File No. 711.4216L/99
It will be observed that the conditions obtaining are abnormal, that all
regulation works are wide open but that lake elevations are still
rising. It appears that nothing can be done until these conditions
abate.
[Inclosure 1]
The Engineer of the Upper St.
Lawrence District to the Deputy
Minister, Department of Public Works, of Canada
Upper St. Lawrence District Engineer’s
Office,
Ottawa,
May 15, 1916.
Dear Sir: I beg to acquaint you with the
following memoranda with regard to water conditions over the Lake of
the Woods tributary waters.
This office is in daily communication by night telegram with the Fort
Frances office during the present period of excessive high water,
most particularly for the benefit of the Lake of the Woods Technical
Board and the International Joint Commission.
Namakan Lake is tributary to Rainy Lake and its waters are controlled
by Kettle Falls by masonry dams owned by the Minnesota & Ontario
Power Co., and the Ontario & Minnesota Power Co., of
International Falls, Minnesota and Fort Frances, Ont.
The control is by stop log sluice ways. The plans of the dams, and as
they are built, were approved by the Department of Public Works in
1914, one of the conditions of approval being as follows:—
That the company agree that the control of the flow past the
section shah be regulated solely by such officers or persons
as may be hereafter appointed for the purpose by the
Minister of Public Works, and that, in case of any
difference of opinion, the ruling of the Minister of Public
Works for Canada shall prevail.
In accordance with this clause, Mr. S. J. Chapleau, District
Engineer of the Department of Public Works, was authorized
to arrange for the control of the flow and, after
consultation with the United States engineers and other
parties if necessary, to fix the [Page 303] extreme high-water level. Following this,
an arrangement was made and agreed to between Mr. Chapleau
as representing the Dominion Department Of Public Works, and
Col. C. L. Potter, of the Corps of Engineers, representing
the United States interests, whereby the high limit of lake
regulation was fixed at elevation 508.5, subject to
reconsideration by either Government or by the International
Joint Commission.
This secures a regulation between 508.5 and the 497 or lower, should
Rainy Lake be drawn down.
Extraordinary high water conditions prevail over the whole of the
northern waters catch basins east of Manitoba at the present time to
such an extent that even with the control wide open lake elevations
are still rising.
Please note the following copy of wire received from Fort Frances
this morning.
Namakan elevation yesterday 510.90 and rising three inches per
day, all sluices Namakan dam being opened to-day. Rainy Lake
yesterday 498.15, upper 496.80, lower 472.50, discharge 23,721
second feet. Rainy Lake to-day 498.25, upper 497.00, lower
492.55, discharge about 24,500 water flowing over dam.
This telegram has been communicated to the International Joint
Commission.
Nothing more can be done to reduce the abnormal high water; Namakan
Lake, Rainy Lake and Lake of the Woods are filled beyond their
capacity and all regulation works are wide open.
[Inclosure 2]
The Hydrographic Survey
to the Deputy Minister of Public Works of
Canada
Hydrographic Survey,
Ottawa,
18th May, 1916.
Sir: Over the telephone this morning I had
a conversation with Mr. Chapleau, at Kingston, and he is worrying
quite a lot over the condition of the water in Rainy and Namakan
Lakes, in the Lake of the Woods District and he asked me to have
some talk with you over the matter, but unfortunately you were very
busy this morning and I have just learned that I cannot get in touch
with you this afternoon before I leave for Montreal.
The fact is the whole district is inundated at the present time, all
the lakes and reservoirs are full to overflowing and there is no
place to store any water; the International Joint Commission and the
Technical Board are worrying as well as Mr. Chapleau. The Lake of
the Woods outlet is as wide open as it can be made and still the
water in the Lake is rising; Rainy Lake is discharging 2½ times its
mean flow, rather more than Lake of the Woods can take care of;
Namakan Lake is full and flowing 2 ft. over the top of the dam at
the outlet, so that there is nothing that ether Mr. Chapleau or the
rest of us can do until conditions abate.
I dare say you are aware that there was an unusually heavy snow fall
in that district during the past winter and there have been some
pretty heavy rain storms this spring. You will remember that there
was a complaint about flood condition in the Rosseau and Red Rivers,
this is part of the same district and there seems little to do.
