Great Lakes Water Levels are Down

The Great Lakes water levels are down.  With so much water it does not seem possible that people in the Great Lakes basin need to conserve water, and yet it is becoming necessary.

 According to Alan Steinman, PhD and director of Grand Valley State University’s Annis Water Resources Institute in Muskegon, dredging in the St. Clair River by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has lowered water levels by a couple of inches. Dredging opened the drain to cause the lake water to run out to the Atlantic at a faster pace.  Other causes of lower water is evaporation—a hot summer—little rain and snow and little or no ice cover in the winter.  Global warming is causing great changes in the Great Lakes.  Lower water levels dry up wetlands around the lakes.  These areas are nurseries for fish and birds and serve to filter out pollutants.  Boaters may find themselves high and dry. 

So for those living in the Great Lakes watersheds, don’t waste water.  Think of ways to conserve.

Read more about the Great Lakes in The Dynamic Great Lakes.  The book will provide you with basic facts about Great Lakes and how they function.  The book is available on Amazon’s Kindle and in paperback.  Also available from Barnes and Noble and many other places where books are sold.