HIGH WATER EMERGENCY DECLARED-11AM Wednesday, April 15, 2026
HIGH WATER EMERGENCY DECLARED
Wednesday, April 15, 2026 11:30 am
SLOW NO WAKE UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
This order has been declared in hopes of minimizing shoreline erosion, protecting sensitive areas, and ensuring boater safety.
As of Wednesday, April 15 in the morning, BCL's level was 4.0" above the Ordinary High Water Mark (OHWM).
Big Cedar Lake District is communicating with the Cedar Lake Conservation Foundation that monitors the lake level at the dam. At 8:30 am this morning, after the storms last night, the dam measurement is at 4" above the OHWM. Additional rainfall is forecasted for later today and the lake level has the potential to increase before resuming to a normal level.
This order will remain in place until the lake level recedes to at least 3" above the OHWM. UPDATES WILL BE POSTED AS RECEIVED.
BCLPRD ORDINANCE 93-1.08 (6):
(6) DECLARATION OF HIGH WATER EMERGENCY AND IMPOSITION OF A TEMPORARY SLOW, NO WAKE SPEED LIMIT ON ALL OF BIG CEDAR LAKE AT ALL TIMES
a) When water level exceeds the ordinary high-water mark on the dam on the northeast corner of Timmer’s Bay and/or other approved measuring location(s) by at least 4" the Chairman, Chief/Operations person or other officer will declare that a high-water emergency exists on Big Cedar Lake. If a high-water emergency is declared, no person shall at any time operate a boat at a speed faster than slow-no-wake in the waters of Big Cedar Lake. Once in effect, the slow-no-wake order will remain in effect for a minimum of 24 hours. The lake level will then be monitored on a daily basis.
b) When the water level recedes to a level that is 3" or less above the ordinary high-water mark at the dam or other approved measuring location(s), the high-water emergency will be rescinded and the restrictions in subsection a) above will no longer be in effect.
c) The BCLPRD will post a notice of existence and removal of a high-water emergency at the launch ramps of Big Cedar Lakes and will also notify local and social media of the existence and removal of a high-water emergency. DECLARATION OF HIGH WATER EMERGENCY AND IMPOSITION OF A TEMPORARY SLOW, NO WAKE SPEED LIMIT ON ALL OF BIG CEDAR LAKE AT ALL TIMES.
Notifications of the High Water Emergency-SLOW NO WAKE UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE have been posted at the Gonring Drive Launch, Cedar Park Drive launch and the Hacker Drive launch on Big Cedar Lake.