The water levels of Lake Michigan and Huron rise and fall together. These lakes are connected through the Straits of Mackinac. The first graphic shows the historic sequence of average annual water levels beginning in 1860; the first year of systematic water level recording. The vertical range of water levels in Lake Michigan (and in Lake Huron) are given in the graphic below.
Sources of Information
For a comparison with present, or recent, lake levels, visit Forecast Lake Levels. At this site, select Weekly Great Lakes water levels forecast or the Monthly Bulletin of lake levels for the Great Lakes.
The water levels in the graphic above are given in meters above the International Great Lakes Datum, 1985.
Credit: NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab, Ann Arbor, Michigan
The range of water levels in Lakes Michigan and Huron in the graphic above are given in feet relative to Chart Datum, or Low Water Datum (LWD) of 577.8 feet, International Great Lakes Datum, 1985 (IGLD 1985). This LWD is 176.0 meters above IGLD 1985.
Credit: Gene Clark
