Lake Level & Temperature

United States Geological Survey (USGS) websites provides data on Iowa Great Lakes lake water level and water temperature.

WEST LAKE OKOBOJI – data is taken at the Lakeside Laboratory in Millers Bay of West Lake Okoboji in Wahpeton, IA. The lake level and water temperature for East Okoboji, Lower Gar, Upper Gar, and Minnewashta should be similar since these lakes are interconnected with West Lake Okoboji.

For West Lake data see website:  http://ia.waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?06604200      For  730 Day Data Capability

To determine the water level in inches compared to crest level – at which point water will flow over the dam at the bottom end of Lower Gar use the following formula:

Subtract 4.04 from the given Gage Height (in feet) and then multiply that difference times 12.  The resulting number is the number of inches that the water is low (if the figure is a negative number). Or how much higher than the dam if the water is flowing over (if the figure is a positive number).

Example:  (3.47 – 4.04) x 12 = -6.84

This means that that West Lake Okoboji must rise 6.8 inches before water will run over the dam at the South end of Lower Gar Lake that controls the lake level of West Okoboji, East Okoboji, Lower Gar, Upper Gar, and Minnewashta.

SPIRIT LAKE – data is taken at Marble Beach State Park on the West shore of Big Spirit Lake.

For Big Spirit Lake data see website  http://ia.waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?06604000   For 730 Day Data Capability

To determine the water level in inches compared to crest level – at which point water will flow over the dam at the Spillway at the bottom end of Big Spirit Lake use the following formula:

Subtract 14.15 from the given Gage Height (in feet) and then multiply that difference times 12.  The resulting number is the number of inches that the water is low (if the figure is a negative number). Or how much higher than the dam if the water is flowing over (if the figure is a positive number).

Example:  (13.46 – 14.15) x 12 = -8.28

This means that Big Spirit Lake must rise 8.3 inches before water will run over the spillway.

OKOBOJI WATER FLOW DATA SITE - This measuring site is located on the West side of the Highway #71 bridge between East and West Okoboji. The site records water flow between East and West Okoboji, lake level, and water temperature. The flow meter was installed by the United State Geological Survey (USGS) under a federal grant with about $18,000 local match from the Dickinson County Water Quality Commission grant to the Friends of Lakeside Lab. This data site is temporary. The data is being collected to understand the water budget of East -West Okoboji as part of the water utilities' Source Water Protection Study.

The website address is   http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ia/nwis/uv?site_no=06604215     For 730 Day Data Capability