Ft.

-1

0

+ 1

+ 2+ 3+ 4+ 5

M.

-0.3

0

+ 0.3

+ 0.6

+ 0.9+ 1.2+ 1.5

2017

MAY

2017

JUN

2017

JUL

2017

AUG

1947

SEP

1947

OCT

1945

NOV

1945

DEC

1945

2018

JAN

1946

FEB

1952

MAR

1952

APR

1973

MAY

20171935

JUN

20171935

JUL

20171934

AUG

19471934

SEP

19471934

OCT

19451934

NOV

19451934

DEC

19451934

2019

JAN

1946

1935

FEB

1952

1936

MAR

19521935

APR

19731935

MAY

20171935

JUN

20171935

JUL

20171934

AUG

19471934

SEP

19471934

OCT

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

2017

MAY

1986

JUN

1986

JUL

1986

AUG

1986

SEP

1986

OCT

1986

NOV

1986

DEC

1986

2018

JAN

1987

FEB

1987

MAR

1986

APR

1985

MAY

1986

1934

JUN

1986

1934

JUL

1986

1934

AUG

1986

1934

SEP

1986

1934

OCT

1986

1934

NOV

1986

1934

DEC

1986

1934

2019

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

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

2017

MAY

1986

JUN

1986

JUL

1986

AUG

1986

SEP

1986

OCT

1986

NOV

1986

DEC

1986

2018

JAN

1986

FEB

1986

MAR

1986

APR

1986

MAY

1986

1934

JUN

1986

1934

JUL

1986

1934

AUG

1986

1934

SEP

1986

1934

OCT

1986

1934

NOV

1986

1934

DEC

1986

1964

2019

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 CHART DATUM 572.3 FEET (174.4 METERS)

ELEVATIONS REFERENCED TO THE CHART DATUM OF EACH 

Superior

602.40

183.61

601.94183.47602.62183.68

1986

599.48182.72

1926

601.25

183.26

MichHuron

580.61

176.97580.02176.79

581.46

177.23

1986

576.15

175.61

1964

578.71

176.39

St.

Clair

576.44

175.70

576.12

175.60

576.84175.82

1986

571.92174.32

1926

574.31

175.05

Erie

573.59174.83573.39174.77574.08174.98

1985

568.83173.38

1934

571.62174.23

Ontario

246.56

75.15

246.10

75.01

248.20

75.65

1973

242.88

74.03

1935

245.67

74.88

APRIL MEAN LAKE LEVELS

(IGLD 1985)

* 2019 Ft.

M.

2018 Ft.

M.

** MAX.

Ft.

M.

Yr.

** MIN.

Ft.

M.

Yr.

** AVG. Ft.

M.

* provisional** Average, Maximum and Minimum for period 1918-2018

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 and Climate Change 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) 226-6441 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

April 2019

Preliminary estimates indicate that all of the Great Lakes received above average precipitation in the month of April. 

Each lake exceeded their average April precipitation by at least 24%. Lake Erie experienced the highest above 

average at 37%. April water supplies to each of the Great Lakes were significantly above average as well. In fact, 

Lake Michigan-Huron experienced its fifth highest April net basin supply since 1900, while Lake Erie experienced its 

ninth highest. Preliminary estimates of outflows point to the St. Clair River achieving its highest recorded monthly 

mean April flow in 2019. Outflows for all lakes continued to be above average during the month of April. 

April monthly mean water levels for all the lakes were above their long-term average levels and above their April 

2018 levels. In addition, the levels of all the lakes rose in April. Lake Superior’s monthly mean level rose about one 

and a half inches in April. Lakes Michigan-Huron and Erie climbed by about 4 and 6 inches, respectively, in April, 

while the monthly mean levels of Lakes Erie and Ontario both rose 7 inches. The lakes ranged from above 2 to 7 

inches above their levels of a year ago. Lake Superior was 3 inches below its April record high. 

 

PRECIPITATION (INCHES) 

BASIN 

April 12-Month Comparison 

2019 Average Diff. % of 

Average 

Average Last 

12 Months 

Average Diff. % of 

(1900-2016) (1900-2016) Average 

Superior 2.55 2.03 0.52 126 30.43 30.58 -0.15 100 

Michigan-Huron 3.45 2.66 0.79 130 32.97 32.55 0.42 101 

Erie 4.38 3.19 1.19 137 36.77 35.62 1.15 103 

Ontario 3.62 2.93 0.69 124 35.33 35.87 -0.54 98 

Great Lakes 3.34 2.58 0.76 129 32.93 32.77 0.16 100 

 

 LAKE April WATER SUPPLIES1 (cfs) April OUTFLOW2 (cfs) 

2019 Average 

(1900-2008) 2019 Average3(1900-2008)

Superior 226,000 150,000 85,000 68,000 

Michigan-Huron 455,000 284,000 221,000 182,000 

Erie 112,000 67,000 251,000 207,000 

Ontario 107,000 93,000 263,000 251,000 

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