Water levels rising

Posted By ROB GOWAN AND TOM VILLEMAIRE, SUN MEDIA

Posted 6 months ago

Georgian Bay water levels are almost back to normal, causing some to cheer.

Others say there is still much work to do.

A comeback in lake levels over the past few years has Lake Huron and Georgian Bay quickly approaching its average for this time of year.

The waters in the Lake Huron-Lake Michigan basin are 18 centimetres above what they were at this time last year, just 14 cm below the lake's 1918-2008 average for this time of year. At this time last year, the lakes peaked at about 32 cm below average, and were more than 10 cm higher than they were in 2007.

Brian Berriault of Backwater Tackle in Midland says local boaters and anglers are delighted with the higher water levels.

Berriault says the increased water level is "sailing glory".

Chuck Southam, a water resources engineer with Environment Canada, said so far this year levels have gone up 52 cm, a bigger than average seasonal rise, after dropping off 32 cm from the peak in 2008.

"That is why we are better off right now than we were last year and this year we have had a fairly wet spring," Southam said.

Southam said water levels stayed flat in what was a wetter-than-normal December, when they normally go down. That seemed to give the lakes a bit of a boost towards where they are now.

"We are sitting now, still not above average, but a lot closer than we have been in a while," said Southam. "We will just have to wait and see if this recovery lasts or if it is a short-term thing."

Southam said levels are peaking on lakes Michigan and Huron and have gone down a bit since the start of July.

"What they do for the rest of the month depends on how much rain we get or don't get," Southam said. "What might happen over the next six months is always the million-dollar question."

Southam said it would take very wet weather to reach the average levels this year. A really dry spell could push water levels well below average again.

"It would be nice to maintain the recovery we have seen over the last little while," Southam said. "The difference between the wet and the dry scenario is 40 cm between the two and that just shows you the uncertainty."

Midland boater Jay Williams said he is a much happier man with higher water levels.

"There are bays and inlets that are now accessible that weren't. You have to be careful because the rocks that once barred access above the waves are now just below them -- so caution still rules. But it's much better now than it was a few years ago," Williams said.