The Water Security Agency says Last Mountain Lake is expected to have lower than average water levels this year.

Snowmelt was well below normal this spring and well above rainfall will be needed to reach near normal levels by the summer.

The lake level is at the lower end of the summer operating range.

The Water Security Agency is taking steps to increase releases from Lake Diefenbaker to supplement downstream lake levels along the Qu’Appelle chain, including Last Mountain Lake.

The Water Agency expects lake levels to rise by 15 centimeters by late July due to the diversions of Lake Diefenbaker.

However, it will still take above average rains to reach desired levels.

Water was diverted last year but levels at Last Mountain Lake still dropped by 33 centimeters from late July to November due to dry weather.

The agency also is monitoring lower water levels at other locatiions including Rafferty reservoir, Boundary reservoir, Nickle Lake and Thomson Lake.