Water levels up on Gull, down on other area lakes

While Gull Lake is up, water levels on other Brainerd area lakes are down, according to anecdotal reports and employees of the DNR and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Gull Lake is at the top of its summer level, thanks to spring rains and a slower than normal drawdown last fall, said Mark Kay Larson, park manager at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers campground, where the lake's level is controlled through a dam on the Gull River.

Presently, Gull is at 1,194.12 feet above sea level. The top of the summer level is 1,194 feet. By law the lake is regulated to within one-hundredth of an inch of that level, Larson said.

"I had somebody tell me we had too much water," Larson said.

While the Gull chain of lakes is up, other area lakes such as Pelican and North Long are down, said Ed Carlson at DH Docks and Tracks, who installs docks and boat lifts throughout the lakes area.

The DNR is now setting water level gauges on 1,000 lakes statewide, said Mel Sinn, technical resources manager in the division of waters. No data is available yet, but Sinn said anecdotal reports say the water is up from last fall.

"I know at my place on Platte Lake (in southeast Crow Wing County) it's come up at least a half-foot since last fall," Sinn said.

In Crow Wing County, Whitefish, Crooked, Horseshoe, Pine, Turtle, Partridge, Round, Serpent, Rabbit and South Long are among the lakes to be monitored. To check water levels, go to the DNR Web site at www.dnr.state.mn.us and click on "Lakefinder." New readings should be available within the next two weeks.

VINCE MEYER may be reached at vince.meyer@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5862.