North East Lakes extremely low, What gives?

ThreeMileBayWaker

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Dec 17, 2009
Messages
342
Opened up camp last weekend on Chaumont Bay/ Three Mile bay, NY ( Lake Ontario)

Here are some picks, don't mind the seaweed which I always have the pleasure of mucking out..


15010_382628033270_510523270_3881698_6314362_n.jpg


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15010_382628043270_510523270_3881700_3353244_n.jpg


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These are water levels we have in October and November when I go duck hunting. You can see the normal water level on the seawall and its almost May 1st. I would guesstimate the water is 2.5-3' off where it should be for this time of year. Not too happy with a brand new boat on the way....

Whats going on? Army Core of engineers doing something with the locks?
 

rolmops

Vice Admiral
Joined
Feb 24, 2002
Messages
5,475
Re: North East Lakes extremely low, What gives?

The water passage at the locks is what it is supposed to be and nothing has changed there.The problem is higher up in the chain of lakes.Lake Eerie is the lowest it has been since 1933.There just is no water supply.
 

ifallsguy

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Sep 12, 2009
Messages
160
Re: North East Lakes extremely low, What gives?

Rain and snow have been down for the past year in the upper Great Lakes. The Corps of Engineers have not been cutting back. Lake Superior is down about an inch. Lakes in my area are down almost 18 inches.
 

solar7647

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Apr 23, 2009
Messages
1,218
Re: North East Lakes extremely low, What gives?

Yea all the lakes are low. It is due to this years weather patturn, El nino pushed all the mosture to the south leaving the Great lakes low. They are all still far from record lows though.
Lake Ont. The blue is this year
on.gif


ontario1.gif


Lake Erie We are pretty close to average
erie.gif


Mich and Huron
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Superior
sup.gif


We will prob see alot of Freighters run a ground this year. The lakes will be packed this season too. I know there were 9 boats docked in Toledo Ohio all last season because of the economy, this year with the rebond taking effect we should see this boats back out.

I know of a few consrtuction projects in NW ohio that were ground to a hault over the winter for lack of concrete and steel. That is a good sign for higher demand for the products these boats move.
 

tswiczko

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Feb 15, 2009
Messages
838
Re: North East Lakes extremely low, What gives?

I don't mean to get off the subject but is that the Toledo Harbor light Solar ?
 

tswiczko

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Feb 15, 2009
Messages
838
Re: North East Lakes extremely low, What gives?

I grew up in N/W Ohio and I had noticed that snow fall had dropped a bit also over the years but I haven't kept track since I moved 6 years ago
 

solar7647

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Apr 23, 2009
Messages
1,218
Re: North East Lakes extremely low, What gives?

I grew up in N/W Ohio and I had noticed that snow fall had dropped a bit also over the years but I haven't kept track since I moved 6 years ago

Over the past few years NW Ohio has had above average snow fall...its just been in like clumped in Dec-Feb so it seems that we are getting less.
 

tswiczko

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Feb 15, 2009
Messages
838
Re: North East Lakes extremely low, What gives?

Not only does it seem like less, but when you get larger amounts in a short period you have more run off and less replenishing of groundwater sources . Which means rivers will rise when there is precipitation but when the drier months come there is less ground water flowing into rivers and smaller lakes. The lowered water table is indicated by the lower lake levels.
 

solar7647

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Apr 23, 2009
Messages
1,218
Re: North East Lakes extremely low, What gives?

Yea, our ground water is def getting replenished, we are getting a lot of rain. I have a well so I am always worried of ground water.

The strange thing is that Lake Erie is staying real close to average depth but still a little low while the rest of the lakes seem to be really low compared to the average.

I guess the crazy weather pattern do to "the Nino" :)
didnt effect us as much as the surrounding areas that are used to a ton of snow, such as the northern lake areas and the New York area that is used to a lot of snow as well.
 

tswiczko

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Feb 15, 2009
Messages
838
Re: North East Lakes extremely low, What gives?

Great link, thanks Solar. I'm gonna add that sight to my favorites.
sorry I haven't gotten back sooner, I've had finals to deal with. I also start summer semester on the eleventh:eek:. No rest for me and not much time to boat this summer but I'll get a little in.

You are right the ground water levels are dropping. I noticed that in the mid eighties (I was doing irrigation at the time and we had to have wells redrilled after being in only a year) if you think lower water levels are bad look at what can happen to the ground http://edro.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/fig2.jpg
 
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