Lake Michigan's water level rises nearly 2 feet

[Escapade]

Lake Michigan is on the rebound after flirting with near-record low water levels in 2008.

Sixteen months and two cold and wet winters later, the lake has added more than 2 feet of water, and it continues to rise almost daily.

Numbers provided by the Army Corps of Engineers last week showed the lake is about 9 inches higher than at this time last year, and the agency is predicting it to continue to add inches into late summer.

Boaters have had to re-do thier lines already in this short time. This weekends heavy rains will surley add to it. Keep a sharp eye out for floating debris as the river purge them selves.

Despite the big gain, Lake Michigan remains about 9 inches below its long-term average for April.

 

[Two Peas]

Thankfully, most of the Great Lakes levels are rising.

(graph from here: http://www.glerl.noaa.gov/data/now/wlevels/levels.html)

 

[sbw1]

It is good news. Our boat is now floating above the deck on our dock by several inches. If this keeps up, we will need to get our steps out.

 

[firecadet613]

This is always good to hear.

 

[KayKook]

No difference in water levels at our marina. But, it was never an issue in the last 4 years anyway. I suppose it will help some people in some areas adjacent or directly on Lake Michigan, which is good.

 

[AndersonAcres]

Yes, it's good news. But here's the wet blanket: here in a time of above normal precipitation amounts, the lake is still low. That's because of the open 'drain' at the southern end of Lake Huron.

The downside to the nicely high levels is that it takes attention away from needing to plug that drain. When lower precip levels come back, and if the drain isn't plugged, Lakes Michigan and Huron levels will get lower and lower until, maybe, they're near the level of Lake Erie.

 

[1stSeaRay]

Must be nice, Lake mead is already down 6 feet from last year....and they are expecting it to drop another 7.

I'm already having to back down past the end of the ramp and into the gravel to launch and retrieve. At this rate....I'm not sure I'll even be able to get the boat in the water next month unless they get busy on extending the ramps again.

Think I made comment in a thread a while back about not need 4 wheel drive....I sure am wishing I had it now!

 

[Pseudomind]

So where is all of the water going. It appears that all I see on the news and other places is depleted water levels.

So if green is so in and all of this man made Global warming hyperbole is making everything melt, where is the water? Last I have heard all of the current coastal areas are due to be under water... way under water. :huh:

If it is all going into the atmosphere, boy look out when it comes back/

 

[sbw1]

No difference in water levels at our marina.......

You must not be connected to Lake Michigan by a river or small lake.

 

[berth control]

You must not be connected to Lake Michigan by a river or small lake.

I thought that too. Yours will be higher though sb, since you are kind of on the river, which will rise quicker than the lake.

 

[Banagy]

September of 2008 the Army Corps used under water cameras on Souther Lake Huron and the mouth of the ST, Clare River and it shows no longer opening the when it was dredged in the early sixty's. So now where has all the water gone? I am just glad it is coming back.

 

[togaduke]

thats great..just bought a boat and plan on keeping it there this summer..at monroe harbor..

 

[sbw1]

September of 2008 the Army Corps used under water cameras on Souther Lake Huron and the mouth of the ST, Clare River and it shows no longer opening the when it was dredged in the early sixty's. So now where has all the water gone? I am just glad it is coming back.

That's interesting. I've been checking the Corps of Engineer web site for Lake Michigan/Huron water levels every week for quite a while and the outflow through the river has been below average. You would think it would be above average given the huge rains and heavy snow melts that have brought water levels back up. But, we are still about 7" below the long term average water level so maybe that explains it.

 

[Escapade]

Stopped in Port Washington Wi. today and noticed we could not see two more boards on a morring wall. We are up agian!