Flood Waters Receding Around Duluth

Minnesota Power, headquartered in Duluth, says it appears flood waters have crested and water levels are beginning to decrease at its reservoirs along the St. Louis and Cloquet Rivers, alleviating some of the flooding in low-lying areas downstream from Island Lake, Boulder Lake, Whiteface, Fish Lake and Rice Lake Reservoirs.

Since the flood last Tuesday and Wednesday, Minnesota Power has been operating its Thomson, Scanlon, Knife Falls, Island Lake and Fond Du Lac Dams under an emergency action contingency plan for high flows. That means gates have been open to allow for the large volume of water to move through the watershed as quickly as possible to ensure the integrity of Minnesota Power’s dams.

When the high water flows coming into the watershed decrease, the company will close gates at the reservoirs, which will result in a decreased discharge and help alleviate flooding along the St. Louis River and Cloquet River watershed. Forecast dry weather conditions over the next few days are expected to help ease the situation.