Alverno Total flow 1389 cfs
  • Kleber Dam Flow 657 cfs

04/21/2017

  • Black Lake Level  613.14
  • Alverno Head Pond Level 610.12
  • Alverno Total Flow 1245 CFS
  • Kleber Dam total Flow 840 cfs

04/19/2017

  • Black Lake Level 612.98
  • Alverno Head Pond Level 610.00
  • Alverno Total Flow 1240 CFS
  • Kleber Dam Total Flow 1082 cfs

04/17/2017

  • Black Lake Level –  612.81
  • Alverno Head Pond Level – 610.07
  • Alverno Flow 1088 cfs
  • Kleber Flow 969 cfs

04/14/2017

  • Black Lake Level 612.70
  • Alverno 610.27
  • Alverno Flow 1055
  • Kleber Flow 756

04/12/2017

  • Black Lake Level 612.72
  • Alverno 610.17
  • Alverno Flow 1053 cfs
  • Kleber Flow 758 cfs

04/10/2017

  • Black Lake Level 612.67
  • Alverno Head Pond 610.28
  • Alverno Flow 1049 cfs
  • Kleber Flow 814 cfs

— TKLP

04/07/2017

  • Black Lake Level 612.53
  • Alverno Head Pond 610.26
  • Alverno Flow 1049 cfs
  • Kleber Flow 1015 cfs

— TKLP

04/04/2017

  • The level in Black Lake is at 612.31, it has continued to rise slowly with spring runoff and rain events.
  • The Alverno head pond is at 610.36 and the flow is at 955 cfs. with the plant full load and the tainter gate open to 10”.
  • The Kleber dam total flow is at 832 cfs with the plant full load and the tainter gate open 13”

— Black River Limited Partnership

03/31/2017

  • Black Lake water level- 612.23
  • Alverno head pond level- 610.30
  • Alverno total flow 911 cfs
  • Kleber Dam total flow 663 cfs

— Black River Limited Partnership

03/29/2017

The Black Lake level is at 612.13 today. The flow at Alverno is at 873 cfs and the pond level is holding at 610.28 with the flood gate open 6 inches. The Kleber dam flow is at 736 cfs with the flood gate open there 9 inches.

— Black River Limited Partnership

03/24/2017

The Alverno head pond is at 610.29 today and a flow of 694 cfs. The Black Lake Marina Level is 611.72. The Kleber Dam flow is 310 cfs.

— Black River Limited Partnership

03/22/2017

The Black Lake Level at the Marina was 611.74, the head pond level at Alverno Dam was 610.20. The flow at the Kleber Dam was 348 cfs. The flow at the Alverno Dam was 913 cfs. After doing more checking into our flows at the Alverno Dam vs the expected Smith Rapids flows we found our flow curve rating is probably at the 612.2 level and not the 610.2 level. That accounts for about a 20% difference in flow rating. That would put the actual flow at Alverno Dam at 731 cfs.

— Black River Limited Partnership

03/20/2017

The Black Lake Level is at 611.85. We are starting to see a little more water up stream from the warmer weather. The Alverno Head Pond is at 610.15 and the flow is 837 cfs. The Kleber Dam is passing 325 cfs.

— Black River Limited Partnership

03/15/2017

The Black Lake Level is at 612.13 and dropping slowly. It reached a peak on 3/13/17 of 612.25. With the upstream flows into the lake much slower now we expect the lake level to keep dropping. The Alverno Head Pond is at 610.04 and the flow is 1077 cfs. The Kleber Dam has slowed considerably with the cold weather and is moving 281 cfs thru the turbines, down from 840 cfs a few days ago.

— Black River Limited Partnership

03/03/2017

  • Black Lake Level is at 611.96
  • The Alverno Head Pond is at 609.89 and flow is at 939 cfs
  • The Kleber Dam flow is at 418 cfs

The lake had continued to rise from the previous warm weather and rain. The recent heavy snow and cold weather has slowed the water down and the flow into the lake from Kleber. The Lake level has held steady now since 6pm yesterday with no rise in lake level.

We are expecting a warm up on Sunday so we are tentatively planning to open the Alverno tainter gate Sunday afternoon and moving the head pond level down to 609.85. The DNR and FERC has agreed to allow us to do this during a warm (above freezing) weather period, for 24 hours to see what effect that has on the lake level under current conditions.

— Jim Tucker

03/01/2017

  • Black Lake is at 611.86 up from 611.79 yesterday morning
  • Alverno Dam is at 609.65 and passing 932 cfs
  • Kleber dam is passing 530 cfs

We had seen a drop in the water flow at Kleber the last two days but warm temperatures and overnight rain continue to move water thru the system and are holding the flow steady now.

— Jim Tucker

02/17/2017

  • Black Lake is at 611.21
  • Alverno pond is at 610.18

The water inflow at Alverno is such that the operator, puts two units on in the morning at 70% and 65% wicket gate opening, then the pond should be down to 609.5 or even as low as 609.4 by 7:00pm. If we leave the units alone overnight, the pond will be down to roughly 609.2 which would be to low and cause the units to be cavitating heavily.

So, operationally in the evening , we shut one unit down and turn the other unit on full load at almost 100% wicket gate opening. Then, by 7:00am the pond is up again to the 610.18 mark. The second unit that gets shut off every night in this transitional flow period can not run down below 58% wicket gate as it is putting out very little power and will become electrically/mechanically unstable because of the design of the old turbine.

We will be able to in the next couple of days hold the pond at the target low elevation of 609.5 (+/- 0.1) all day long once flows subside.

As soon, as the lake gets down to 611.10, we are generally able to hold our pond at the 609.5 (+/- 0.1) level all day long as that level usually corresponds with the flows that allow us to operate one unit all day long and keep the pond at that lower level all day long.

When the lake is at 611.3 or higher – we can usually run two units at 60% gate opening or more all day long and therefore have more operational control to hold the pond at 609.5.

This period of fluctuating the pond from the 610.18 mark or so to the 609.5 mark or so is only for a few days where we are on the way down with the flows in that “transitional range” or where we are on the way up with the flows in that transitional range.

This flow transitional range occurs when the lake level is generally at between 611.10 and 611.30 and the system is in more or less a steady state condition.

The lake level dropped from 611.25 to 611.21 so we are still on the way down.

Kleber dam inflow to the lake has been one unit on full time with the second unit running part of the time and the water coming into that dam is subsiding.

However, temperatures are to warm up and we will see more water entering the drainage basin and be back to a little higher lake level, most probably next week as inflows increase and of course we will re-enter this flow transitional period at Alverno again.

— Jim Tucker

02/08/2017

  • Black Lake is 611.34 down from 611.57 after the January thaw
  • Alverno Head Pond 609.64 and holding