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What's New
Baykeeper urges IJC to act as climate change blamed for low water levels
Midland Free Press (8/15)
Climate change is contributing to the lower water levels in the Great Lakes, a member of the International Upper Great Lakes Study's public interest advisory group said Monday.

Great Lakes cargoes continue to be affected by lack of dredging
Dredging News Online (8/15)
The Lake Carriers' Association says the US-Flag Great Lakes fleet moved 11.4 million net tons of cargo on the Great Lakes in June, an increase of about 80,000 tons compared to a year ago. The June float was, however, 220,000 tons below the month’s five-year average.

Any number of causes to lowering lake levels
The Enterprise-Bulletin (8/15)
Exactly why water levels on the northern Great Lakes have been dropping remains a mystery according to the preliminary findings of a bi-national scientific examination.

No one reason for lower lake levels
The Sun Times (8/13)
Changes to the St. Clair River bed are responsible for a 13-centimetre drop in lakes Huron and Michigan and in Georgian Bay, according to preliminary finding of an extensive binational scientific examination. But this could be explained by many other factors.

City talking to feds about dredging harbour: Lovell
Owen Sound Sun Times (8/12)
A public meeting about historically low Lake Huron and Georgian Bay water levels will give people a chance to tell a group studying the issue how it affects them and to ask what the study members are doing about it.

Navigating the unknown
The Sault Star (8/10)
Hydrologists meddle with the question of how best to retain water in the Great Lakes.

These maps were prepared in partnership with the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and its Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS).

Weather conditions: Temperatures were moderate throughout the entire Great Lakes region this past week. In addition, most of the region experienced insignificant precipitation. Near average temperatures will continue throughout the weekend and into early next week. There is a chance of showers and thunderstorms on Friday and Saturday for most of the Great Lakes basin.

Lake Level Conditions: All of the Great Lakes were higher than they were at this time last year. Lake Superior is 17 inches above last year's level while lake Michigan-Huron is 8 inches higher than it was a year ago. Lakes St. Clair and Erie are 7 inches higher than they were last year while Lake Ontario is 13 inches above last year's level. Lake Superior is projected to rise 1 inch over the next 30 days, while Lake Michigan-Huron is predicted to fall 1 inch. Lakes St. Clair, Erie and Ontario are forecasted to fall 5 to 8 inches during the next month. All of the Great Lakes are expected to remain above their water levels of a year ago over the next few months. See the USACE Daily Levels web page for more water level information.

Current outflows / channel conditions: In July, outflow through the St. Mary's River was slightly below average, and outflows through the St. Clair and Detroit Rivers were also below average. The Niagara River's outflow was slightly above average, while outflow from the St. Lawrence River was also above average.

Alerts: Users of the Great Lakes, connecting channels and St. Lawrence River should keep informed of current conditions before undertaking any activities that could be affected by changing water levels. Mariners should utilize navigation charts and refer to current water level readings.

Great Lakes Information Network
Last Updated: November 1, 2006
Maintained by: Christine Manninen, manninen@glc.org
Selected Photos: Copyright ©John and Ann Mahan
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