Cass Lake Levels

A blue graphic with the words Cass Lake Lake Levels with the USDA and Forest Service insignias..Bimijiwan (formerly Knutson Dam) was built in the early 1900s as a logging dam by the J. Neils Logging Company.  In 1926, the U.S. Forest Service purchased the dam and rebuilt it in 1926 and again in 1964. The decision was made to replace the dam after a 2011 engineering inspection showed significant repairs would be needed to keep the dam operational.  This was the second in a series of eight dams on the Mississippi Headwaters lakes from Lake Itasca to Royalton, Minnesota.  The rock arch rapids was designed to restore a more natural stream flow to the Mississippi River.  This will benefit fish and wildlife while maintaining desired seasonal water levels. Lakeland News Story

View water management gauge information from the US Army Corps of Engineers.

2024 Water Levels

November 20

One gate at Bimijiwan was opened on 11/20/24. There is currently 1 gate open, 1 closed. The Cass Lake level is 1301.77 and the estimated outflow is 314CFS.

August 01

 

One gate at Bimijiwan was closed on 7/17/24. Both gates are currently closed.  The Cass Lake level today is 1302.08 and the estimated outflow is 388CFS.

May 22

One gate at Bimijiwan was opened on Wednesday, 05/22.  There is currently one gate open and one closed. The Cass Lake level is 1302.51 and the estimated outflow is 863CFS.

March 14

One gate at Bimijiwan was closed on Thursday, 3/14. Both gates are currently closed. The Cass Lake level today is 1301.64 and the estimated outflow is 80CFS.

2023 Water Levels

*The area is on the third consecutive year of drought; lake levels have been very low this summer. 

October 31

  • The second gate at Bimijiwan was opened on Thursday, 10/26.
  • There are currently two gates open, zero closed.
  • The Cass Lake level today is 1301.71 and the estimated outflow is 489 CFS.

September 19

  • The Cass Lake level today is 1301.58.
  • Both bypass channel gates are closed.  The first gate was closed on 5/22/23 and the second gate was closed on 6/6/23.

 

2022 Water Levels

2022 Water level graph

July 12

  • 1302.14
  • One gate at Bimijiwan/Knutson Dam was closed yesterday.  Both bypass channel gates are now closed.  The Cass Lake level is 1302.14 and the estimated outflow is 441CFS.

July 5

  • 1302.21
  • One gate at Bimijiwan/Knutson Dam was closed yesterday.  There is currently one gate open and one closed. The Cass Lake level is 1302.21 and the estimated outflow is 659CFS.

May 23

  • 1303.30
  • The level of Cass Lake on May 23 was 1303.30 with an estimated outflow of 1307CFS. Both bypass channel gates at Bimijiwan (Knutson Dam) remain open.

May 12

  • 1303.16
  • The Cass Lake gauge was recalibrated yesterday.  The level of Cass Lake is high at 1303.16 with an outflow of 1290CFS.  Both bypass channel gates at Bimijiwan/Knutson Dam are open.

April 22

  • 1301.80
  • One gate at Bimijiwan/Knutson Dam was opened today.  Both bypass channel gates are now open.  The Cass Lake level is 1301.80 and the outflow is 338CFS.

April 6

  • 1301.59
  • One gate at Bimijiwan/Knutson Dam was opened today.  There is currently one gate open and one closed.  The Cass Lake level is 1301.59 and the outflow is 264CFS.
  • One gate was closed on 3/21 and the structure was running with both gates closed between 3/21 and today.  An email update was not sent for the 3/21 gate change.

Mar. 23

  • 1301.33
  • One gate at Bimijiwan/Knutson Dam was closed today.  There is currently one gate open and one closed.  The Cass Lake level is 1301.33 and the outflow is 210CFS.

2021 Water Levels

Nov. 3

  • 1301.93
  • One gate was opened on 11/2; currently one gate open and one closed.  The Cass Lake level is 1301.93 and the outflow is 440CFS.

May 28

  • 1302.01
  • One gate was closed today.  Both bypass channel gates are now closed.  The Cass Lake level is 1302.01 and the outflow is 327CFS.

May 11

  • 1302.12
  • The gate was closed yesterday (5/11/21). There is currently one gate open and one closed. The Cass Lake level is 1302.12 and outflow is 589 CFS.

April 30

  • 1302.34
  • The bypass channel gate was opened today (4/30/21). Both gates are currently open. The Cass Lake level is 1302.34 and outflow is 905 CFS.

April 20

  • 1302.29
  • There is currently one gate open and one closed. The Cass Lake level is 1302.29 and the outflow is 721 CFS.

Mar. 8

  • 1301.37
  • One bypass channel gate was closed yesterday (3/8/21).  There is currently one gate open and one closed.  The Cass Lake level is 1301.37 and the outflow is 218 CFS.