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Heading into spring, the Lake Superior water level is comfortably below where it was at this time last year. The US Army Corps of Engineers says it is seeing similar conditions throughout the rest of the Great Lakes system. The forecast is for that trend to continue going forward.
Water levels are driven by snow melt and new system precipitation this time of year. Thanks to unseasonably warm conditions already, much of the drifts have already withered away. Ishpeming had to call off its Winter Wonderland events this weekend due to a lack of snow. The Keweenaw is down to 12” to 16” even in the higher elevations.
Detroit District Watershed Hydrology Branch Chief Chris Warren says, “Drier conditions this winter aided in seasonal declines on all the lakes. However, as water levels begin their seasonal rise there is still potential for coastal impacts since water levels remain high.”
The full release is below.
Great Lake water levels in 2021 are tracking below last year’s levels, though Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, St. Clair and Erie remain well above long-term average levels, according to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials who track and forecast Great Lakes water levels.
Lake Ontario recently fell slightly below long-term average levels. The February 2021 monthly mean water levels ranged from 7 to 23 inches below levels from this time last year.
Since November 2020, the Great Lakes basin experienced four consecutive months of below average precipitation. This combined with a cold air outbreak during February led to increased evaporation across the lakes and caused a St. Clair River ice jam to develop. When ice jams occur, water levels downstream of the restriction decline, while water levels upstream of the restriction rise.
“Drier conditions this winter aided in seasonal declines on all the lakes,” said Detroit District Watershed Hydrology Branch Chief Chris Warren. “However, as water levels begin their seasonal rise there is still potential for coastal impacts since water levels remain high.”
Late winter and early spring are typical Great Lakes seasonal rise periods because of increased rainfall and runoff. Water levels typically peak in the summer or early fall. Even with lower lake levels some lakes are still well above average and coastal flooding and shoreline erosion are possible, especially during periods of active weather and increased wave action.
The most recent six-month forecast of Great Lakes water levels predicts levels to remain below record high levels, but above average on all lakes, except Lake Ontario. Lake Ontario is forecast to remain near average levels: https://www.lre.usace.army.mil/Missions/Great-Lakes-Information/.
Citizens or businesses in the Great Lakes region considering construction projects to alleviate erosion or flooding, may require a Corps of Engineer’s permit as they could impact rivers, streams, wetlands and other aquatic resources.
To find more information about the permit process in your area, visit one of the following:
- Michigan and Northeast Indiana: https://www.lre.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory-Program-and-Permits/
- Illinois and Northwest Indiana: https://www.lrc.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/
- Northern Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York: https://www.lrb.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory.aspx
