The CRWD watches the lake level near the dam on Grass Lake because a DNR permit requires the watershed to close the outlet at Pleasant Lake when the elevation at Clearwater Lake reaches 992.13'. This is called the "cutoff" elevation. We can have a good estimate at what the Clearwater Lake elevation is based on the info at Grass Lake since they are connected by a channel. The water level at the Grass Lake Dam site is monitored continuously from approximately May to October each year. We use a device called a pressure transducer which is hooked up to an antenna and this sends us the data once per hour. We also have a staff gauge (a fancy term for a ruler) attached to the dam where we can verify that the information we are getting from the transducer is accurate.
The Ordinary High Water level (OHW) on Clearwater Lake is 991.3' and on Grass Lake is 990.9'. The OHW is defined as a location around the lake where there is a change in soil and vegetation that shows us where the water usually meets the land. The highest recorded water level on Clearwater Lake was 996' and Grass, it was 995.23'. These both occurred on 6/27/1983.
The rains of mid-May this year caused water levels to rise rapidly. After a peak of 993.00' on 5/18/2022, water levels started to recede and have continued to do so at a slow but steady pace. In June and early July, floating bogs caused issues at Grass Lake Dam and in Clearwater Lake. The bogs were pulled out from around the dam. Low precipitation has kept lake levels right around the OHW since mid-July.
**All elevation information is being reported in NGVD29 datum. If you use NAVD88 datum, you would add approximately 0.5' to the elevation numbers listed here.
The Ordinary High Water level (OHW) on Clearwater Lake is 991.3' and on Grass Lake is 990.9'. The OHW is defined as a location around the lake where there is a change in soil and vegetation that shows us where the water usually meets the land. The highest recorded water level on Clearwater Lake was 996' and Grass, it was 995.23'. These both occurred on 6/27/1983.
The rains of mid-May this year caused water levels to rise rapidly. After a peak of 993.00' on 5/18/2022, water levels started to recede and have continued to do so at a slow but steady pace. In June and early July, floating bogs caused issues at Grass Lake Dam and in Clearwater Lake. The bogs were pulled out from around the dam. Low precipitation has kept lake levels right around the OHW since mid-July.
**All elevation information is being reported in NGVD29 datum. If you use NAVD88 datum, you would add approximately 0.5' to the elevation numbers listed here.
Latest readings
Date Elevation Gauge Reading
4/1/2022 - 990.40' 2.31
4/16/2022 - 991.34' 3.25
5/12/2022 - 991.66' 3.57
5/13/2022 - 991.86' 3.77
5/16/2022 - 992.69' 4.6
5/17/2022 - 992.88' 4.78
5/18/2022 - 992.94' 4.85
5/19/2022 - 992.99' 4.9
5/20/2022 - 992.99' 4.9
5/21/2022 - 992.91' 4.82
5/23/2022 - 992.75' 4.66
5/24/2022 - 992.66' 4.57
6/1/2022 - 992.13' 4.04
6/6/2022 - 991.86' 3.76
6/8/2022 - 991.79' 3.69
6/27/2022 - 991.16 3.07
7/26/2022 - 990.86' 2.77
8/29/2022 - 991.05' 2.96
*Please note these elevations are in NGVD29 datum. If you use NAVD88, add approximately 0.5' to these numbers.
Date Elevation Gauge Reading
4/1/2022 - 990.40' 2.31
4/16/2022 - 991.34' 3.25
5/12/2022 - 991.66' 3.57
5/13/2022 - 991.86' 3.77
5/16/2022 - 992.69' 4.6
5/17/2022 - 992.88' 4.78
5/18/2022 - 992.94' 4.85
5/19/2022 - 992.99' 4.9
5/20/2022 - 992.99' 4.9
5/21/2022 - 992.91' 4.82
5/23/2022 - 992.75' 4.66
5/24/2022 - 992.66' 4.57
6/1/2022 - 992.13' 4.04
6/6/2022 - 991.86' 3.76
6/8/2022 - 991.79' 3.69
6/27/2022 - 991.16 3.07
7/26/2022 - 990.86' 2.77
8/29/2022 - 991.05' 2.96
*Please note these elevations are in NGVD29 datum. If you use NAVD88, add approximately 0.5' to these numbers.