Improving Water-level Measurements in Namakan Reservoir

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Recent efforts to model the flow of water through the Namakan Reservoir in Minnesota and Ontario indicate that different survey datums were used to establish water elevations at different points in the Namakan Reservoir.  In February 2013, a USGS crew used a real time kinematic GPS to collect elevation data for a benchmark at Kettle Falls, the outlet of the Namakan Reservoir.  The elevation data were collected using the same datum as surveys done in the upper parts of the Namakan Reservoir in 2011 and 2012.  Collected elevation data will make all water-level data in the Namakan Reservoir more easily comparable, improve current efforts to model flow in the reservoir, and improve regulation of reservoir water levels according to regulations established by the International Joint Commission.

The RTK GPS used to measure elevation, set up on the benchmark at Kettle Falls, Minnesota.

The RTK GPS used to measure elevation, set up on the benchmark at Kettle Falls, Minnesota.

http://water.usgs.gov/usgs/osw/gps/GPS_projects.html#hydrographic

Author Name
Jeff Ziegeweid
Author Email
jrziege@usgs.gov