UPPCO to Begin Winter Reservoir Drawdown

Upper Peninsula Power Company has announced its schedule for drawing down the water levels behind its dams.

UPPCO is required by the federal government to reduce the water levels of its hydroelectric reservoirs during the winter, to make room for snow melt this spring.

The Silver Lake, Hoist, Victoria Dam, Bond Falls and Lake Gogebic reservoirs will be lowered this month. The Prickett Dam reservoir will be lowered beginning in February. 

Drawing down the water level can create air space under ice on the reservoirs, causing the ice to become unstable. Increased water flowing through the reservoirs and river systems may also cause ice to deteriorate.

UPPCO Vice President of Business Development and Communications Brett French urges caution around rivers and reservoirs for the next several months. Reservoir levels should begin returning to their normal levels in April, depending on the rate of snowmelt and the onset of spring.