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Also: Lake St. Clair
 

Great Lakes Levels and Hydrology
What's New | Current Levels | Weekly Levels Forecast | Related Resources
 
Levels & Hydrology Section: Home | Levels | Hydrology | Flows

 
What's New
Continued ice loss on the Great Lakes may cause widespread change in ecosystems
Great Lakes Echo (5/15)
Some scientists worry that less ice on the Great Lakes will create low water levels that affect the region’s ecology and economy.

St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario communities at odds over water levels
North Country Public Radio (5/14)
Many scientists and environmental groups support the IJC's plan to allow the water to flow more naturally. But some lake-shore property owners fear that the high water will wash their homes away.

Lake Ontario water levels close to average
Syracuse Post Standard (5/10)
Water received by Lake Ontario from its basin and inflow from Lake Erie were close to average in March and below average in April. Monthly precipitation also was below normal.

18 river community businesses urge IJC to adopt BV7
Watertown Daily Times (4/27)
A group of 18 organizations in the St. Lawrence River community are urging the International Joint Commission to adopt the proposed “environmentally friendly” water regulation plan for Lake Ontario and the river.

EDITORIAL: Managing lake levels
Toledo Blade (4/23)
The report’s findings are a reminder that nothing about water flow is ever as simple as it sounds, and that many well-intended projects have gone awry.

Are Lake Erie water levels falling?
WEWS-TV - Cleveland, OH (4/17)
According to the April Great Lakes water level report from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Lake Erie's water level is above the long term April average.

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Great Lakes Real-Time Water Level Gauging Stations

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

NOAA Logo - Link to NOAA Website
Coordinating Committee Logo - Link to CC Website

Lake Superior | St. Marys River | Lake Michigan | Lake Huron | St. Clair River
Lake St. Clair | Detroit River | Lake Erie | Niagara River | Lake Ontario | St. Lawrence

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Weekly Water Levels Forecast
New! Update for Friday May 11, 2012 (includes data summary)

Weather conditions: The Great Lakes basin has experienced substantial precipitation so far for the month of May, especially in the Michigan-Huron, Erie and Ontario basins. Temperatures were near seasonal averages across the region this past week. Pleasant weather and seasonal temperatures are expected in the Great Lakes basin this weekend, with a few scattered showers and thunderstorms possible in parts of the basin.

Water Level Conditions: Lake Superior is 1 inch higher than it was last year and Lake Michigan-Huron is at its level of a year ago. Lakes St. Clair, Erie, and Ontario are 2, 4, and 9 inches, respectively, lower than a year ago. Over the next month, Lakes Superior and Michigan-Huron are forecasted to rise 3 and 2 inches, respectively, from their current levels. The water levels of Lakes St. Clair and Erie are both expected to fall 1 inch, while the level of Lake Ontario is expected to rise 1 inch over the next thirty days. See the Daily Levels web page for more water level information.

Forecasted outflows / channel conditions: Lake Superior's outflow through the St. Marys River is projected to be below average for the month of May. Lake Huron's outflow into the St. Clair River and the outflow from Lake St. Clair into the Detroit River are expected to be below average throughout the month of May. Lake Erie's outflow through the Niagara River is forecasted to be above average and the outflow of Lake Ontario into the St. Lawrence River is predicted to be below average in May.

Alerts: The water level of Lake Superior is below chart datum and is forecasted to remain below chart datum through July. 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.

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Related Resources
GLIN: Agencies and Organizations, Hydrology
GLIN: Current Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Water Levels
GLIN: Environmental Research in the Great Lakes Region
GLIN: Forecasted Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Water Levels
GLIN: Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Hydrology
GLIN: Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Water Flows
GLIN: Historical Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Water Levels
GLIN: Weather and Climate in the Great Lakes Region

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CC Data This page was created under the guidance of the binational Coordinating Committee on Great Lakes Basic Hydraulic and Hydrologic Data. This symbol is used throughout the GLIN hydrology section to indicate data or references prepared under the auspices of the Coordinating Committee.

 

 
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Updated: May 16, 2012
Maintained by: Christine Manninen, manninen@glc.org
Selected Photos: Copyright ©John and Ann Mahan
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