VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Baldhill Dam Resource Manager Rich Schueneman says efforts have been on-going this winter to keep the Lake Ashtabula level drawn down in order to make space for spring run-off. He says a recent snow-moisture survey paints a picture of what crews could be up against when the thaw begins.

The current amount of snow in the Sheyenne River Basin is equal to the amount seen in an average winter season. Those estimates do not include any new snow that could arrive later. Schueneman says at this point things are manageable, but.

On Friday the level of Lake Ashtabula was at 12-hundred-59 feet. He says the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are hoping to get down to the maximum draw down level of 12-hundred-57 feet.