Ft.

-1

0

+ 1

+ 2+ 3+ 4+ 5

M.

-0.3

0

+ 0.3

+ 0.6

+ 0.9+ 1.2+ 1.5

2011

JAN

1946

FEB

1952

MAR

1952

APR

1973

MAY

1973

JUN

1952

JUL

1947

AUG

1947

SEP

1947

OCT

1945

NOV

1945

DEC

1945

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

2013

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

2011

JAN

1987

FEB

1987

MAR

1986

APR

1985

MAY

1986

JUN

1986

JUL

1986

AUG

1986

SEP

1986

OCT

1986

NOV

1986

DEC

1986

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

2013

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

2011

JAN

1986

FEB

1986

MAR

1986

APR

1986

MAY

1986

JUN

1986

JUL

1986

AUG

1986

SEP

1986

OCT

1986

NOV

1986

DEC

1986

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

2013

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

600.59

183.06

600.69183.09603.05

183.81

1985

600.13182.92

1925

601.71

183.40

MichHuron

576.15

175.61

577.56

176.04

581.56177.26

1986

576.18175.62

1964

578.51

176.33

St.

Clair

572.64174.54

574.41

175.08576.77

175.80

1986

571.65174.24

1964

573.85

174.91

Erie

570.28173.82572.18

174.40

573.82

174.90

1986

568.21

173.19

1934

570.83173.99

Ontario

243.70

74.28

244.82

74.62

246.72

75.20

1945

241.93

73.74

1934

244.52

74.53

DECEMBER 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. 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 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/glhh. 

Great Lakes Basin Hydrology

December 2012

The overall Great Lakes basin received 91% of its average precipitation for the month of December. The Lake 

Superior basin received 56% of average precipitation last month and 91% of average over the past 12 months. 

The Lake Michigan-Huron basin received 92% of average precipitation in December and 87% of average over the 

past 12 months. Lake Erie received 99% of average precipitation last month and 87% of average over the past 12 

months. Lake Ontario saw above average precipitation in December at 140% of average and 86% of average over 

the past 12 months. The water supply for Lake Superior and Lake Michigan-Huron was above average for 

December. Lake Erie’s water supply was below average last month while Lake Ontario’s water supply was above 

average. 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 (1918-2011) shows Lakes Superior 

and Michigan-Huron were 13 and 28 inches below average, respectively, with Lake Michigan-Huron setting a 

record low for the month of December at 576.15 ft. Lake St. Clair was 15 inches below average last month, and 

Lakes Erie and Ontario were 7 and 10 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 

December 12-Month Comparison 

2012 Average Diff. % of 

Average 

Last 12 

months 

Average Diff. % of 

(1900-2008) (1900-2008) Average 

Superior 1.14 2.02 -0.88 56 27.82 30.51 -2.69 91 

Michigan-Huron 2.16 2.36 -0.20 92 28.21 32.44 -4.23 87 

Erie 2.65 2.67 -0.02 99 30.87 35.40 -4.53 87 

Ontario 4.12 2.95 1.17 140 30.62 35.71 -5.09 86 

Great Lakes 2.16 2.38 -0.22 91 28.88 32.64 -3.76 88 

 

 LAKE 

December WATER SUPPLIES1

 (cfs) December OUTFLOW2 (cfs) 

2012 Average3

(1900-2008) 2012 Average3(1900-2008)

Superior -6,000 -22,000 55,000 72,000 

Michigan-Huron 74,000 34,000 157,000 183,000 

Erie 10,000 21,000 173,000 201,000 

Ontario 49,000 27,000 205,000 234,000 

Notes: Values (excluding averages) are based on preliminary computations; cfs denotes cubic feet per second. 1

 Water 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 water supply denotes evaporation exceeded runoff and precipitation. 2

 Does not include diversions. 

3

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