Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Great Lake Getting Less Superior

By Caroline Zimmerman,  Newser User

Posted Aug 15, 2007 4:45 PM CDT
Email

(Newser) – Water levels in Lake Superior are down a whole foot this year, and scientists say man is to blame. The world's largest body of fresh water by surface area has suffered an on-and-off drought for four years, but levels may reach an all-time low this summer. Climate change is partially responsible, but one environmental group points to another culprit: the constant dredging of the St. Clair River for navigation.

Lake Superior reached its lowest level in 1962, when engineers deepened the river by two feet to ease commercial shipping channels. Now erosion from the project has gotten so bad that the lake is losing 2.5 billion gallons of water to the river every day. And Reuters reports the other Great Lakes are suffering too.

Michigan Tech University chemist Dr. Noel Urban, back right, watches assistant Cindy Schafer, a Michigan Tech student, pour a sample of water taken from the bottom of Lake Superior off Marquette, Mich., June 28, 2007. Looking on at left is Valerie Bennington, a grad student from the University of Wisconsin....
Michigan Tech University chemist Dr. Noel Urban, back right, watches assistant Cindy Schafer, a Michigan Tech student, pour a sample of water taken from the bottom of Lake Superior off Marquette, Mich.,...   (Associated Press)
How much water are we going to let drain out before the erosion can be stopped? Mary Muter, chair of the Georgian Bay Association.
"How much water are we going to let drain out before the erosion can be stopped?" Mary Muter, chair of the Georgian Bay Association.   (Shutterstock.com)
Empty boat slips at Presque Isle Marina on the northern side of Marquette, Mich., are seen on June 28, 2007. Over the past year, the Lake Superior water level has ebbed to the lowest point in eight decades and will set a record this fall if, as expected, it dips...
Empty boat slips at Presque Isle Marina on the northern side of Marquette, Mich., are seen on June 28, 2007. Over the past year, the Lake Superior water level has ebbed to the lowest point in eight decades...   (Associated Press)
Dan Arsensault of Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., and his daughters Bree, 5, left, and Andie, 3 walk at Sherman Park in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., June 25, 2007. They came to swim at the park on the St. Marys River, a few miles from where it empties into Lake Superior....
Dan Arsensault of Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., and his daughters Bree, 5, left, and Andie, 3 walk at Sherman Park in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., June 25, 2007. They came to swim at the park on the St. Marys...   (Associated Press)
View of Lake Superior's Keweenaw Bay from Baraga, Mich., is shown in this June 28, 2007 photo. Something seems amiss with mighty Lake Superior, the deepest and coldest of the Great Lakes which together hold nearly 20 percent of the world's fresh surface water. Over the past year, its level...
View of Lake Superior's Keweenaw Bay from Baraga, Mich., is shown in this June 28, 2007 photo. Something seems amiss with mighty Lake Superior, the deepest and coldest of the Great Lakes which together...   (Associated Press)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.

More numbers
Science Daily

Decline in water levels is drastic and sustained
Detroit Free Press

No time for red tape
Detroit News

 
climate change • environment • water • erosion • Great Lakes • Lake Superior • lake • fresh water

More Newser Stories

Jellyfish Journeys May Affect Climate

Melting Empties Chile Lake

New Worry: Global Soil Change

Darfur Hopes Lie in Hidden Lake

Polluted Fish Swamp Great Lakes
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne