Slight Drop in Lake Minnetonka Water Level May Avoid High Water Declaration

Lake Minnetonka’s water level fell to below 930 feet over the weekend, and the slight drop should shelve a high water declaration on the area's most popular lake.

Lake levels had topped 930 feet since July 15. The most recent measurements, recorded July 22, put Lake Minnetonka’s water at 929.97. The ordinary high water level on Lake Minnetonka is 929.40 feet, according to the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District—which is charged with controlling the lake’s water elevation via operation of the Grays Bay Dam.

A high water declaration, which would be issued by the Lake Minnetonka Conservation District, restricts speed and wake for boat traffic and makes it unlawful to operate a watercraft at a speed of more than 5 mph or at a speed that results in more than a minimum wake. Lake levels must, per state statute, remain at 930 feet or above for eight consecutive days before a high water declaration can be issued.

While last week’s hot, dry weather has helped to stabilize Lake Minnetonka’s water level, several inches of rain earlier this month have pushed the lakes water to its highest point since the spring of 2011.

The dam at Grays Bay, which regulates outflow from Lake Minnetonka to the Minnehaha Creek, had been operating at a discharge level of "300" since July 15. Discharge has been dialed back a bit to “250” as of this posting.