Lake Roosevelt as seen from the air above the city of Grand Coulee. Photo courtesy of Lonnie Ritter

Lake Roosevelt may take a bump and a dip in its level by next week, but may actually be completely full at the end of the month, then drop some 50-plus feet by the end of April.

Here’s what’s predicted to happen, according to Lynne Brougher, spokeswoman for the Grand Coulee Dam Project:

The level of Lake Roosevelt this morning was 1280.62 feet above sea level at 8 a.m.
The level of the lake may rise slightly over the weekend to approximately 1282 and then drop back into the 1279-1281 range by the end of next week.
The January Water Supply Forecasts have been released and flood control elevations have been calculated based on the forecast.
Flood control elevations are those maximum elevations the reservoir can reach be to accommodate the anticipated spring runoff. These elevations can and probably will change with the next forecast in February:

January 31 – 1290 feet
February 28 – 1289.7 feet
March 31 – 1267.4 feet
April 30- 1238.5 feet

Currently Grand Coulee is operating to meet power demand and the minimum tailwater requirement for chum salmon below Bonneville Dam.

While the flood control forecast is at 1267.4 feet for the end of March, the level of the lake will be dropped to 1255 in mid-March to begin necessary maintenance on the drum gates.