Anticipate a rise to Rainy and Namakan Lakes.

The agency overseeing the water levels is targeting them to be within the top range of optimal levels established for this time of year.

Rainy Lake’s level will be the top quarter of the rule curve, with Namakan’s to sit near the top third of its rule curve.

The International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Board’s Water Levels Committee says the directive responds to concerns about drought conditions within the basin this spring.

Levels have slowly fallen since mid-January, with snow levels and expected runoff well below normal.

Officials are also forecasting warmer-than-normal temperatures this spring with equal changes in above or below-normal precipitation.