Ft.

-1

0

+ 1

+ 2+ 3+ 4+ 5

M.

-0.3

0

+ 0.3

+ 0.6

+ 0.9+ 1.2+ 1.5

2010

JAN

1946

FEB

1952

MAR

1952

APR

1973

MAY

1973

JUN

1952

JUL

1947

AUG

1947

SEP

1947

OCT

1945

NOV

1945

DEC

1945

2011

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

2012

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

2010

JAN

1987

FEB

1987

MAR

1986

APR

1985

MAY

1986

JUN

1986

JUL

1986

AUG

1986

SEP

1986

OCT

1986

NOV

1986

DEC

1986

2011

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

2012

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

2010

JAN

1986

FEB

1986

MAR

1986

APR

1986

MAY

1986

JUN

1986

JUL

1986

AUG

1986

SEP

1986

OCT

1986

NOV

1986

DEC

1986

2011

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

2012

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

600.69183.09600.62183.07603.05

183.81

1985

600.13182.92

1925

601.71

183.40

MichHuron

577.56

176.04576.97

175.86581.56177.26

1986

576.18175.62

1964

578.54176.34

St.

Clair

574.41

175.08

573.16

174.70

576.77

175.80

1986

571.65174.24

1964

573.82

174.90

Erie

572.18

174.40

570.41

173.86

573.82

174.90

1986

568.21

173.19

1934

570.80

173.98

Ontario

244.82

74.62

244.49

74.52

246.72

75.20

1945

241.93

73.74

1934

244.52

74.53

DECEMBER MEAN LAKE LEVELS

(IGLD 1985)

* 2011 Ft.

M.

2010 Ft.

M.

** MAX.

Ft.

M.

Yr.

** MIN.

Ft.

M.

Yr.

** AVG. Ft.

M.

* provisional** Average, Maximum and Minimum for period 1918-2010

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. Internet address 

http://www.lre.usace.army.mil/glhh contains this information on the Internet. 

Great Lakes Basin Hydrology

December 2011

The Lake Superior, Lake Michigan-Huron, and Lake Ontario basins experienced below average precipitation in 

December, while the Lake Erie basin received above average precipitation. Over the past 12 months, Lake Superior 

received below average precipitation, while Lake Michigan-Huron, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario have received above 

average precipitation. Precipitation over the entire Great Lakes basin was below average in December and above 

average over the past 12 months. In December, the net supply of water to the Lake Superior basin was below average, 

while it was above average to the Lake Michigan-Huron, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario basins. The tables below list 

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

A comparison of December monthly mean lake levels to long-term average (1918-2010) shows Lakes Superior and 

Michigan-Huron were each 12 inches below average. Lakes St. Clair, Erie and Ontario were 7, 17 and 4 inches, 

respectively, above average in December. Boaters should be aware of hazards to navigation due to continued below 

average water levels on the upper lakes. 

 

PRECIPITATION (INCHES) 

BASIN 

December 12-Month Comparison 

2011 Average Diff. % of 

Average 

Last 12 

months 

Average Diff. % of 

(1900-2008) (1900-2008) Average 

Superior 1.14 2.02 -0.88 56 27.35 30.51 -3.16 90 

Michigan-Huron 1.55 2.36 -0.81 66 35.29 32.44 2.85 109 

Erie 3.59 2.67 0.92 134 51.44 35.40 16.04 145 

Ontario 2.72 2.95 -0.23 92 40.42 35.71 4.71 113 

Great Lakes 1.85 2.38 -0.53 78 36.00 32.64 3.36 110 

 

 LAKE 

December WATER SUPPLIES1

 (cfs) December OUTFLOW2 (cfs) 

2011 

Average4

(1900-1989) 2011 

Average3

(1900-1999)

Superior -39,000 -22,000 55,000 72,000 

Michigan-Huron 82,000 34,000 165,000 183,000 

Erie 87,000 21,000 236,000 201,000 

Ontario 49,000 27,000 271,000 234,000 

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

 Niagara and St Lawrence rivers average outflows are based on period of record 1900-1989 and 1900-2005, respectively 

4 Lakes Erie and Ontario average water supplies based on 1900-1989