Water levels in the Great Lakes fluctuate naturally through the year. Here’s why that matters:
Lake Michigan may look like the same amazing lake every day–but it’s actually always changing. (Ken Bosma/Flickr)
The cycle of high and low water levels in the Great Lakes matters to the whole country. Why?
Glad you asked! When the water level in the Great Lakes fluctuates, it affects everyone differently—from commercial shippers carrying heavy loads, to lakefront property owners concerned about erosion.
Keith Kompoltowicz, chief of hydrology for the Detroit Corp of Engineers, says the water level in the lakes varies frequently.
“The lakes fluctuate anywhere from one foot to 16 inches or so, on average, over the course of the year,” he explains.
Snow, rain, and runoff cause the lake levels to rise through the spring and early summer, peaking in July. In summer, drier conditions and evaporation cause the water level to drop until mid-winter. And then, just like the seasons, the cycle begins again.
Because the Great Lakes are a shipping hub, these changing water levels can have a rippling effect throughout the country.
More proof that small changes can add up big time!
Get schooled:
- Check out the Great Lakes water level observations from NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory
- Stay in the know on current water level conditions, with info from the US Army Corps of Engineers
- Find out what Michigan State University says are the many factors that affect lake levels
The fine print:
- This segment was produced in partnership with Cornell’s Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future
