LWCB to hold meetings on effects of high water levels

Ken Johnston
Editor

High water levels have plagued property owners this past summer and the people who govern the flow of the Rainy River and Lake of the Woods will be in the area this week to talk about them.

The Lake of the Woods Water Control Board (LWCB) is holding two public meetings in the area this week. On Tuesday they will be in Warroad to meet with the public about concerns stemming from the higher than normal water levels this past summer. On Wednesday the LWCB will personally visit the south shore of Lake of the Woods to see the effects of the water levels.

Then Wednesday evening a public meeting will be held in Rainy River. Rick Walden of LWCB said Monday the board is very aware that there have been dramatic effects to the southern basin of Lake of the Woods due to the high water event that took place this summer. Of particular concern is erosion to shorelines. “The board want to observe first hand the impacts of this year,“ said Walden.

At the public meetings they will make a presentation explaining what happened and what they did to deal with the situation as best they could.

Following the presentation they will open the floor to questions from the public. After that there will be time allowed for one on one discussion with the board members about the high waters.

Walden said that they are hoping for public input to help them determine what steps can be taken in the future to better deal with high water events, which he said will happen again.

“Nature is more powerful than us,” emphasized Walden. However the LWCB tries to regulate the water levels by increasing or decreasing outflows and inflows to the lake.

Walden encourages people that can’t make the Rainy River meeting to attend Warroad’s. Both meetings start at 7:30 p.m. In Warroad it will be at their city hall and in Rainy River it will be at the Recreation Center.