DETROIT (AP) — Water levels in the Great Lakes are dropping because of sparse snow and rain, which could mean hard times for commercial shippers and recreational boaters in some areas, officials say.
The drop-off continues a trend that began in the late 1990s but had stalled the past couple of years, which were wetter.
"We're below last year's lake levels across the board," Keith Kompoltowicz, a meteorologist with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, told The Detroit News for a Wednesday story. "That's largely due to the very dry conditions we had during the winter and early spring."
The Great Lakes shipping industry wasn't able to take full advantage of the higher water since 2007 because the recession reduced demand for materials such as iron ore, coal and limestone.
The number of vessels operating on the lakes as of May 1 was up slightly from the 42 in the water at the same time in 2009. But ships can't carry as much cargo as they could a year ago because of lower water, making their runs less profitable.
"The biggest ships we have lose 270 tons of cargo for each inch of draft they lose," said Glen Nekvasil, vice president of corporate communications for the Lake Carriers' Association. "Even smaller boats, like those that bring in cement to Detroit, can lose 70 to 80 tons of cargo per inch.
"It's just another challenge for us in what's already a very challenging time."
Marina operators also can be hurt if water is so shallow that recreational vessels can't reach their slips. Boaters must guard against running aground.
Lower water also could worsen the spread of algae in Lake Erie, already susceptible because it is the shallowest of the Great Lakes, with an average depth of 62 feet.
"If the lake level is down, that's less water for the sun to penetrate," said Thomas Bridgeman, a professor at the University of Toledo's Lake Erie Center. "I would say the trend over the last few years has been that it's getting worse. And there's no reason to think that pattern is going to change this year."
Michigan
Dry weather has water levels dropping
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