History of water level gauges, lake erie and the niagara river. Great lakes water levels 19182016 detroit district, u. Water levels are recorded by gauges along the shore of each lake, some of which have been operated since the 1800s. Information on great lakes water levels is available from several agencies in the united states and canada. The late great lakes gives a good history of native american and european use and abuse most of the abuse perpetrated by the european folks of the great lakes ecosystem. Great lakes water levels have swung from record lows to record. Having finished the book, i immediately started over. Great lakes monthly mean water levels show periods of highs and lows occurring throughout the past century after nearly 15 years of belowaverage water levels on lake superior and lake michiganhuron, water levels of the upper great lakes started rising in. The great lakes water wars provides essential context for the regions ongoing discussions about the sustainable use of great lakes water resources. Water levels are referenced to both the international great lakes datum of 1985 igld85 and the selected lake s longterm average water level since 1918, which is zero on the slider. Water levels on the great lakes are monitored by the international joint commission of the united states and canada. Clair, lake erie and lake ontario set record high monthly mean water levels in.
Low great lakes water levels plague shipping, recreation. In one lake alone, 10% of that water is in lake superior alone. Finally, storm events can cause significant shortterm increases in water level. Great lakes water levels usace detroit district army. Army corps of engineers measured record low water levels in two of the north americas great lakes, michigan and huron. The upper great lakes the upper great lakes michigan, huron and superior went through similar stages of high a low water levels, coinciding with the advance and retreat of the major ice lobes in each basin. All water levels are measured in feet or meters above this point. Great lakes levels in constant flux michiganscience no. Additionally, lake michigans levels have dropped, but millions of great lakes dwellers arent exactly aware of ice mountain bottled water. Water levels continued to rise in june and have reached some of the highest levels in our recorded history, which dates back to 1918, said keith. Historical variation of water levels in lakes erie and michiganhuron. Setting the story straight on great lakes water levels. Those reports included recommendations for action, which formed the basis for the first great lakes water quality agreement in 1972. Hammered out over five years, the compact, aimed at keeping great lakes water in the great lakes, was approved by the legislatures of all eight states bordering the great lakes, congress and the canadian provinces and signed into law by president george w.
Water levels continue to be well above average and near or above record high levels. Causes of the 2019 high water event international joint. Please visit the great lakes water level dashboard for additional information about water levels. Great lakes, chain of deep freshwater lakes in eastcentral north america comprising lakes superior, michigan, huron, erie, and ontario. Download the long term average, maximum, and minimum great. Data since 1918 have come from a designated set of gauges in each lake. The first century of the international joint commission has thus far been very enjoyable, said ramya swayamprakash, a great lakes historian now studying history at michigan state university. Buy products related to great lakes history products and see what customers say about great. A terrific book on great lakes water conflicts gets a timely, thorough update. Historic increase in great lakes water levels youtube.
Great lakes water wars is a captivating account of past challenges as well as the social, economic, and ecological challenges we must overcome as our insatiable thirst exceeds natures ability to provide. Monitoring great lakes water levels is an important part of noaas mission to understand and predict changes in climate, weather, oceans, and coasts. The current monthly average water level shows the average lake level for the previous month. The north american great lakes huron, ontario, michigan, erie, and superior are so big that they border 8 states and contain 23 quadrillion liters of water. The great lakes hold 20% of the worlds surface drinking water, with lake superior holding half of that alone. Water is the life blood of the forty million people who live in the great lakes basin. Where the chain of great lakes now tosses its restless waters, there once stood a tableland, elevated many hundred feet above the prehistoric ocean, and drained by an ancient waterway, which is yet faintly outlined in the trend of the present lakes. Although fluctuation in great lakes water levels is an annual occurrence, long periods of either high or low levels can impact sectors of the population in different ways. Great lakes water levels are measured from an elevation reference point referred to as the international great lakes datum igld.
New book chronicles the great lakes history and threats evan garcia march 21, 2017 5. Dan egans deeply researched and sharply written the death and life of the great lakesnimbly splices together history, science, reporting and personal experiences into a taut and cautiously hopeful narrativeegans book is bursting with life and yes, death. The great lakes are the collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern north america, on the canadaunited states border, which connect to the atlantic ocean through the saint lawrence seaway and the great lakes waterway. Coordinating committee on great lakes basic hydraulic and hydrologic data. Clair, lake erie and lake ontario set record high monthly mean water levels in june, the u. History of the great lakes water quality agreement. The death and life of the great lakes is an engaging, vitally important work of science journalism. Throughout the great lakes history, the presence of fresh water has ignited rapid urbanization not. The area has many spots for fishing, boating and other popular recreational activities, and serves as an important mode of transportation of goods. All data are provisional and are referenced to igld 1985.
The water levels in the great lakes are monitored by noaa national ocean service in the u. Holling, holling clancy paddle to the sea isbn 0395150825, an illustrated childrens book about the great lakes and their environment. Water level data click this box to view historical. Lake michigan is nearly a foot higher now than a year ago and nearly 4 feet higher than five years ago. Great lakes water levels data constitute one of the longest high quality hydrometeorological data sets in north america with united states reference gauge records beginning in 1860. Water levels shown are still water surface elevations over the entire lake surface. Water levels at specific locations may differ substantially due to meteorological influences. At present, water is diverted into the great lakes system from the hudson bay watershed through long lac and lake ogoki, and diverted out of the great lakes and into the mississippi watershed at chicago. Water levels have been coordinated with canada for 19182019.
The sixmonth water level forecasts show a highend forecast that could surpass all other modern water levels for some of the great lakes. More information about the long term average water level. The dashboard was designed to provide access to and visualize monthly great lakes water level data and forecasts across a variety of time scales. Altogether, the 5 lakes comprise the largest fresh water source on earth. For more information about long term water level, visit climatic change 20 and environmental modelling and software 20.
Elevations are referenced to the international great lakes datum 1985. Were seeing some of the highest water levels in recorded history on the great lakes, and thats the result of very wet weather experienced. Scientists believe a combination of increased precipitation and prolonged ice cover from a harsh winter. Noaa great lakes environmental research laboratory. It is the only water bottling company that has been allowed to pump water out of lake michigan, due to a kniving political maneuver. This web page contains links to a number of official web sites containing great lakes water level and related data. The combined area of the great lakessome 94,250 square milesrepresents the largest surface of fresh water in the world, covering an. I read this book as part of the curriculum for my american dreams and realities history class as an undergraduate student in the fall of 1991. The alliance for the great lakes empowers and enables tens of thousands of volunteers to have a direct impact on reducing the levels of pollution in and around the great lakes, not purely through beach clean ups, but through numerous campaigns that include keeping invasive species out of the great lakes, and tackling the latest environmental. The natural history of a changing region, by wayne grady, 2007. Click on a box below to view water level data, water level forecasts, basin conditions, outflows, or update articles.
Center for operational oceanographic products and services and by the canadian hydrographic service in canada. New book chronicles the great lakes history and threats. He said he thinks people tend to forget that there is a range of variance in the great lakes water levels. Consisting of lakes superior, michigan, huron, erie, and ontario, ay form the largest group of freshwater lakes on earth comprising 21% of the worlds surface fresh. Book club czar christie taylor is back to take us on a tour of what. Id recommend it to anyone planning to spend some time in or around the great lakes. I do not read much science, but this book taught me a lot while giving me lots of joy. As of february 2020, water levels on lake erie remain well above their longterm historical average of 571.
Formation of the great lakes emporia state university. I appreciated the topics covered in the great lakes section, especially the. Then during 20 and 2014 the same lakes came close to setting another record as they experienced one of the largest twoyear gains in water levels in recorded history, and underscoring the dynamic nature of the great lakes system. How long can great lakes fend off thirsty world from water. Pre1918 data came from one water level gauge per lake.
The death and life of the great lakes and millions of other books are available for. Igld consists of benchmarks at various locations on the lakes and st. This indicator analyzes water levels and surface water temperatures in the great lakes. Canada and the united states agreed to reduce pollution from industries. The water levels at lake michigan and lake huron reached the lowest level from 1918, since modern recordkeeping began. Can the great lakes continue to fend off an increasingly. Click this box to view historical monthly mean lakewide average water levels. For the last three months, lake michigan and lake huron. The extreme fluctuations in water balance evident in the great lakes waterlevel history and other paleoclimatic records may represent interactions and amplifications of this kind, as well as responses of the oceanatmosphere system to variability in external. Lawrence river that roughly coincides with sea level. Great lakes water levels 19182016 lake erie lake ontario monthly mean level long term annual average the monthly average levels are based on a network of water level gages located around the lakes. For a detailed description of lake level mapping, see the methods document. Download the long term average, maximum, and minimum great lakes water levels in english units feet. All the great lakes are below their longterm average, according to the corps of engineers, and are expected to.
Shifts in water levels tend to make people uneasy, but are actually natural, gronewold said. The lakes stretch from new york to minnesota, and cover a surface area of nearly 100,000 square mileslarge enough to cover the entire state of colorado. Interactive graphic shows historic water fluctuations on the great. The ijc reported on pollution issues in the great lakes and their connecting channels several times from 1918 to the late 1960s as part of its responsibilities under the boundary waters treaty. The tool features a sliding time scale that makes it equally easy to view the past year or the past 150 years. Monthly lakewide average water levels 1918 present. He examines fluctuations in the levels of the lakes caused by manmade climate. Water levels are also a concern for shoreline property owners, as high levels cause beach erosion and low levels raise concerns for shipping and pleasurecraft operation along the shores. Fluctuations in great lakes water levels have occurred continually since the great lakes formed at the end of the ice age. Great lakes water levels graham sustainability institute. This book tells more of the background of the great lakes. A terrific book on great lakes water conflicts gets a timely, thorough.
Historic, current, and future water levels tip of the. Water levels on three of the great lakes recovered at record or nearrecord rates this year. Users of the great lakes, connecting channels and st. Egan knows how to pare a story to its most interesting elements. Lake chicago was nearly forced from its banks with the lake border advance about 500 years after the lake was formed. The united states army corps of engineers collects and disseminates this water level data in cooperation with noaa and the canadian hydrographic service. High water levels are advantageous to boaters, commercial shipping, and hydropower. Canadian science writer wayne grady has written a great book about the great lakes. And the science friday book club is reading all about the lakes this month, looking at dan egans book, the death and life of the great lakes. Great lakes water level data and forecasts, basin conditions, outflows, and other information relating to great lakes water levels. One question that arises for many in the lake superior region is how these diversion might affect the water levels and whether such artificial structures can control the ups and downs of water. It is a comprehensive and easy read, placing great lakes water woes in a global context.
All levels are referenced to the international great lakes datum of 1985 igld 85. Lake levels can affect the extent of shoreline erosion and shoreline property damage, riparian interests beach widths and public access, dredging and shipping depth of navigation channels. Great lakes water levels michigan state university. Host audie cornish talks with drew gronewold, a hydrologist at the national oceanic and atmospheric administration, about why water levels in. The book offers a thorough, informative, and insightful recounting of how the regions struggle to manage great lakes water resources has informed the way future uses will be. A landmark work of science, history and reporting on the past, present and imperiled. Eva holland, the globe and mail the death and life of the great lakes reads like a mystery. An ecological history mcgillqueens university press 516 pages. There have historically been many uses for water in the great lakes basin. These diversions are almost equally balanced and have had little longterm effect on levels of the lakes. Great lakes water levels meters united states army.