Water continues to be very low along Minnesota's northern border waters, as the photo above, taken at Crane Lake, shows.
The lack of snow runoff this spring, combined with relatively little rainfall since the ice went out, has produced not only docks that in some cases sit above the water by 4 and even 5 feet, but exposed rocks and other obstacles.
Boaters visiting the area, and canoeists, too, should be aware of the dangers.
Some boat launching ramps also are difficult to use.
Usually, spring rains combine with snow runoff to fill the watershed that drains the border waters west and north to Lake of the Woods.
This year, too little water was available in April and May to fill the system, and the need for a certain amount of flowage at the dam in International Falls has kept water moving toward Lake of the Woods.
