March 2022 Water Level Chart Archived

3 Clary-Lake-Water-Level-March-2022

March 2022

I have archived the March 2022 Water Level Chart (at left). The above-average precipitation with which we started the year did not continue into March, the month’s precipitation of 3.31 inches fell about 1/2″ short of the normal 3.77 inches for March. However, despite the shortfall (if you can call it that), we’re still a solid 2″ above normal for this date and the lake level in March reflects that rainy trend. Our management goal in late winter/early spring is to raise the lake level up to high spring time levels. This year we just got there a little faster than in recent years, actually overtopping the dam in late February. The lake level exceeded the HWM briefly on March 23rd. You can see this year’s water level compared with water levels from 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021 on our Current Clary Lake Water Level Charts page (see the 4th chart down).

Currently the weir is fully loaded with stop logs (6 of them) with the top of the weir about 4″ below the HWM and only slightly lower than the average top of dam elevation. The gate is open 1.0 feet. Total outflows are on the order of 41 cubic feet per second (cfs) and minimum flows are at 35.9 cfs where they will remain until May 16th when they will drop to 8.3 cfs. The lake level is a couple of inches below the high water mark and there is a little water overtopping the dam in several spots. Leaks are minor.