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]

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

[West Basin]

Yep. Like so many other things in Nature, the Great Lakes have a water level cycle.

Right now we are in a 6 year diminishing level period. Six years ago we were at a record high. Remember the streets in Port Clinton flooding, as well as parts of Route 2 between Camp Perry and the Davis Besse power plant? I remember the lower levels (actually right around the mean water level) that lasted for about 16-17 years from 1999 to about 2016. As I mentioned in another post, the upper Lakes watersheds have deep snow pack this year, so that should help some as we get to late spring / summer. It took the Lake about 6 years from 2015 to 2021 to rise to the record level. Since then it's been 6 years of decline. Hopefully this will be a short decline cycle, and the Lake level will start to increase, or at least not diminish any farther, this season. Yes, everyone needs to be prepared for lower levels at their slips and around the launch ramps and channels. Remember that some areas you went over last year where you only cleared the bottom by 6 inches or less (you may not have known) might be too shallow to cross this season. Be smart and talk with your marina before you launch your boat and get the latest information on their water levels and the access channels. Same if you trailer and launch - get the info on that launch ramp and access channels for it. And - remember floating trees and big branches from spring and summer river floods can get stuck on reefs and shoals and sand bars that are now shallow enough to snag them. Pay attention to wind direction and speed, as those two factors are much more critical now for navigation with the much lower water levels. A switch in direction and/or speed can make a place you got over in the morning on the way out impassable in the afternoon on the way in.

Here's a graph that shows the Great Lakes historical water levels.

https://water.usace.army.mil/office/...GLWL-Graph.pdf

[gb1234]

Nice lake level graph! Thanks.

[stampman]

They need to quit lowering the lake so much for winter pool.