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The Upper Peninsula Power Company is ready to begin its winter drawdown of water levels at its hydroelectric facilities.
In the Western Upper Peninsula, the Victoria Dam, Bond Falls and Lake Gogebic reservoirs will be lowered in January. The Prickett Dam reservoir will be lowered in February.
The water levels are lowered to make room in the reservoirs for spring runoff. The adjustments are required by the federal government.
UPPCO spokesman Brett French warns that the procedure can make ice conditions dangerous. Lowering the water level creates an air gap between the ice and the water surface on the reservoirs, which can cause the ice to collapse. Increased water flow downstream can destabilize river ice, making it unsafe.
French urges anyone using the ice during drawdown periods to be extremely cautions.
The reservoirs typically begin returning to their regular levels in April, with the effects of snow melt and spring rains.
