APRIL 2017 GREAT LAKES WATER LEVEL SUMMARY LAKE SUPERIOR Lake Superior entered its period of seasonal rise in April, rising about 1 inch from March to April. The mean April level of 601.74 feet was 6 inches above its long-term average (LTA) April level, but 3 inches below last year’s level. Despite a relatively dry start to the month, total April precipitation over the Lake Superior basin was nearly 50% higher than average as a result of significant amounts of precipitation during the last week of the month. As a result, net basin supply of water to Lake Superior was above average. Over the next 6 months, Lake Superior is expected to be 5 to 8 inches above LTA levels and 14 to 19 inches above chart datum, but 5 to 11 inches below record high levels. The lake is forecast to rise about 11 inches before beginning its seasonal decline in August. LAKE MICHIGAN-HURON Lake Michigan-Huron rose 5 inches from March to April. The mean April level of 579.59 feet was 4 inches below last year’s April level, but 11 inches above its LTA April level. Precipitation over the Michigan-Huron basin was over 60% higher than normal April precipitation, and as a result, net basin supply of water to the lake was nearly 50% higher than normal for this time of year. Over the next 6 months, Lake Michigan-Huron is forecast to be within 2 inches of last year’s levels. The lake is forecast to rise about 8 inches until it peaks in July. The lake is forecast to be 28 to 33 inches above chart datum throughout the forecast horizon. LAKE ST. CLAIR Lake St. Clair continued its seasonal rise, with its April level of 575.69 feet at 7 inches above its March level. Lake St. Clair was within an inch of last year’s April

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According to the US Army Corp of Engineers the water levels are expected to rise as we go into the summer months!

LAKE SUPERIOR Lake Superior entered its period of seasonal rise in April, rising about 1 inch from March to April. The mean April level of 601.74 feet was 6 inches above its long-term average (LTA) April level, but 3 inches below last year’s level. Despite a relatively dry start to the month, total April precipitation over the Lake Superior basin was nearly 50% higher than average as a result of significant amounts of precipitation during the last week of the month. As a result, net basin supply of water to Lake Superior was above average. Over the next 6 months, Lake Superior is expected to be 5 to 8 inches above LTA levels and 14 to 19 inches above chart datum, but 5 to 11 inches below record high levels. The lake is forecast to rise about 11 inches before beginning its seasonal decline in August. LAKE MICHIGAN-HURON Lake Michigan-Huron rose 5 inches from March to April. The mean April level of 579.59 feet was 4 inches below last year’s April level, but 11 inches above its LTA April level. Precipitation over the Michigan-Huron basin was over 60% higher than normal April precipitation, and as a result, net basin supply of water to the lake was nearly 50% higher than normal for this time of year. Over the next 6 months, Lake Michigan-Huron is forecast to be within 2 inches of last year’s levels. The lake is forecast to rise about 8 inches until it peaks in July. The lake is forecast to be 28 to 33 inches above chart datum throughout the forecast horizon. LAKE ST. CLAIR Lake St. Clair continued its seasonal rise, with its April level of 575.69 feet at 7 inches above its March level. Lake St. Clair was within an inch of last year’s April

LAKE MICHIGAN-HURON Lake Michigan-Huron rose 5 inches from March to April. The mean April level of 579.59 feet was 4 inches below last year’s April level, but 11 inches above its LTA April level. Precipitation over the Michigan-Huron basin was over 60% higher than normal April precipitation, and as a result, net basin supply of water to the lake was nearly 50% higher than normal for this time of year. Over the next 6 months, Lake Michigan-Huron is forecast to be within 2 inches of last year’s levels. The lake is forecast to rise about 8 inches until it peaks in July. The lake is forecast to be 28 to 33 inches above chart datum throughout the forecast horizon. LAKE ST. CLAIR Lake St. Clair continued its seasonal rise, with its April level of 575.69 feet at 7 inches above its March level. Lake St. Clair was within an inch of last year’s April

LAKE ST. CLAIR Lake St. Clair continued its seasonal rise, with its April level of 575.69 feet at 7 inches above its March level. Lake St. Clair was within an inch of last year’s April level, and is forecast to be within 2 inches of last year’s levels throughout the next 6 months. The forecast calls for Lake St. Clair to remain 13 to 15 inches above LTA levels from May to October. LAKE ERIE Lake Erie’s monthly mean level rose about 6 inches from March to April. The monthly mean level of 572.97 feet was 2 inches above last year’s April level and 17 inches above its LTA April level. This level was 13 inches below the record high April level. Lake Erie received about 17% more than normal April precipitation, and as a result, net basin supply of water to the lake was somewhat above average. Lake Erie is forecast to begin its seasonal decline after rising another 4 inches in May. Over the next 6 months, Lake Erie is expected to be between 1 and 6 inches higher than last year’s levels and 11 to 17 inches above LTA levels. LAKE ONTARIO Lake Ontario rose about 14 inches from March to April. The mean April level of 247.21 feet was 9 inches above last year’s April level, but 12 inches below its record high April level. Very high precipitation over the Lake Ontario basin (over 50% above average for this time of year) resulted in net basin supply of water to the lake that was well above average. The current 6-month forecast calls for Lake Ontario to peak in May at about 8 inches above the mean April level. Over the next 6 months, Lake Ontario is expected to be 10 to 19 inches above last year’s levels, 7 to 21 inches above LTA levels, and 7 to 17 inches below record high levels.

LAKE ERIE Lake Erie’s monthly mean level rose about 6 inches from March to April. The monthly mean level of 572.97 feet was 2 inches above last year’s April level and 17 inches above its LTA April level. This level was 13 inches below the record high April level. Lake Erie received about 17% more than normal April precipitation, and as a result, net basin supply of water to the lake was somewhat above average. Lake Erie is forecast to begin its seasonal decline after rising another 4 inches in May. Over the next 6 months, Lake Erie is expected to be between 1 and 6 inches higher than last year’s levels and 11 to 17 inches above LTA levels. LAKE ONTARIO Lake Ontario rose about 14 inches from March to April. The mean April level of 247.21 feet was 9 inches above last year’s April level, but 12 inches below its record high April level. Very high precipitation over the Lake Ontario basin (over 50% above average for this time of year) resulted in net basin supply of water to the lake that was well above average. The current 6-month forecast calls for Lake Ontario to peak in May at about 8 inches above the mean April level. Over the next 6 months, Lake Ontario is expected to be 10 to 19 inches above last year’s levels, 7 to 21 inches above LTA levels, and 7 to 17 inches below record high levels.

LAKE ONTARIO Lake Ontario rose about 14 inches from March to April. The mean April level of 247.21 feet was 9 inches above last year’s April level, but 12 inches below its record high April level. Very high precipitation over the Lake Ontario basin (over 50% above average for this time of year) resulted in net basin supply of water to the lake that was well above average. The current 6-month forecast calls for Lake Ontario to peak in May at about 8 inches above the mean April level. Over the next 6 months, Lake Ontario is expected to be 10 to 19 inches above last year’s levels, 7 to 21 inches above LTA levels, and 7 to 17 inches below record high levels.

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