Ft.

-1

0

+ 1

+ 2+ 3+ 4+ 5

M.

-0.3

0

+ 0.3

+ 0.6

+ 0.9+ 1.2+ 1.5

2010

JUL

1947

AUG

1947

SEP

1947

OCT

1945

NOV

1945

DEC

1945

2011

JAN

1946

FEB

1952

MAR

1952

APR

1973

MAY

1973

JUN

1952

JUL

19471934

AUG

19471934

SEP

19471934

OCT

19451934

NOV

19451934

DEC

19451934

2012

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

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

2010

JUL

1986

AUG

1986

SEP

1986

OCT

1986

NOV

1986

DEC

1986

2011

JAN

1987

FEB

1987

MAR

1986

APR

1985

MAY

1986

JUN

1986

JUL

1986

1934

AUG

1986

1934

SEP

1986

1934

OCT

1986

1934

NOV

1986

1934

DEC

1986

1934

2012

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

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

2010

JUL

1986

AUG

1986

SEP

1986

OCT

1986

NOV

1986

DEC

1986

2011

JAN

1986

FEB

1986

MAR

1986

APR

1986

MAY

1986

JUN

1986

JUL

1986

1934

AUG

1986

1934

SEP

1986

1934

OCT

1986

1934

NOV

1986

1934

DEC

1986

1964

2012

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

CHART DATUM 572.3 FEET (174.4 METERS)

ELEVATIONS REFERENCED TO THE CHART DATUM OF EACH 

Superior

601.05

183.20

600.89183.15602.89

183.76

1986

599.90

182.85

1926

601.84183.44

MichHuron

577.66

176.07578.12

176.21

581.79177.33

1986

576.64

175.76

1964

579.23176.55

St.

Clair

574.08174.98574.87175.22577.17175.92

1986

572.34174.45

1934

574.70

175.17

Erie

571.59174.22572.77174.58574.28175.04

1986

569.06

173.45

1934

571.95174.33

Ontario

245.73

74.90

247.15

75.33

248.56

75.76

1952

243.41

74.19

1935

246.23

75.05

JUNE MEAN LAKE LEVELS

(IGLD 1985)

* 2012 Ft.

M.

2011 Ft.

M.

** MAX.

Ft.

M.

Yr.

** MIN.

Ft.

M.

Yr.

** AVG. Ft.

M.

* provisional** Average, Maximum and Minimum for period 1918-2011

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. Tables of possible storm-induced rises at key locations on the 

Great Lakes are available on request. The Corps also publishes the "Great Lakes, Connecting Channels and St. 

Lawrence River Water Levels and Depths,” weekly, which provides a forecast of depths in the connecting rivers 

between the Great Lakes and the International Section of the St. Lawrence River. This information is available on the 

internet at http://www.lre.usace.army.mil/glhh. 

Great Lakes Basin Hydrology

June 2012

The Superior and Ontario basins experienced above average precipitation in June, while the Michigan-Huron and Erie 

basins received below average precipitation last month. Over the past 12 months, Lakes Superior and Michigan-Huron 

have received below average precipitation. Lake Erie has received above average precipitation over the past 12 

months, while Lake Ontario has received below average precipitation. Precipitation over the entire Great Lakes basin 

was near average in June and slightly below average over the past 12 months. In June, the net supply of water for Lake 

Superior was above average. For Lakes Michigan-Huron, Erie and Ontario, the net supply of water was below average 

in June. The tables below list June precipitation and water supply information for all Great Lakes basins. 

A comparison of monthly mean lake levels for June to long-term average (1918-2011) shows Lakes Superior and 

Michigan-Huron were 9 and 19 inches below average, respectively. Lake St. Clair was 7 inches below average in June, 

and Lakes Erie and Ontario were 4 and 6 inches, respectively, below average. Boaters should be aware of hazards to 

navigation due to continued below average water levels on all lakes. 

 

PRECIPITATION (INCHES) 

BASIN 

June 12-Month Comparison 

2012 Average Diff. % of 

Average 

Last 12 

months 

Average Diff. % of 

(1900-2008) (1900-2008) Average 

Superior 4.95 3.27 1.68 151 29.75 30.51 -0.76 98 

Michigan-Huron 2.64 3.14 -0.50 84 30.50 32.44 -1.94 94 

Erie 2.32 3.45 -1.13 67 40.85 35.40 5.45 115 

Ontario 3.42 3.12 0.30 110 32.96 35.71 -2.75 92 

Great Lakes 3.31 3.21 0.10 103 31.98 32.64 -0.66 98 

 

 LAKE 

June WATER SUPPLIES1

 (cfs) June OUTFLOW2 (cfs) 

2012 

Average3

(1900-2008) 2012 

Average3

(1900-2008)

Superior 182,000 155,000 58,000 77,000 

Michigan-Huron 134,000 204,000 173,000 192,000 

Erie -7,000 31,000 202,000 216,000 

Ontario 23,000 42,000 242,000 260,000 

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

1

 Negative water supply denotes evaporation from lake exceeded runoff from local basin. 

2

 Does not include diversions. 

3

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