Understanding Great Lakes Water Level Fluctuations and the Need for Coastal Resiliency

The profile of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River system can be depicted as a series of steps leading from Lake Superior at the headwaters down to the Atlantic Ocean. Since the retreat of the glaciers, water levels have undergone dramatic fluctuations by as much as hundreds of feet. International records over the past one hundred four years show monthly water level ranges of 4 to 6 feet from record low to record high, depending on the lake. Seasonally, the lakes average a 12- to 16-inch fluctuation. Hydrologic conditions are the primary driver of Great Lakes water level changes. Weather patterns also have a direct influence on the Great Lakes’ levels. Crustal movement, the rebounding of the earth’s crust from the removed weight of the glaciers, does not change the amount of water in a lake, but rather the water depths along the shoreline. Recent events illustrate the region’s vulnerability to widespread flooding and coastal erosion while underscoring the need for resiliency planning. Rather than waiting for disaster to occur before investing in sustainable solutions, the upcoming Great Lakes Coastal Resiliency Study will provide national value as a proactive Great Lakes infrastructure investment strategy.

• Record URL:
  • https://www.dco.uscg.mil/Portals/9/DCO%20Documents/Proceedings%20Magazine/Archive/2022/Vol79_No3_Wint22.pdf?ver=vm_cEFKVR5rCZy8iGyUVTQ%3d%3d
• Authors:
  • Kompoltowicz, Keith
• Publication Date: 2022

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; Photos; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 23-29
• Serial:
  • Coast Guard Journal of Safety & Security at Sea, Proceedings of the Marine Safety & Security Council
  • Volume: 79
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: U.S. Coast Guard
  • Serial URL: http://www.uscg.mil/proceedings/

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Coasts; Depth; Disaster resilience; Environmental protection; Hydrology; Lakes
• Geographic Terms: Great Lakes
• Subject Areas: Environment; Hydraulics and Hydrology; Marine Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01886841
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 29 2023 4:15PM