Observation: Based on the current water levels, compared with deposits of rocks and fallen trees/driftwood and markers such as the boat ramp, on the shoreline of Eklutna Lake, I believe that the water is somewhere between 15 and 20 feet lower than it would be if the lake were at full capacity. As a newcomer to Anchorage, I am wondering if these water levels are lower would normally be during winter months. I read that the snowfall levels are lower then usual. This potentially affects the amount of water available for use in Anchorage, as well as the electricity that the hydroelectric plant is capable of producing.
The method I used to measure the water level is not exact because I only had a cellphone and some measuring tape - for more exact results, a tripod and rotary laser or other method will have to be used.
First, I walked out onto the ice and stepped on the bottom of the measuring tape to hold it down. Then I measured the bottom two layers of the sediment along the side of the lake (picture posted) to see how tall they were. Next, I approximated that there were perhaps 10 to 15 layers of roughly the same height and shape leading up to the debris left by the water (the aforementioned trees) and calculated an estimated height of water currently to the height where it once was.
There are some considerations that need to be taken into account when calculating the actual water level:
- I am holding a cellphone and a measuring tape, which is only accurate to a height where I am actually able to hold the tape and take a picture (the bottom two levels).
- Currently (as of 01/18/2016) the lake is frozen. It is well known that when water freezes into ice that it expands. I do not know to what degree this would affect the lake level, however.
- I added the first picture to show the degree that the water has dropped on the North side of the lake.
- Regardless of the calculations, the edge of the lake extended to a height much taller than I am (roughly 6 feet).
Anchorage Water & Wastewater Consult: Chris R. Kosinski, Public Affairs | Anchorage Water & Wastewater Utility - “This year’s winter time observations of Eklutna Lake levels are consistent with previous year’s readings. Anchorage Water & Wastewater Utility monitors the lake levels and tracks reports made by the United States Geological Survey (USGS). See the attached graphic for annual lake level readings from 2008 to present. It is normal for the lake level to drop each winter and rise each summer in response to the seasonal changes in tributary runoffs from the upper watershed, and glaciated area. The lake level is actively managed by adjusting the volume of discharge through the Eklutna Power Plant. Current lake level trends are normal. The lake is “recharged” from glacial melt during summer months and “drained” during winter months, providing ample supply for the Eklutna Water Treatment Facility and Eklutna Power Plant.”
Availalbe resources:
National Water Information System: Web Interface USGS Water Resources provides the data for, USGS 15278000 EKLUTNA LK NR PALMER AK. This station managed by teh Anchorage Field Office.
Other water facts about Eklutna Lake:
- Raw water taken from Eklutna Lake by Anchorage Water & Wastewater Utility in 2015 totaled 7,782,691,000 gallons or an average of 21,322,441 gallons per day.
- The water utility and power plant Intake structure is situated at an elevation of 814 feet.
- Lake level elevation recorded by USGS on Feb. 3, 2016 was 843.12.
- Lake water storage at elevation 843.12 is 85,161
- US gallons storage capacity of 85,161 acre feet is equal to 27,746,574,860 gallons.
- The two historical low level water readings for Eklutna Lake are 814.20 feet on June 1, 1962 and 825.40 feet on May 21, 1997.
- The three historical high level water readings for Eklutna Lake are 877.68 feet on Sept. 25, 1996; 875.53 feet on Sept. 10, 1997; and 867.14 feet on October 1, 2002.
Thanks for your interest in the Utility - Chris
Media:
***Alaska Dispatch News***2017-02-20) Eklutna Glacier, a source of Anchorage drinking water, is disappearing drip by drip
Alaska Dispatch News (2013-12-15) As Eklutna Glacier Shrinks, Anchorage's Water and Power Becomes More Expensive. Seasonally there can be big changes in water level. According to the article, reductions in the size of the glacier is the big concern. "Eklutna Glacier lost 23 percent of its volume between 1957 and 2009. Converting ice into a standard measure of water, the net loss was about 973,000 acre-feet. This is enough water to completely fill Eklutna Lake 2.4 times or enough to recharge its storage capacity nearly six times." Author: Rick Sinnott
Alaska Public Radio Network (APRN) (2015-07-02) Anchorage’s 2014-2015 snowfall levels lowest on record, "As July begins and the National Weather Service resets their annual snowfall totals to zero, it’s official — Anchorage’s snowfall levels last winter are the lowest on record." By Josh Edge
Alaska Dispatch News (2017-02-19) Eklutna Glacier, a source of Anchorage drinking water, is disappearing drip by drip, "If the climate remains the same as that from 2008 to 2015, the glacier's near-complete disappearance will likely happen in about 100 years, he said. If the climate warms even more, however, the timeline will be much shorter, perhaps in half as much time, said Louis Sass, USGS scientist. The newly published study does not give any expected endpoint for the glacier's life, but warns that the "deglaciation dividend" will eventually disappear, resulting in lower water supplies. In 2016, Eklutna water made up 86 percent of the nearly 8.3 trillion gallons of water produced for Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility. Far more of Eklunta's water — about 10 times as much or 250 million gallons per day — went in 2016 to Eklutna hydroelectric plant operated by local power utilities, according to AWWU." Author: Yereth Rosen
