Ft.

-1

0

+ 1

+ 2+ 3+ 4+ 5

M.

-0.3

0

+ 0.3

+ 0.6

+ 0.9+ 1.2+ 1.5

2014

FEB

1952

MAR

1952

APR

1973

MAY

1973

JUN

1952

JUL

1947

AUG

1947

SEP

1947

OCT

1945

NOV

1945

DEC

1945

2015

JAN

1946

FEB

1952

1936

MAR

19521935

APR

19731935

MAY

19731935

JUN

19521935

JUL

19471934

AUG

19471934

SEP

19471934

OCT

19451934

NOV

19451934

DEC

19451934

2016

JAN

1946

1935

FEB

1952

1936

MAR

19521935

APR

19731935

MAY

19731935

JUN

19521935

JUL

19471934

CHART DATUM 243.3 FEET (74.2 METERS)

Ft.

-1

0

+ 1

+ 2+ 3+ 4+ 5

+ 6

M.

-0.3

0

+ 0.3

+ 0.6

+ 0.9+ 1.2+ 1.5+ 1.8

2014

FEB

1987

MAR

1986

APR

1985

MAY

1986

JUN

1986

JUL

1986

AUG

1986

SEP

1986

OCT

1986

NOV

1986

DEC

1986

2015

JAN

1987

FEB

1987

1936

MAR

1986

1934

APR

19851934

MAY

1986

1934

JUN

1986

1934

JUL

1986

1934

AUG

1986

1934

SEP

1986

1934

OCT

1986

1934

NOV

1986

1934

DEC

1986

1934

2016

JAN

19871935

FEB

1987

1936

MAR

1986

1934

APR

19851934

MAY

1986

1934

JUN

1986

1934

JUL

1986

1934

CHART DATUM 569.2 FEET (173.5 METERS)

Ft.

-1

0

+ 1

+ 2+ 3+ 4+ 5

M.

-0.3

0

+ 0.3

+ 0.6

+ 0.9+ 1.2+ 1.5

2014

FEB

1986

MAR

1986

APR

1986

MAY

1986

JUN

1986

JUL

1986

AUG

1986

SEP

1986

OCT

1986

NOV

1986

DEC

1986

2015

JAN

1986

FEB

19861926

MAR

1986

1934

APR

19861926

MAY

1986

1934

JUN

1986

1934

JUL

1986

1934

AUG

1986

1934

SEP

1986

1934

OCT

1986

1934

NOV

1986

1934

DEC

1986

1964

2016

JAN

19861936

FEB

19861926

MAR

1986

1934

APR

19861926

MAY

1986

1934

JUN

1986

1934

JUL

1986

1934

CHART DATUM 572.3 FEET (174.4 METERS)

ELEVATIONS REFERENCED TO THE CHART DATUM OF EACH 

Superior

602.20

183.55602.17183.54602.69

183.70

1986

599.84182.83

1926

601.44183.32

MichHuron

579.30

176.57

579.10

176.51

581.30

177.18

1987

576.02175.57

2013

578.38176.29

St.

Clair

574.74175.18573.98174.95576.77

175.80

1986

570.47173.88

1936

573.59174.83

Erie

571.62174.23571.39

174.16

573.69

174.86

1987

568.27

173.21

1935

570.83173.99

Ontario

244.85

74.63

244.62

74.56

246.59

75.16

1946

242.16

73.81

1935

244.62

74.56

JANUARY MEAN LAKE LEVELS

(IGLD 1985)

* 2016 Ft.

M.

2015 Ft.

M.

** MAX.

Ft.

M.

Yr.

** MIN.

Ft.

M.

Yr.

** AVG. Ft.

M.

* provisional** Average, Maximum and Minimum for period 1918-2014

1985

1985

1973 1973

1936

1934

1926 1934

LAKE ONTARIO

LAKE ERIE

LAKE ST. CLAIR

LEGEND

LAKE LEVELS

RECORDEDPROJECTEDAVERAGE **MAXIMUM **MINIMUM **

The levels on the hydrographs are shown inboth feet and meters above (+) or below (-) Chart Datum. Chart Datum, also known as Low Water Datum, is a reference plane on each lake to which water depth and Federal navigation improvement depths on navigation charts are referred.All elevations and plots shown in this bulletin are referenced to International Great Lakes Datum 1985 (IGLD 1985). IGLD 1985 has its zero base at Rimouski, Quebec near the mouth of the St. Lawrence River (approximate sea level).
 Information 

Recorded water levels in this bulletin are derived from a representative network of water level gages on each lake 

(see cover map). Providers of these data are the U.S. Department of Commerce, NOAA, National Ocean Service, 

and Integrated Science Data Management, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Canada. The Detroit District, 

Corps of Engineers and Environment Canada derive historic and projected lake levels under the auspices of the 

Coordinating Committee on Great Lakes Basic Hydraulic and Hydrologic Data. 

This bulletin is produced monthly as a public service. The Corps also, on a weekly basis publishes online the Great 

Lakes, Connecting Channels and St. Lawrence River Water Levels and Depths, which provides a forecast of depths 

in the connecting rivers between the Great Lakes and the International Section of the St. Lawrence River. This 

Monthly Bulletin of the Lake Levels for the Great Lakes may be obtained free of charge by writing to the address 

shown on the front cover, by calling (313) 226-6442 or emailing hhpm@usace.army.mil. Notices of change of 

address should include the name of the publication. This information is available on the internet at 

http://www.lre.usace.army.mil/Missions/GreatLakesInformation.aspx. 

Great Lakes Basin Hydrology

January 2016

According to preliminary precipitation estimates, precipitation over the Great Lakes was above average in January. 

Precipitation to Lakes Superior and Michigan-Huron were around 60% and 30% above average, respectively. The 

precipitation to Erie equaled its January average, while Lake Ontario received slightly above average precipitation. 

The net basin supply to Lake Superior was above average in January, while the water supply to Lake Michigan was 

below average, and the water supplies to Lakes Erie and Ontario were near average. The tables below list January 

precipitation and water supply information for the Great Lakes basin. 

With the exception of Lake Superior, water levels rose on all lakes from December to January. The mean monthly 

lake level of all the lakes were above their long term average (LTA) January levels. Lakes Superior and MichiganHuron were 9 and 11 inches above average, respectively. The monthly mean levels of Lakes St. Clair, Erie, and 

Ontario were, 14,9, and 3 inches, respectively, above LTA. 

 

PRELIMINARY PRECIPITATION (INCHES) 

BASIN 

January 12-Month Comparison 

2016 Average Diff. % of 

Average 

Last 12 

Months 

Average Diff. % of 

(1900-2012) (1900-2012) Average 

Superior 3.07 1.93 1.14 159 30.87 30.43 0.44 101 

Michigan-Huron 2.78 2.13 0.65 131 31.14 32.48 -1.34 96 

Erie 2.48 2.48 0.00 100 33.86 35.59 -1.73 95 

Ontario 2.91 2.76 0.15 106 33.22 35.83 -2.61 93 

Great Lakes 3.12 2.20 0.92 142 31.83 32.68 -0.85 97 

 

 LAKE January Net Basin Supplies1 (cfs) January Outflows2 (cfs) 

2016 Average 

(1900-2008) 2015 Average3(1900-2008)

Superior 14,000 -13,000 85,000 69,000 

Michigan-Huron 23,000 60,000 200,000 161,000 

Erie 28,000 29,000 225,000 196,000 

Ontario 34,000 32,000 216,000 222,000 

Notes: Values (excluding averages) are based on preliminary computations; cfs denotes cubic feet per second. 

1 Net basin supply is the net result of precipitation falling on the lake, runoff from precipitation falling on the land which flows to 

the lake, and evaporation from the lake. Negative net basin supply denotes evaporation exceeded runoff and precipitation. 

The net total supply can be found by adding the net basin supply and the outflow from the upstream lake. 

2 Does not include diversions. 

3 Lake Ontario average water supplies and average outflows are based on period of record 1900-2005