Important messages for today:
• Prior Lake is under a slow no-wake restriction
• Prior Lake level is 903.91 as of Thursday morning
• Prior Lake level must stay below 903.9 feet for 72 hours before the slow no-wake restriction can be lifted; weekend precipitation may extend the restriction
• Spring Lake is not under a slow no-wake restriction
• Sandbags and sand are available at the City Maintenance Facility
Prior Lake reached its Ordinary High Water (OHW) level of 903.9 feet this past Monday. In accordance with City Code Section 703, Prior Lake remains under a high water slow no-wake restriction. During this restriction, no person shall operate a watercraft at greater than a slow no-wake speed on the entire surface of Prior Lake. Notices continue to be posted on the City’s website, the City’s electronic sign boards, and at both public boat launches.
The Scott County Sheriff’s Office was notified of the restriction and is responsible for enforcement. The slow no-wake restriction will be removed when water levels have subsided and have remained below 903.9 for 72 consecutive hours. Please visit www.cityofpriorlake.com/lake-flooding.php for more information and watch the City’s website for additional updates.
If your property is located in a lower area and you feel you need to protect it at this time, sandbags are being sold at the Prior Lake Maintenance Center (17073 Adelmann Street SE), Monday – Friday, 7:00 to 3:30. The cost is $0.25/each which is our cost from the supplier. Free sand for the sandbags is available to residents in a bin located in the parking lot of the Maintenance Center. Sandbag sales and free sand will be discontinued when Prior Lake drops below 903.9 feet as stated in our Flood Response Policy. If you plan on sandbagging to protect your property and wish to use this sand, please take only what you need to fill your sandbags and hand-shovel it from the bin (please do not use mechanical equipment).
The City of Prior Lake, in accordance with its Flood Response Policy, has already initiated several flood response measures this year to address high water levels on Spring Lake and Prior Lake. Both lakes remain high due to the recent spring snowmelt event and spring rains. Fluctuating Lake levels can be expected as we see new precipitation work its way through the Spring Lake/Prior Lake system. The City remains prepared to initiate and deactivate flood response measures as lake levels change and pass certain trigger points. Water continues to leave the system through the Prior Lake Outlet Channel. Lake levels can be found on the Prior Lake-Spring Lake Watershed District (PLSLWD) website.
City of Prior Lake and PLSLWD staff continue to monitor local conditions, including precipitation, forecasted weather, and lake levels, to assess flooding risk.