MOUND, Minnesota — Drought conditions have worsened across parts of Minnesota, including the Twin Cities.
The latest map released by the U.S. Drought Monitor shows nearly 4% of the state is experiencing extreme drought, including the Twin Cities metro area.
Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) is now classified with Extreme Drought — a first since the U.S. Drought Monitor was established 22 years ago.
It's led to low water levels on Lake Minnetonka.
"All the docks seem to be so high up... even here the docks are up in the air compared to the water levels," said Tom Kerber of Minnetonka.
Tom and his wife, Pam Kerber, were out on the water enjoying the fall colors Sunday afternoon.
"The sandbar's got birds sitting on it. You can see it when it's usually underwater," Kerber said.
According to MCWD's most recent report, Lake Minnetonka is about 20 inches below its ordinary high water level.
The water level update from September 30 said since the Gray's Bay Dam's closure in late July, evaporation off the lake has reduced the lake level by nine inches.
Meanwhile, Minnehaha Falls has dried up.
The MCWD update stated, "Historically, when Lake Minnetonka dropped below its natural runout elevation (928.60 feet) the lake stopped flowing into Minnehaha Creek. The Gray's Bay Dam mimics this history and is required to close whenever the lake falls below 928.60 feet. This means that since late-July the creek has relied on rainfall for flow, however, the record dry September resulted in the creek drying up at most locations, including Minnehaha Falls."
"This is the probably the worst that I've experienced for low water. Last year was pretty bad but this is even worse now. We're definitely experiencing a lot more issues," said Cody Essig, owner of Waterfront Solutions in Carver.
For 16 years, Essig has been installing and removing lifts and docks on Lake Minnetonka.
The dock and lift sales and service business has been busy this fall.
"This year's been pretty crazy. There's been boats stuck on lifts all over the place. Even boats stuck on the bottom of the lake. If they don't have a lift, they're floating them inside of their boathouse or their slip and the water levels have dropped so much that the boats are starting to sit on the ground or they're stuck on lifts," Essig said. "Then we have to come and crane them off the lift."
As the season winds down. Essig estimates they have taken at least 30 calls from homeowners needing help getting their boats off the water.
On Sunday, Essig brought Waterfront Solutions' barge to Cooks Bay in Mound to remove a wakeboard boat that was stuck on a lift.
"You have to have a certain amount of water in order for your boat to be able to go on and off the lift, depending on the draft of your boat," Essig explained.
Waterfront Solutions even made a few docks longer this past spring because of last year's issues with low water levels.
"It's helped. But the water's even lower now so we're having more problems than previously," he said.
Essig expects they will have a busy October. He added, "Go check your stuff and make sure you're good to go so that your boat doesn't get damaged. If you need to get a hold of somebody, call your service provider and have them come take care of it before they're too busy."
The U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook forecasts that drought conditions will continue across MCWD through at least the end of 2022.
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