ELY — A National Weather Service flood warning was in effect for the South Kawishiwi River near Ely on Thursday, with high water affecting the White Iron Chain of Lakes and dozens of lakes and rivers throughout the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
The warning, issued by the NWS office in Duluth, cites a combination of recent heavy rains and late-season snowmelt as the drivers behind water levels that are running near or above those seen during the significant flood events of spring 2022 and June 2024. The South Kawishiwi River near Ely was gauged at 6.9 feet, well above the 5.5-foot bankfull stage at which water begins spilling into surrounding areas.
White Iron Lake is among the named locations experiencing elevated water levels, along with Fall, Snowbank, Basswood, Sea Gull, Saganaga, Ensign, Disappointment, and Lac La Croix. The NWS noted that high, fast-moving water is pushing through the Kawishiwi, Isabella, and Basswood rivers, and that lake levels across the BWCAW are broadly elevated.
Contributing to the downstream surge is the volume of water Minnesota Power is currently releasing from the Birch Lake Dam. According to the company’s public water table, flow out of Birch Lake Reservoir stands at approximately 6,990 cubic feet per second. To put that figure in context, the downstream Winton hydroelectric station, which uses the drop at Kawishiwi Falls to generate power, requires roughly 1,000 cfs to reach full production, the Timberjay previously reported. The current release is nearly seven times that amount.
The elevated outflow reflects the constraints Minnesota Power operates under during high-water events.
The company’s FERC license requires Birch Lake to be refilled to target elevation by May 15, and its reservoirs are not designed or permitted to hold water beyond mandated levels. On a High-Water FAQ page on its website, Minnesota Power acknowledges that White Iron Lake is one of the locations where high water “can be expected” downstream of Birch Lake Reservoir during significant rain events.
The NWS advises that anyone venturing into the BWCAW should be prepared for dangerous conditions, including submerged portages, swift and cold water, and inundated campsites. At 7.0 feet on the South Kawishiwi gauge, several BWCAW campsites may be underwater and portages could have flowing water that is difficult to identify.
The agency warns that swift currents pose particular hazards to paddlers.
Peak levels near Ely and the end of the Gunflint Trail are expected this weekend, with gradual decreases anticipated through the coming week. Areas near Basswood Lake and Lac La Croix may continue rising through much of this week, and the NWS indicated the advisory for those areas may need to be extended.