Low Lake levels

[Lucky Duck]

I wonder how much the lake levels are going to rise this year after the ice melts. My dock in MArblehead on West Harbor is still down about 24- 30 inches from last summer. How much should we get back this spring with some rain and melt off?

[gb1234]

Looks like it usually rises about 20" from December to June. But over the last 5 years it has been trending lower, the year-round average dropping about 17" in that timeframe. See link...
Great Lakes Dashboard

[Lucky Duck]

Thank you, very helpful.

[West Basin]

Forecasters for Lake shipping are saying the Lake water levels should stay where they are or rise slightly this season / summer. That's good news in that levels aren't expected to drop. Not so good in that levels are not expected to rise much, if at all.

[Lucky Duck]

I am going to see how much water I have at my dock tomm. Not looking forward to seeing that tape measure. I had a new interlocking sea wall put in two years ago and they dredged where my boat docks, but the other issue is in West Harbor, the area from the land where people dock at their properties out to the Federal channel has been pretty shallow the last few years. I was looking forward to what gb1234 said that we may get 17-20" by summer.

[Lucky Duck]

Yesterday I stuck a pole in the water. Had 4 feet, but my pole was not even at the bottom some water at the dock. It had been about 4 weeks since I had been up there, and my neighbor and I both thought it looked as the water had come up some, possibly 8-10 inches.

[West Basin]

Snowfall amounts in the upper Great Lakes watersheds are deep, and ice coverage helps reduce evaporation. From those two factors we're looking pretty good to maintain and raise Lake water levels this year. The rest depends on Spring and Summer precipitation.

[Pat T]

Following...............We utilize the Toussaint river to get to the lake and at the mouth of the river it is quite shallow. So hoping the lake level is not down too much this spring.

[itsbob]

Drove up to our lake house on Catawba yesterday to do some spring clean up of yard.Locals saying alot of fog lately.The fog cleared out today and sun came out and got really nice.Still some ice near shore but could see the open water to the north.But the water level is way down.Its as low or lower than when I last saw it this fall.The dredgers are going to be busy this spring for sure.Hopefully will get some more water in our lake to help the boaters this season.

[airshot]

Been on Lake Erie for well over 60 years and I am concerned about the cycle of the low/ high water on the lake. About every 7 years or so the big lake goes thru a water cycle of excess high or low water. Worried we might be coming into a low water season. So be prepared when you pick your season dock. Dreggers can only do so much, I have seen the water so low the deggers could not get in.
If it is a low water cycle, be prepared to go 2-3 seasons with low water. Keeping my fingers crossed, but signs are not looking good...m