LEAD - Four feet of snow fell in Lead last week, but crews at Sanford Underground Laboratory at Homestake were able to remove still more water in their efforts to prepare the facility for science projects.

According to a news release from the mine, water levels dropped to 4,620 feet as of Monday, down 11 feet 6 inches from the previous week. Since August when levels reached a high-water mark of 4,530 feet, the water has dropped 90 feet.

State Science and Technology Authority executive director Ron Wheeler said snowmelt from the storm would eventually add to the surface water flowing into the mine but that fall snows typically don't add as much inflow because the rate at which they melt is slower.

Wheeler praised the efforts of crews that manned the underground pumps at the lab throughout the blizzard. Lawrence County Search and Rescue had to deliver food to the lab crews at the water treatment plant because of the blizzard last Thursday and Friday.

"The snowstorm demonstrated the skill and dedication of our technical staff," Wheeler said. "Many of them are former Homestake employees. They know how to keep the Sanford Lab running."