April 15th marks a pivotal moment for Lake Leelanau. It's the day each year the Dam Authority implements its mandate to raise the level of Lake Leelanau by one foot, reshaping our shores. But how can we be sure this adjustment is made with precision? The answer lies in the tireless work of the three electronic sentinels that continually monitor the lake's pulse. Join us as we delve into the world of lake level sensors, speaking with Cal Killen and Dave Fisher of TIA Software, the experts entrusted with their operation. Discover how their technology safeguards our lake and learn to decipher the story hidden within the lake level charts.
The Leland Dam
The Leland Dam Authority oversees the maintenance and operation of the dam in Leland. A county employee adjusts the dam gate based on the lake level and weather conditions to maintain the water level so as to comply with the 1978 court order.
In 2016, the Lake Leelanau Lake Association contracted with TIA Software to install three water sensors to better monitor Lake Leelanau’s levels. These sensors are located at the Leland Dam, the Narrows, and Birch Point at the south end of South Lake Leelanau.
The company offers public access to the data providing us with precise information about how the lake levels naturally fluctuate. These sensors provide the data the Leland Dam Authority needs to make informed decisions to manage the water levels at the Leland Dam. Cal Killen and Dave Fisher founded TIA Software in the early 2000s. In 2011, they applied their technology to help the Glen Lake Association manage the Crystal River Dam in accordance with court rulings regarding Glen Lake water levels and Crystal River flow. Today, six lake associations use TIA Software and 12 bodies of water are monitored. Starting in 2024, TIA Software discontinued charging for their service and our three sensors in Lake Leelanau are now provided for free.
The Sensor Technology
The sensors in Lake Leelanau measure the water by weight. This approach works all year round because water and ice weigh the same. A device inside the sensor station measures the barometric pressure. An algorithm converts these readings to an elevation. The final reading is converted to feet above mean sea level for display because that is the terminology of the court order. The data from each sensor is recorded every 15 minutes and uploaded every hour.
Calibration
To ensure accuracy, the Leland Dam Authority periodically validates the sensors against physical staff gauge readings. When discrepancies occur, sensor adjustments are made. TIA Software promptly replaces sensors that cannot be calibrated. Over the years, they have upgraded the components in each sensor station as the technology improves.
The sensor approach is an improvement over exclusively using staff gauge readings because the data collection is frequent, consistent, and automated. Plus, sensors don’t become unreadable or inaccessible because of choppy water, snowstorms, or ice.
The Data
You can view the real-time sensor data displaying lake water levels and temperature from the three sensors on our website. In this screenshot from our website, you can see the increase in water levels of The Narrows (blue) and South Lake Leelanau (red) during our blizzard that occurred on the first day of Spring.
We can all appreciate the value of real-time high-fidelity data that comes from the three TIA Software sensors. Our Lake Level page is consistently the most trafficked page on our website. Water levels can affect us all, but some properties are more sensitive than others. The upcoming rise in water level, while important for navigability and fish reproduction, can increase erosion and sedimentation, which may deteriorate the lake’s water quality. Over the next six weeks, consider watching the water levels rise via our sensor data chart and monitoring how it affects your shoreline.
Schedule a Shoreline Consultation
If your property experiences topsoil erosion this spring, consider scheduling a free shoreline consultation. Our Shoreline Ambassadors are trained to evaluate your property along the water and recommend native plants and bioengineered designs to counteract the effects of shoreline erosion. Learn more about the program here, or click below to schedule your own shoreline consultation.
Further Reading
Spring 2024 Lake Levels
Spring into Action
Shoreline Plants: Prepping for Spring
Lake-Man, TIA Software’s sensor site.
Main photo credit: Cal Killen