Ft.

-1

0

+ 1

+ 2+ 3+ 4+ 5

M.

-0.3

0

+ 0.3

+ 0.6

+ 0.9+ 1.2+ 1.5

2015

JUN

1952

JUL

1947

AUG

1947

SEP

1947

OCT

1945

NOV

1945

DEC

1945

2016

JAN

1946

FEB

1952

MAR

1952

APR

1973

MAY

1973

JUN

19521935

JUL

19471934

AUG

19471934

SEP

19471934

OCT

19451934

NOV

19451934

DEC

19451934

2017

JAN

1946

1935

FEB

1952

1936

MAR

19521935

APR

19731935

MAY

19731935

JUN

19521935

JUL

19471934

AUG

19471934

SEP

19471934

OCT

19451934

NOV

19451934

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

2015

JUN

1986

JUL

1986

AUG

1986

SEP

1986

OCT

1986

NOV

1986

DEC

1986

2016

JAN

1987

FEB

1987

MAR

1986

APR

1985

MAY

1986

JUN

1986

1934

JUL

1986

1934

AUG

1986

1934

SEP

1986

1934

OCT

1986

1934

NOV

1986

1934

DEC

1986

1934

2017

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

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

2015

JUN

1986

JUL

1986

AUG

1986

SEP

1986

OCT

1986

NOV

1986

DEC

1986

2016

JAN

1986

FEB

1986

MAR

1986

APR

1986

MAY

1986

JUN

1986

1934

JUL

1986

1934

AUG

1986

1934

SEP

1986

1934

OCT

1986

1934

NOV

1986

1934

DEC

1986

1964

2017

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

CHART DATUM 572.3 FEET (174.4 METERS)

ELEVATIONS REFERENCED TO THE CHART DATUM OF EACH 

Superior

602.23

183.56

602.03

183.50

602.82183.74

1986

599.61

182.76

1926

601.57

183.36

MichHuron

580.05

176.80

580.12176.82581.63177.28

1986

576.57175.74

1964

579.00

176.48

St.

Clair

576.15

175.61

575.79

175.50

576.87175.83

1986

572.24174.42

1934

574.54175.12

Erie

573.56

174.82

573.00

174.65574.05174.97

1986

569.03173.44

1934

571.85

174.30

Ontario

248.69

75.80

246.36

75.09

248.46

75.73

1973

243.14

74.11

1935

246.10

75.01

MAY MEAN LAKE LEVELS

(IGLD 1985)

* 2017 Ft.

M.

2016 Ft.

M.

** MAX.

Ft.

M.

Yr.

** MIN.

Ft.

M.

Yr.

** AVG. Ft.

M.

* provisional** Average, Maximum and Minimum for period 1918-2016

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

May 2017

According to preliminary estimates, precipitation during the month of May was above average for the Great Lakes 

basin. Lake Erie received 51% more than average precipitation and Lake Ontario received almost double its monthly 

average at 192% of average precipitation. In the period of record (1900-2014), this preliminary estimate of 5.98 

inches for the Lake Ontario basin would surpass the maximum recorded precipitation for the month of May of 5.70 

inches. The above average precipitation to all the lakes resulted in above average water supplies. All lakes, except 

for Lake Superior had above average outflows for the month of May.

In May, all the lakes continued their seasonal rise and were above their long-term average May levels. Lakes

Superior, Michigan-Huron, and St. Clair each rose about 6 inches from April to May. Lake Erie rose 7 inches in the 

past month, while Lake Ontario rose about 18 inches. The rise in Lake Ontario’s level brought the May mean level 

to 248.69 feet, which is a record high monthly mean level for May and for all months in the period of record (1918-

2016). All of the lakes except for Lake Michigan-Huron were above last year’s levels. Lakes Superior, St. Clair, Erie 

and Ontario, were 2, 4, 7, and 28 inches above last year’s levels, respectively.

PRELIMINARY PRECIPITATION (INCHES)

BASIN

May 12-Month Comparison

2017 Average Diff. % of 

Average

Average Last 

12 months 

Average Diff. % of 

(1900-2014) (1900-2014) Average

Superior 2.84 2.78 0.06 102 34.21 30.52 3.69 112

Michigan-Huron 3.08 3.05 0.03 101 34.32 32.57 1.75 105

Erie 5.10 3.38 1.72 151 37.31 35.65 1.66 105

Ontario 5.98 3.12 2.86 192 37.82 35.87 1.95 105

Great Lakes 3.64 3.02 0.62 121 35.05 32.76 2.29 107

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

2017

Average

(1900-2008) 2017

Average3

(1900-2008)

Superior 210,000 182,000 73,000 75,000

Michigan-Huron 327,000 251,000 208,000 189,000

Erie 111,000 48,000 256,000 216,000

Ontario 131,000 60,000 302,000 260,000

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