All Great Lakes surpass last year's water levels

The Detroit News

Water levels in all of the Great Lakes are at least 1 inch higher than year-ago levels, according to a new report.

The weekly report by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says that Lakes Michigan and Huron are 7 inches above last year's levels, Lake St. Clair is 6 inches higher, and Lake Erie is 4 inches higher than in the same period last year, aided by higher-than-average precipitation across the region. Lakes Superior and Ontario are both 1 inch higher.

Levels in all the lakes are predicted to decline over the next month, part of the yearly cycle that peaks in the summer months.

Although higher than last year, Lakes Superior, Michigan and Huron remain 6-7 inches below their long-term averages, while St. Clair and Erie remain above their monthly average. Ontario is at its average level for this time in October.

Experts continue to watch the lakes as they rebound from historically low levels in 2007.