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View Full Version : Lake Superior Lowest Ever.


Leon m
10-01-2007, 05:06 PM
"Some areas had so little water last spring and summer that recreational boats couldn't reach docking slips

Commercial shippers, who haul iron ore and coal across the lakes to manufacturing centers such as Detroit, have been unable to fill cargo holds to capacity for fear of scraping bottom in shallow channels.

"Light loading has been just creaming the industry this year," said Glen Nekvasil, spokesman for the Lake Carriers Association."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071001/ap_on_sc/lake_superior_1
Dan McCosh
10-01-2007, 05:18 PM
This is interesting, although why Superior stayed high while the lower lakes were dropping always seemed odd. Lake levels were up slightly in the lower lakes this year, despite the prolonged drought.
Ron Williamson
10-01-2007, 06:56 PM
Can the level be controlled at the Soo locks?
R
Steve Paskey
10-02-2007, 01:27 AM
Can the level be controlled at the Soo locks?
R

I don't think so. The "normal" water levels on Superior are something like 21 feet above Lake Huron ... i.e. the locks were built to bypass a 21-foot overall drop along the St. Marys River.

As long as Superior's still higher than Huron ... well, the water ain't flowin' uphill.
Dan McCosh
10-02-2007, 07:04 AM
Can the level be controlled at the Soo locks?
R


This is one of the more controversial issues--whether the Sault locks or the Welland/Niagara, or the Chicago river can control the lake levels. I talked to an Army Corps. of Engineers expert once who said no, these don't really have the flow capacity to dramatically alter lake levels. His point of view was that general precipitation was the main factor--as opposed to canal flow or evaporation. The one-foot or so drop in a couple of weeks in September/October always mystifies me, however, since none of these explanations seem to fit this pattern.
TimH
10-02-2007, 09:42 AM
I don't think so. The "normal" water levels on Superior are something like 21 feet above Lake Huron ... i.e. the locks were built to bypass a 21-foot overall drop along the St. Marys River.

As long as Superior's still higher than Huron ... well, the water ain't flowin' uphill.

I think he meant that if you control the outflow from Superior into Huron you could control the level. Let less water out and the level will stay higher.