Times Herald - www.thetimesherald.com - Port Huron, MILake levels nearing record lows
Waterfront homes have more beach; ships sail lighter
By BOBBY AMPEZZAN
Times Herald
When Jerry Eschenburg, 49, surveys the scene in front of his East China Township home there are a few things that stand out: a two-year-old "For Sale" sign, a beach spreading in front of a flood wall, a Jet-Ski lift suspended above sand that once was covered by water.
Eschenburg said he doesn't think low water levels in the St. Clair River and Lake Huron are turning prospective homebuyers away from his waterfront property - "nothing's selling right now, let's face it" - but it's not helping.
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Water levels in lakes Huron and Michigan are teetering just above an all-time low, and everything from shipping to power generation, to recreational boating to water habitat may be hurt.
On Friday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released a six-month forecast that predicts water depths for the lakes will hover just above record-setting lows through the winter months.
The all-time low water depth for the lakes for the month of January - 576.12 feet - was set in 1965. As of Friday, the depth was 576.31 feet.
Lake Huron is more than 2 feet shallower than average, and 5 feet shy of the record high set in 1987.
"We have been below average on Michigan-Huron for quite some time, since about 1999," said Keith Kompoltowicz, a meteorologist with the corps. "There have been times where we've seen above average rainfall, but it hasn't been enough to get the level climbing back to closer or higher than average."
Kompoltowicz said lake water levels are determined largely by the amount of water running into the lake basin, fueled either by rain or melted snow and ice, and the amount of water evaporating from the surface of the lakes.
"Looking back at January (and) February, 2007, almost 8 inches evaporated just in that two month period," a period when the average evaporation rate is 5½ inches, the meteorologist said.
The low lake levels have meant area boaters are doing more with less.
Eschenburg said his neighbor takes her Jet Ski to a local marina to put it in the water, and his brother had to push the family's 40-foot house boat out into the St. Clair River before he could reach water deep enough to run the propeller.
Cynthia Sellinger, a hydrologist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory in Ann Arbor, said marinas on lakes Huron and Michigan are spending more money on dredging, hydropower plants are running at half capacity or less, and floodplains and wetlands are drying up.
But the biggest impact has been on commercial shipping. For every inch of clearance lost in the lakes, freighters must shed between 11,000 and 22,000 pounds.
Glen Nekvasil, spokesman for the Lake Carriers' Association, said the largest recorded shipment carried through lakes Huron and Michigan in November was about 63,000 tons. When the water is high, freighters may carry upward of 72,000 tons in a trip.
Shipments of coal to Detroit Edison's St. Clair Power Plant were down 10,000 tons in December to about 61,000 tons, he said. The reduced amount of coal could produce electricity for the entire greater Detroit area for three hours.
In a three-week span in August and September this year, two 1,000-foot freighters ran aground in the mouth of the harbor in Muskegon.
"We can't control evaporation. We can't control precipitation, but we can dredge the Great Lakes," Nekvasil said.
Commercial shippers pay into the federal Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund, which Nekvasil said has a surplus of between $3 and $4 billion, some of which he thinks should be used for dredging.
Nekvasil said according to estimates from the Army Corps of Engineers $230 million is needed to "clear up the dredging backlog on the Great Lakes."
Dredging may be part of the problem.
Sellinger said the International Joint Commission, a bi-national organization formed to solve water management disputes, has commissioned a $14 million study that will in part evaluate whether dredging - particularly in the St. Clair River - has accelerated the speed at which water in lakes Huron and Michigan is draining into Lake Erie.
She said the study may recommend the corps implement "compensating work," such as a weir, which would slow the flow of water out of the lakes.
Bayfield Ontario
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Storm rings in new year
Storm rings in new year
Snow buries area, takes out power
By NICOLE GERRING
Times Herald
Heavy snowfall marked the first hours of 2008 on Tuesday as a winter storm moved through the area, dumping more than one foot of snow in some locations.
The Blue Water Area was one of the regions hardest hit by heavy snowfall that began at midnight and continued steadily throughout the day Tuesday.
Oakland, Livingston and Lapeer counties also received between a foot and 15 inches of snow.
By late Tuesday, the National Weather Service in Detroit/Pontiac had declared the day one of the snowiest New Year's Days. It also was declared one of the most intense snowstorms in recorded history across southeast Michigan. The storm reached from Brighton in South Livingston County to Lexington.
The snow fell at a rate of 2 to 4 inches per hour throughout early Tuesday, according to the weather service. More than 12 inches of snow fell in less than seven hours between the M-59 and I-69 corridors. The amount of snow within a short time frame made the storm one of the area's most notable in history, according to the weather service.
As of Tuesday afternoon, 16 inches of snow was recorded in Capac, 13 inches in Yale, 13 in Imlay City, 12.3 in Lexington, 9 inches in Armada and 7½ in Marlette, according to the weather service.
The weather service in Oakland County's White Lake Township did not have snowfall data available Tuesday for Port Huron. A measurement taken outside the Times Herald building showed about 9 inches of snow.
The winter storm system lifted up from the Central Plains and moved through Detroit before hitting surrounding counties, said Steve Considine, meteorologist at the weather service.
Although it was expected to diminish, snow continued to fall throughout the day Tuesday as winds from the north brought lake-effect snow showers to St. Clair and Sanilac counties, said Randy Sharpe, another meteorologist at the weather service.
Several car accidents were reported, although only a few resulted in injuries. Many cars swerved off snowy roads and into a ditch or median. Other vehicles had trouble navigating rural routes and main highways and got stuck in the heavy, wet snow.
At about 3:50 p.m., police said a Ford pickup traveling north on Water Street slid across the center line and slammed into a minivan being driven by Ashley Collier, 17, of Port Huron. Also in the van were her brother, Andrew, 4, her boyfriend Ronnie Sullivan, 21, and his brother Cody, 9. Another vehicle then slammed the van from behind.
"The pickup was going too fast, and it came straight into our lane and came dead on into us, and as soon as we hit everyone else hit us," Collier recalled.
The driver of the pickup was issued a citation for speed too fast for conditions.
Police and meteorologists were advising drivers to stay home rather than risk the hazardous road conditions.
Although county road commissions and city crews took care of many streets, the continuous snowfall and high winds that caused blowing snow made driving dangerous.
Many roads nearly were impassable, said Sgt. Jerry Basset of the St. Clair County Sheriff Department.
Even those who stayed indoors found a few problems. A power outage affected about 750 customers in the north end of Port Huron. In all, more than 30,000 DTE Energy Co. customers were without power at some point Tuesday.
Despite the inconvenience to many area residents, those who love to ski and participate in winter activities were grateful for the abundant snowfall.
Joe Peters, 44, and his nephew, Tony Ayers, 24, both of Port Huron, took out their snowmobiles to enjoy the winter wonderland.
On Tuesday morning they were looking forward to spending a day zipping along snow-covered country roads between Clyde Township and Croswell.
"You don't get to go out in the snow and play like you used to in Port Huron," Peters said, recalling the harsher winters of his childhood.
Matthew Sharrow and his two sons also were happy to wake up to a snowy front yard.
Jeremiah, 4, and Matthew, 6, spent a few hours Tuesday morning building an igloo with shovels and spoons.
"It's the first day of good packing snow, so they're having fun," he said.
Kim Bower and her daughter Aleesha Carrier, 14, both of Port Huron, hoped to turn a profit shoveling snow for their neighbors.
Dressed head to toe in snowsuits, hats and other warm winter clothes, the pair were walking along 10th Street offering their services.
Bower said the family could use extra cash.
"Christmas was hard, and it's the New Year," she said. She wanted to buy a phone card, and her daughter wanted to earn enough money to pay for developing her photos.
This isn't the first strong storm to hit the area on New Year's Day.
On Jan. 1, 1985, an ice storm hit southern portions of lower Michigan, resulting in significant ice accumulations that caused many power outages. The loss of power lasted for as long as a week in some areas.
There's a chance of light snow showers today.
m Reporter Bobby Ampezzan contributed to this report. Contact Nicole Gerring at (810) 989-6270 or ngerring@gannett.com
Snow buries area, takes out power
By NICOLE GERRING
Times Herald
Heavy snowfall marked the first hours of 2008 on Tuesday as a winter storm moved through the area, dumping more than one foot of snow in some locations.
The Blue Water Area was one of the regions hardest hit by heavy snowfall that began at midnight and continued steadily throughout the day Tuesday.
Oakland, Livingston and Lapeer counties also received between a foot and 15 inches of snow.
By late Tuesday, the National Weather Service in Detroit/Pontiac had declared the day one of the snowiest New Year's Days. It also was declared one of the most intense snowstorms in recorded history across southeast Michigan. The storm reached from Brighton in South Livingston County to Lexington.
The snow fell at a rate of 2 to 4 inches per hour throughout early Tuesday, according to the weather service. More than 12 inches of snow fell in less than seven hours between the M-59 and I-69 corridors. The amount of snow within a short time frame made the storm one of the area's most notable in history, according to the weather service.
As of Tuesday afternoon, 16 inches of snow was recorded in Capac, 13 inches in Yale, 13 in Imlay City, 12.3 in Lexington, 9 inches in Armada and 7½ in Marlette, according to the weather service.
The weather service in Oakland County's White Lake Township did not have snowfall data available Tuesday for Port Huron. A measurement taken outside the Times Herald building showed about 9 inches of snow.
The winter storm system lifted up from the Central Plains and moved through Detroit before hitting surrounding counties, said Steve Considine, meteorologist at the weather service.
Although it was expected to diminish, snow continued to fall throughout the day Tuesday as winds from the north brought lake-effect snow showers to St. Clair and Sanilac counties, said Randy Sharpe, another meteorologist at the weather service.
Several car accidents were reported, although only a few resulted in injuries. Many cars swerved off snowy roads and into a ditch or median. Other vehicles had trouble navigating rural routes and main highways and got stuck in the heavy, wet snow.
At about 3:50 p.m., police said a Ford pickup traveling north on Water Street slid across the center line and slammed into a minivan being driven by Ashley Collier, 17, of Port Huron. Also in the van were her brother, Andrew, 4, her boyfriend Ronnie Sullivan, 21, and his brother Cody, 9. Another vehicle then slammed the van from behind.
"The pickup was going too fast, and it came straight into our lane and came dead on into us, and as soon as we hit everyone else hit us," Collier recalled.
The driver of the pickup was issued a citation for speed too fast for conditions.
Police and meteorologists were advising drivers to stay home rather than risk the hazardous road conditions.
Although county road commissions and city crews took care of many streets, the continuous snowfall and high winds that caused blowing snow made driving dangerous.
Many roads nearly were impassable, said Sgt. Jerry Basset of the St. Clair County Sheriff Department.
Even those who stayed indoors found a few problems. A power outage affected about 750 customers in the north end of Port Huron. In all, more than 30,000 DTE Energy Co. customers were without power at some point Tuesday.
Despite the inconvenience to many area residents, those who love to ski and participate in winter activities were grateful for the abundant snowfall.
Joe Peters, 44, and his nephew, Tony Ayers, 24, both of Port Huron, took out their snowmobiles to enjoy the winter wonderland.
On Tuesday morning they were looking forward to spending a day zipping along snow-covered country roads between Clyde Township and Croswell.
"You don't get to go out in the snow and play like you used to in Port Huron," Peters said, recalling the harsher winters of his childhood.
Matthew Sharrow and his two sons also were happy to wake up to a snowy front yard.
Jeremiah, 4, and Matthew, 6, spent a few hours Tuesday morning building an igloo with shovels and spoons.
"It's the first day of good packing snow, so they're having fun," he said.
Kim Bower and her daughter Aleesha Carrier, 14, both of Port Huron, hoped to turn a profit shoveling snow for their neighbors.
Dressed head to toe in snowsuits, hats and other warm winter clothes, the pair were walking along 10th Street offering their services.
Bower said the family could use extra cash.
"Christmas was hard, and it's the New Year," she said. She wanted to buy a phone card, and her daughter wanted to earn enough money to pay for developing her photos.
This isn't the first strong storm to hit the area on New Year's Day.
On Jan. 1, 1985, an ice storm hit southern portions of lower Michigan, resulting in significant ice accumulations that caused many power outages. The loss of power lasted for as long as a week in some areas.
There's a chance of light snow showers today.
m Reporter Bobby Ampezzan contributed to this report. Contact Nicole Gerring at (810) 989-6270 or ngerring@gannett.com
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Friday, December 28, 2007
Water level crisis in Great Lakes
News for Thursday, December 27th, 2007
Water level crisis in Great Lakes
Written by Jim Birchard
The forecast for Lake Huron and Georgian Bay as far as water levels are concerned is not looking good.
That is according to Chuck Southam of Enviornment Canada s Centre for Inland Water.
He says as the end of the year approaches, water levels in Lake Huron and Georgian Bay are approaching record lows.
Southam says in fact the levels are 66 cm below average for this time of year and only 8 centimetres higher than the record low level recorded back in 1964.
He says the latest six month forcast shows that if low water supply conditions continue through December, levels on the lake could begin 2008 as low as they were in 1964 and new record monthly lows could follow.
Southam says to see any significiant rebound in lake levels over the near term there would have be a substatial amount of snow this winer or rain this spring over the entire water shed.
He says the only good news is that the water temperatures this December are about one degree cooler than normal and that is help form more ice on Lake Huron and Georgian bay.
Ice formation helps slow down the evaporation of water from the lakes in the form of lake effect snow
He says there also is ice forming on the St. Clair river and that help slow the flow of water leaving the lakes and helps slow down the lowering of water levels as well.
Water level crisis in Great Lakes
Written by Jim Birchard
The forecast for Lake Huron and Georgian Bay as far as water levels are concerned is not looking good.
That is according to Chuck Southam of Enviornment Canada s Centre for Inland Water.
He says as the end of the year approaches, water levels in Lake Huron and Georgian Bay are approaching record lows.
Southam says in fact the levels are 66 cm below average for this time of year and only 8 centimetres higher than the record low level recorded back in 1964.
He says the latest six month forcast shows that if low water supply conditions continue through December, levels on the lake could begin 2008 as low as they were in 1964 and new record monthly lows could follow.
Southam says to see any significiant rebound in lake levels over the near term there would have be a substatial amount of snow this winer or rain this spring over the entire water shed.
He says the only good news is that the water temperatures this December are about one degree cooler than normal and that is help form more ice on Lake Huron and Georgian bay.
Ice formation helps slow down the evaporation of water from the lakes in the form of lake effect snow
He says there also is ice forming on the St. Clair river and that help slow the flow of water leaving the lakes and helps slow down the lowering of water levels as well.
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