Water Level Update

I spent this past week at my cottage on Manitoulin Island and was pleasantly surprised upon my arrival to see that since the last week of June, the water level on Lake Huron/Georgian Bay had risen significantly. After dipping near record low levels this past January, water levels in Lake Huron and Georgian Bay have rebounded thanks in part to last winter's heavy snowfall combined with an abundance of spring rain. Environment Canada reports that Lake Huron and Georgian Bay water levels are up 20 centimetres or 8 inches over July 2007. At the same time however Lake Huron is still 33 centimetres or 13 inches below its long term average. For those that were living in our area in the late 1980's, we are still 5 feet below those record setting levels. Last year saw Lake Superior's water level drop drastically last fall to its lowest level since 1926. This in turn affects the outflow of water to replenish Lake Huron and Georgian Bay. Lake Superior as well has seen its water level return this year to near normal levels.

A five-year study is currently underway being conducted by the International Joint Commission that oversees the regulation of the Great Lakes. As previously reported in an earlier posting, the deepening of the St. Clair River both via dredging and erosion has been identified as one problem area that needs to be potentially addressed in order to stem the increased outflow of water from Lake Huron. Addtional information with respect to these issues can be obtained from the Georgian Bay Association.