Drop in Lake Michigan's Level is man-made

[DrGonzoLives]

Chicago Sun-Times

A large, permanent and continuing water loss from Lake Michigan has been caused by shoreline protection measures and other man-made interventions in Lake Huron and the nearby St. Clair River, a report released Monday says.

Erosion of the river bottom spells lowered lake levels and major impacts on the two Great Lakes' environment and economy, according to the $230,000 study by the Canadian coastal engineering firm W.F. Baird & Associates.

[Squatch]

1. Conservation of volume anybody?

[Sinistrous]

2. "Permanent and continuing" water loss?

I guess I would like to see the full report. This chart:



indicates that current levels are within the range of historical levels.

And those of us in the northeast still remember the horrific drought of 2001-2003.

[htuttle]

3. I bet that chart would look different

If you cross referenced it with rainfall levels. I remember lake levels dropping during the drought too, but we weren't in a drought last year. At least not in Wisconsin and the surrounding area.

[Squatch]

4. "Cross referenced"...

what are you, on CSI? :spank:

[Sinistrous]

6. Erm, the chart shows the levels rose last year. n./t

.

[htuttle]

7. Look at it like a stock chart

Sure, it fluctuates from year to year, but the trend is down since 1860.

[Sinistrous]

8. Two points:

One: It is not a stock chart.

Two: The levels rose in 2004, which you implied they did not.

[htuttle]

9. Yes, of course it's not

It was a metaphor meant to convey the concept of fluctuations over a longer term trend.

I do not know how to explain it any other way.

Believe what you want.

[amandabeech]

5. There has been talk from time to time about erecting a lock and dam

between Lake Huron and Lake Erie to protect the water levels in Lakes Michigan and Huron against the problem of channel deepening around Detroit. The lock would use recirculated water.

If current talk of widening and deepening the St. Lawrence Seaway should become reality, then the lock and dam would certainly be needed. Personally, I think that this would just exacerbate the exotic species problem that's killing the lakes.

The better idea would be to just let nature take its course and use much smaller ships in the Great Lakes.