July 21, 2023 City of Newport

Water level in Lake Memphremagog

The water level of Lake Memphremagog is abnormally high level for this time of year. Additional rainfall is expected on Friday July 21 and Saturday July 22 which will cause a further rise in the level of the lake.

The City of Newport has been in communication with the City of Magog, Quebec.  To assist in regulating the level of the lake the City of Magog opened the floodgate on the Magog River and on July 17 they increased the evacuation flow from the dam from 160 cubic meters per second to 195 cubic meters per second. The level of the rivers that feed into the lake are stabilizing and with the increase in the evacuation flow from the dam there is a noticeable drop in the lake level in Newport.  The City of Magog projects that they will leave the dam open for another week and will notify the City Manager of Newport of the date when the floodgate will be closed.

While the levels of the lake are high, please be cautious and follow the safety guidelines from the Vermont Department of Health posted here: https://www.healthvermont.gov/emergency/prepare/stay-safe-flood

Boats and Watercraft

While the lake levels are high, on the Vermont side of Lake Memphremagog  please

• avoid navigation as much as possible
  – due to the possible presence of debris under the water
  – due to the boat waves and wake creating erosion on the banks
• Do not navigate to the Quebec side of the lake until lake levels have stabilized (see below)

If you are boating north to Magog, Quebec please note the following restrictions for boats and watercraft

• Magog River: Prohibition of navigation (flow too high)
• Lake Memphremagog: Limit/avoid navigation as much as possible
  – Presence of debris (risk for your safety)
  – Waves create erosion on the banks
• Municipal boat ramps: Closed
• Boat wash stations: Closed
• Harbor master’s office: No license/vignettes issued for sailing

For more information on the current situation in Magog, please visit ville.magog.qc.ca/floods

The City of Newport, the Town of Newport and the Town of Derby, Vermont
all join in thanking the City of Magog, Quebec for their vigilance in monitoring
Lake Memphremagog! Merci pour votre aide!

Posted 7/21/2023