discharge at Mallileau dam

water is going up!

Sure is, the water was up on the walk way in Stillwater this morning and the ice was breaking up and disappearing.

As of Sunday afternoon, there was about 10 ft of open water all along Black Bass pt south of Afton but the water level was not yet much above a high-water peak stake I drove in last fall at shoreline.
Anyone have a recent thickness measurement at Bayport? We had exactly 26 inches when the last of the snow melted a week ago Friday and the ice turned blue. Caught a returned a 10#northern on crappie rig, 4# line but missed the photo.
Don’t forget to start watching MODIS TODAY polar satellite
and King plant falcon/ospreycams in next few weeks–last year’s dramatic ice-out on Mille Lacs is still viewable from archives for 4/22-25 and subsequent other breakups on Leech, Winnie, Red and LOW. Last lake in state, Greenwood in Arrowhead, was fogged over the week it went May 10. Journeynorth is good for loons, flora etc.

I was checking out the remodeled Swillwater Boomsite landing Saturday and Sunday. The ice went from white (Sat.) to black on Sunday. It also came up the shore about 30′ on the South side but it’s a pretty gentle slope tho.

I saw a guy launch a kayak and paddle 30 yards out to the ice. He then whipped out a couple mini ski poles and pushed his way across to bird island. Most likely to take pics???

I saw a Blue heron, a couple swans, a half dozen sandhill cranes, and eagle, tons of ducks, and those damn geese are back.

Won’t be long before the main channel is open in Stillsville.

Ferny.

Wow! Up 4 feet since Saturday.

River Guage

And climbing

About 50 swans flew over us at Lakeland Sunday in a long line at dusk headed west — out for supper or northbound?

For updates on Lake St. Croix from noon today — Monday –see my posting on Mississippi forum. MNDot was at the bridge at noon and there was about 13 inches clearance but
traffic still flowing.

About half of ice is out on upper Lake St. Croix pool from about Boomsite at Stillwater to Bayport. Water rising about an inch per hour and running upstream.

Amazing how the river is rising in Stillwater when it peaked a weak ago up in Taylors Falls. The River has dropped 4′ since last Tuesday 20 miles north. Only 3′ from it’s summer low level.

http://waterdata.usgs.gov/wi/nwis/uv/?site_no=05340500&amp%3b

Temperature is up to 41 degrees…It wont be long until the white bass run begins!

TC

TODAY’S EYEWITNESS OBSERVATIONS:
Stillwater level 686.4 held steady just below bottom of bridge most of the afternoon after rising at least a inch an hour this weekend.
Miss @ 101 bridge @Elk River showed three higher water ridges today and Minnesota @ Mankato reported falling. Rum near Onamia Way DOWN, with dramatic ice blocks up on shore a few miles south of town. Crow at St. Michael appeared still very high.
Is it too early to wonder if worst is over?