May 2021 Water Level Update

May 12, 2021
By Kayla Wandsnider, Coastal Resilience Project Assistant, Wisconsin Sea Grant 

Water Levels on Lake Michigan-Huron

The water levels on all the Great Lakes have continued to be below their monthly record highs as of May 7, 2021. Lake Michigan is now 15 inches below the highest recorded monthly average in May previously set just last year in 2020. This is the fourth month in a row this year where NBS has been below average. Potentially this signifies a decreasing trend in water levels. Lake Michigan is expected to continue its seasonal rise for the spring and is predicted to rise between 1-3 inches around this same time next month. 

Quick links to other May website updates: 

Around the Great Lakes: Shoreline Special Improvement District (application process and Euclid example)
Resource of the Month: Certified Coastal Practitioner™ Credentialing Program

Here are five things to know about water levels on Lake Michigan for May 2021.

What are the current water levels on Lake Michigan?

The water level of Lake Michigan as of May 7, 2021, is at an elevation of 580.58 feet above sea level (from the International Great Lakes Datum). To put this level into perspective, here are some statistics for Lake Michigan relative to the period of water level records measured from 1918 to present: (statistics from USACE’s Weekly Water Level Update and USACE’s Water Level Summary

What is the outlook for future water levels?

Water levels on Lake Michigan increased by 1 inch since last month. The USACE is projecting that water levels will continue their seasonal rise and increase by 1-3 inches by June 2021 (see six-month forecast issued for May 2021 below). An increase in water levels generally occurs throughout the spring as precipitation and snowmelt typically increase. They tend to level off then decrease at the end of the summer and through the fall as temperatures cool, evaporation increases, and wind speeds pick up. In an average year, water levels vary seasonally by about one foot from a peak in summer to a low in winter, though every year is different. You can read more about this as well as other myths on water level fluctuations on this blog. 

Six-month water level forecast for Lake Michigan issued for May 2021. Source: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. https://www.lre.usace.army.mil/Missions/Great-Lakes-Information/Great-Lakes-Water-Levels/Water-Level-Forecast/Monthly-Bulletin-of-Great-Lakes-Water-Levels/

What is behind Great Lakes water level fluctuations?

The story of Great Lakes water level changes is told by Net Basin Supply. Net Basin Supply (NBS) accounts for water going into a lake in the form of precipitation and runoff minus water leaving a lake due to evaporation of water from the lake surface. In general, when Net Basin Supply is positive, more water enters the lake than leaves, causing a rise in lake levels. Over the last five years, Net Basin Supply has been consistently positive, driving all the Great Lakes to rise (Click here for more detail).

In April 2021, Lake Michigan water levels have declined as seen with a below-average Net Basin Supply. Potentially, this could have been caused by significantly lower amounts of precipitation, around 37% below its average for the month. Second, there was a higher outflow from the Lake Michigan-Huron basin to Lake Erie through the St. Claire River than average. And third, other atmospheric conditions such as evaporation have an effect. The combination of these three factors could have led to a decline in water levels.  

Lake Michigan’s NBS for the year 2020 was cumulatively above average. 2021 is looking a bit different with NBS inputs below average and April’s NBS significantly below average. For 2020, in total, there was more water entering the Lake than leaving compared to a normal year, which drove Lake Michigan to consistently have monthly record highs. The NBS for the start of 2021, is seeing less water entering the lake and more water leaving. You can see on the chart below, when the green bar (2020/2021 NBS) is higher than the blue bar (historic average NBS), more water enters the lake than on average for that month (and vice versa). In order for Lake Michigan water levels to actually go down appreciably (beyond just seasonal fluctuations), we would need to consistently see green bars lower than the blue bars.  

This image shows a comparison between the current and the average NBS recorded between 1900 – 2008. Calculations based on the Army Corps of Engineers Great Lakes Basin Hydrology Summaries. https://www.lre.usace.army.mil/Missions/Great-Lakes-Information/Great-Lakes-Information-2/Basin-Conditions/

What would make water levels go down?

The historic record shows that water levels in the Great Lakes fluctuate between periods of highs and low with changes in precipitation and evaporation, so we know our high water levels will not be around forever. But what are the perfect conditions that would help water levels go down sooner rather than later? According to Keith Kompoltowicz, Deputy Chief of Engineering at the USACE’s Detroit District “If the faucet turns off, and we return to very dry, a hot dry summer. Those would be the conditions that would pull water levels down. Big picture is that we’re looking at another year of very high and even record high water levels, and the impacts associated with those are going to remain.” Those would be the ideal conditions – low precipitation and runoff with high evaporation – to get a below-average Net Basin Supply which would draw down lake levels. If you are curious to learn more about what drives lake level fluctuation check out this blog on Myth Busting Evaporation on the Great Lakes and other Water Level Fluctuations.

Places you can find more relevant information

1. Our Coastal Hazards page for details about the impacts of high water levels, including erosion, flooding, and navigation issues.
2. Our blog post Resources for Great Lakes Coastal Property Owners: Where do I start? has links to many resources to help
   • understand coastal hazards
   • weigh the risks coastal hazards pose to property
   • understand options for addressing these hazards
   • get started on implementing actions if necessary. 
3. The Great Lakes Water Budgets from the University of Michigan gives more information about what makes the lakes go up and down.
4. The US Army Corps’ Great Lakes Information page has tons of details on view water level data, water level forecasts, basin conditions, outflows, etc.
5. Our Resource of the Month on US Army Corps of Engineers Monthly Bulletin of Great Lakes Water Levels.