PRINCETON DAM

 

In early May 2023, the DNR implemented a seasonal gate operation strategy plan for the Princeton Dam. The current plan is set to run from May 2023 through June 2026. Please see the bottom of this page for a full copy of the Princeton Dam Operation Plan. Below you will find current updates regarding gates, flow, and other pertinent information to the Princeton Dam.

 

​The below updates are sent from Uriah Monday with the DNR. 

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2 gates are currently open at the Princeton Dam

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June 5, 2026

A third gate was closed at Princeton Dam this week on Monday, June 1.  At the time, the gage reading at the dam was about 7.6 and the flow was about 810 CFS.  On Wednesday 6/3 the gage was reading about 7.7.

 

In accordance with the regular schedule, we intend to close a fourth gate next week and the last one the week after.  While some (needed) rain chances are in the forecast and are likely to boost flows somewhat, it is not expected that the rain (or potential lack thereof) is likely to change our plans.  In the possibility that no rain falls and hotter weather prevails, we may conduct the final gate closure late next week rather than early in the following week.

 

As a reminder, the current operations plan was intended to run for 3 years (through the 2026 recreational season) and then be reevaluated.  DNR has not written a new plan yet, and wants to gather information from the LPPRD before doing so.  At your meeting tomorrow, I ask that you solicit comments from the public about how they feel the operations plan worked or didn’t work, what general levels are desired for navigation, whet levels seem too high for shoreline protection or good drainage, what begin and end dates seem best, etc.  I further ask that to the extent possible, comments about levels include a quantifiable context – for instance when the gage at the dam reads such-and-such, or the level at the boat ramp is at so-and-so, or the Fish Camp gage, or other identifiable location.  Finally, I do want to give a bit of an “expectation setting” reminder that while the dam can have some influence on levels at certain flow ranges and conditions, its small size and long distance from the lake limit its abilities to a large extent.  While the operations plan aims to provide reasonable and useful levels within that range, the river system flows are the primary driver of lake levels.

 

I will provide a (likely final) update on operations for this season late next week.

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May 27, 2026

Two gates closures occurred at the Princeton Dam recently:

• One gate was closed on Thursday 5/21/26.  At that time, the level at the dam was approximately 7.95 and flow was approximately 1190 CFS.

• A second gate was closed yesterday (5/26/2026), the level at the dam was approximately 7.82 and flow was approximately 1060 CFS.

 

Flow continues to track downwards, losing about 30 CFS/day.  No significant rainfall appears to be in the forecast.  We intend to continue to close one gate per week, targeting very early in each week, for the next 3 weeks (i.e. through 6/15/26). Depending on where levels are in the later weeks, which will generally depend on any precip we get, we may accelerate closures in accordance with the operations plan which provides exceptions for situations where levels would drop below 7.3 at the dam.

 

We will continue to monitor levels and flows, and I will send an email on or about Friday June 5 with an update on status and forecast for further gate closures.

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May 16, 2026

This upcoming week (May 18-22) is the week prior to Memorial Day (which happens to be very early this year).  The operation plan (attached, for reference) indicates that a gate will be closed each week for 5 weeks, starting the week prior to Memorial Day (with exceptions for situations where levels would drop below 7.3 at the dam).  As of today (5/16/2026), the level at the dam was approximately 8.24 and flow was approximately 1320 CFS. Flow has been tracking downwards for the last several weeks, losing about 300 CFS/week.  At this time, all five gates are open.  Due to the still modestly-high level, we will plan on waiting to close the first gate until late this week, when I expect flows to be in the 1100 CFS range and the gage should read around 7.8.  Similarly, we are likely to wait until later in the week of Memorial Day to close the second gate.

 

We will continue to monitor levels and flows, and I will send an email early in the Memorial Day week with an update on status and forecast for further gate closures.

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March 23, 2026

Following the gate opening on March 12, levels at the dam remained right around 8.0 until snow melt began in earnest.  Today, department staff visited the dam and the gage read 8.26.  The final gate was opened today.

 

Flows in the river system are expected to continue to increase as snow melt works its way through the river system; the National weather Service predicts the river will crest on Friday and then slowly diminish.  Based on past observations, even without precipitation, it will likely take two weeks after the crest for flows to diminish back to amounts seen today.

 

For that reason, the gates will all remain open for the foreseeable future and there will likely be no visit to the dam until the week of April 6 at the earliest.  Staff will continue to monitor flow rates at the USGS gage.

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March 12, 2026 

Today staff visited the dam, gage read 8.20 and flow at the USGS/NWS gage was about 1030 CFS.  This warranted opening two gates.  At this time, four gates (of five) are fully open.  I expect level at the dam to decrease to about 7.5 by early next week.  We will continue to monitor the USGS/NWS flow information, but at this time I do not expect further adjustments either this week or next.  I anticipate sending an update email mid- to late next week.

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March 11, 2026

All, sorry for the late update:  staff will be visiting the dam this week, and are likely to open one gate.  Unless you hear differently from me, assume that this is the case.

 

We will continue to monitor flows via using the USGS/NWS gage information at the Princeton bridge to inform when/if other adjustments should be made next week.

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March 1, 2026

March 1 marks the beginning of the spring gate setting season.  The operation plan (attached, for reference) indicates all gates open from March 1 until around Memorial Day (with exceptions for levels below 7.3 at the dam or above 8.1 at the dam).  As of 2/26/2026, the level at the dam and flow was approximately 7.65 and flow was approximately 700 CFS. This amount of flow is relatively low, and opening all gates would drop the levels below 7.3.  At this time, two gates are open, and the setting will remain like this until at least Monday, March 9.  There are several chances for rainfall this week and next, and likely at least one additional gate will be opened on or after March 9.  Beyond this, river flows will be monitored to determine if/when further openings would occur.