The Sauk River Chain of Lakes is a cherished hub for recreation in central Minnesota. The Sauk River Chain of Lakes Association (SRCLA) has implemented new technology to help protect the Chain from the effects of fluctuating water levels.
As a flowage lake system, the Chain’s water levels are closely tied to precipitation in the Sauk River watershed. When heavy rainfall events occur in the watershed, the Sauk River swells, pushing excess water into the connected lakes. The increasing water level can lead to shoreline erosion, reduced water quality, and damage to equipment installed in the water, including docks and boat lifts.
That is changing thanks to an innovative monitoring system the SRCLA has installed in the Chain. The system uses an automated data buoy which measures lake level in real-time and transmits the data to an online portal. The Association has implemented a dedicated page on its website SRCL.ORG for allowing the community to access the online portal to view current water level and see water level trends. Historical water level data is also published. “The water level page is the most visited page on the Association website, especially in these times of above average precipitation. In the month of July alone there were over 6000 views of the lake level data page,” said Kersten Thellin, SRCLA webmaster.
“Remote monitoring and the real-time data provide insights into the environment that manual monitoring simply cannot provide. The graphical display of lake level allows all to view the lake level trends. By analyzing the real-time lake level data with Sauk River flow data we have the additional capability to forecast lake level and publish forecasts on social media, providing additional value to our stakeholders,” said SRCLA Board Member, Steve Weeres.
The SRCLA’s lake level monitoring program is just one of many efforts the Association undertakes to manage and protect the Chain. SRCLA is a registered non-profit that operates in Stearns County, funded by membership dues, grants, and charitable gambling. Volunteers work to preserve and protect the Sauk River Chain of Lakes. Community members can view real-time water levels and become members of the SRCLA by visiting their website at SRCL.org.
