Ft.

-1

0

+ 1

+ 2+ 3+ 4+ 5

M.

-0.3

0

+ 0.3

+ 0.6

+ 0.9+ 1.2+ 1.5

2012

JUN

1952

JUL

1947

AUG

1947

SEP

1947

OCT

1945

NOV

1945

DEC

1945

2013

JAN

1946

FEB

1952

MAR

1952

APR

1973

MAY

1973

JUN

19521935

JUL

19471934

AUG

19471934

SEP

19471934

OCT

19451934

NOV

19451934

DEC

19451934

2014

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

2012

JUN

1986

JUL

1986

AUG

1986

SEP

1986

OCT

1986

NOV

1986

DEC

1986

2013

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

2014

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

2012

JUN

1986

JUL

1986

AUG

1986

SEP

1986

OCT

1986

NOV

1986

DEC

1986

2013

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

2014

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

601.94183.47600.75

183.11

602.82183.74

1986

599.61

182.76

1926

601.54183.35

MichHuron

578.31

176.27

577.20

175.93581.63177.28

1986

576.57175.74

1964

578.97176.47

St.

Clair

574.57175.13573.62174.84576.87175.83

1986

572.24174.42

1934

574.54175.12

Erie

572.01

174.35571.19

174.10

574.05174.97

1986

569.03173.44

1934

571.85

174.30

Ontario

246.52

75.14

245.67

74.88

248.46

75.73

1973

243.14

74.11

1935

246.10

75.01

MAY MEAN LAKE LEVELS

(IGLD 1985)

* 2014 Ft.

M.

2013 Ft.

M.

** MAX.

Ft.

M.

Yr.

** MIN.

Ft.

M.

Yr.

** AVG. Ft.

M.

* provisional** Average, Maximum and Minimum for period 1918-2013

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 2014

The Great Lakes basin as a whole experienced above average precipitation in May. Lakes Superior and MichiganHuron saw precipitation that was 13% and 7%, respectively, above average. The precipitation within the Lake Erie 

basin was near average, while Lake Ontario experienced precipitation that was 27% above its May historical 

average. The net basin supply of water to all of the Great Lakes was well above average in May. In fact, the net 

basin supply to Lake Superior was the second highest in its period of record for May. The tables below list May 

precipitation and water supply information for all Great Lakes basins. 

A comparison of monthly mean lake levels for May to long-term average (1918-2013) shows Lake Superior was 

about 5 inches above average, while Lake Michigan-Huron was 8 inches below average. Lake St. Clair was near 

average, while Lakes Erie and Ontario were 2 and 5 inches, respectively, above long-term average. Boaters 

should be aware of hazards to navigation due to continued below average water levels on Lake Michigan-Huron. 

 

PRECIPITATION (INCHES) 

BASIN 

May 12-Month Comparison 

2014 Average Diff. % of 

Average 

 Last 12 

months 

Average Diff. % of 

(1900-2010) (1900-2010) Average 

Superior 3.13 2.76 0.37 113 31.02 30.46 0.56 102 

Michigan-Huron 3.25 3.05 0.20 107 31.99 32.44 -0.45 99 

Erie 3.33 3.36 -0.03 99 37.75 35.43 2.32 107 

Ontario 3.94 3.10 0.84 127 37.29 35.73 1.56 104 

Great Lakes 3.33 3.01 0.32 111 33.03 32.64 0.39 101 

 

 LAKE May Net Basin Supplies1

 (cfs) May Outflows2 (cfs) 

2014 Average 

(1900-2008) 2014 Average3(1900-2008)

Superior 300,000 182,000 85,000 75,000 

Michigan-Huron 352,000 251,000 181,000 189,000 

Erie 76,000 48,000 218,000 216,000 

Ontario 77,000 60,000 268,000 260,000 

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