Ft.

-1

0

+ 1

+ 2+ 3+ 4+ 5

M.

-0.3

0

+ 0.3

+ 0.6

+ 0.9+ 1.2+ 1.5

2013

JAN

1946

FEB

1952

MAR

1952

APR

1973

MAY

1973

JUN

1952

JUL

1947

AUG

1947

SEP

1947

OCT

1945

NOV

1945

DEC

1945

2014

JAN

1946

1935

FEB

1952

1936

MAR

19521935

APR

19731935

MAY

19731935

JUN

19521935

JUL

19471934

AUG

19471934

SEP

19471934

OCT

19451934

NOV

19451934

DEC

19451934

2015

JAN

1946

1935

FEB

1952

1936

MAR

19521935

APR

19731935

MAY

19731935

JUN

19521935

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

2013

JAN

1987

FEB

1987

MAR

1986

APR

1985

MAY

1986

JUN

1986

JUL

1986

AUG

1986

SEP

1986

OCT

1986

NOV

1986

DEC

1986

2014

JAN

19871935

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

2015

JAN

19871935

FEB

1987

1936

MAR

1986

1934

APR

19851934

MAY

1986

1934

JUN

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

2013

JAN

1986

FEB

1986

MAR

1986

APR

1986

MAY

1986

JUN

1986

JUL

1986

AUG

1986

SEP

1986

OCT

1986

NOV

1986

DEC

1986

2014

JAN

19861936

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

2015

JAN

19861936

FEB

19861926

MAR

1986

1934

APR

19861926

MAY

1986

1934

JUN

1986

1934

CHART DATUM 572.3 FEET (174.4 METERS)

ELEVATIONS REFERENCED TO THE CHART DATUM OF EACH 

Superior

602.36

183.60

601.54183.35603.05

183.81

1985

600.13182.92

1925

601.67183.39

MichHuron

579.17176.53577.33175.97

581.56177.26

1986

576.15

175.61

2012

578.48176.32

St.

Clair

574.57175.13

573.46

174.79576.77

175.80

1986

571.65174.24

1964

573.82

174.90

Erie

571.42174.17570.67173.94573.79174.89

1986

568.21

173.19

1934

570.80

173.98

Ontario

244.29

74.46

244.52

74.53

246.72

75.20

1945

241.93

73.74

1934

244.49

74.52

DECEMBER MEAN LAKE LEVELS

(IGLD 1985)

* 2014 Ft.

M.

2013 Ft.

M.

** MAX.

Ft.

M.

Yr.

** MIN.

Ft.

M.

Yr.

** AVG. Ft.

M.

* provisional** Average, Maximum and Minimum for period 1918-2013

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

December 2014

Overall, the Great Lakes basin received 66% of average precipitation during the month of December. Each of the 

lakes experienced less than average precipitation. For Lake Michigan-Huron, this follows 8 consecutive months of 

above average precipitation. The net basin supply of water to Lakes Superior and Michigan-Huron continued to be 

well above average, and Lake Erie’s net basin supply was above average following below average net basin 

supply in November. The net basin supply of Lake Ontario remained below average in December. The net basin 

supply to Lake Superior has been above average for the past 11 months and the net basin supply to Lake 

Michigan-Huron has been above average for 8 of the past 9 months (all but August). The tables below list 

December precipitation and water supply information for all Great Lakes basins. 

A comparison of monthly mean lake levels for December to long-term average (1918-2013) shows Lake Superior 8 

inches above average, and Lake Michigan-Huron 8 inches above average. Lakes St. Clair and Erie were 9 and 7 

inches above long-term average, respectively, while Lake Ontario was 2 inches below average. 

 

PRECIPITATION (INCHES) 

BASIN 

December 12-Month Comparison 

2014 Average Diff. % of 

Average 

Last 12 

Months 

Average Diff. % of 

(1900-2010) (1900-2010) Average 

Superior 1.44 2.03 -0.59 71 33.41 30.46 2.95 110 

Michigan-Huron 1.70 2.35 -0.65 72 35.40 32.44 2.96 109 

Erie 1.40 2.66 -1.26 53 34.08 35.43 -1.35 96 

Ontario 1.65 2.96 1.80 56 35.62 35.73 -0.11 100 

Great Lakes 1.56 2.38 -0.82 66 34.65 32.64 2.01 106 

 

 LAKE December Net Basin Supplies1

 (cfs) December Outflows2 (cfs) 

2014 Average 

(1900-2008) 2014 Average3(1900-2008)

Superior -8,000 -22,000 85,000 72,000 

Michigan-Huron 89,000 34,000 203,000 183,000 

Erie 31,000 21,000 225,000 201,000 

Ontario 21,000 27,000 237,000 234,000 

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