Lake St. Clair Water Level

[LennyB]

Found this info on the Army Corps of Engineers site as to the lake level:  "Lakes St. Clair, Erie, and Ontario are 25, 23, and 14 inches, respectively, lower than their levels of a year ago." This was posted 12/7/12.
http://www.lre.usace.army.mil/greatlakes/hh/greatlakeswaterlevels/waterlevelforecasts/weeklygreatlakeswaterlevels/

The canals around my house have ankle depth water right now. Most docks, including the posts, are bone dry. We need some serious rain/snow and ice cover this winter.

[Firefighter Jeff]

   Shoot, Muscamoot Bay might be a field next spring.  Maybe I'll have a chance at a better finish at the DK Open.  lololololol   

[LennyB]

It was only like a foot and a half deep going back in there last spring. There might not be any water in there right now. Driving along the water around Grosse Ile, a lot of the little pockets and backwater areas are literally just mud. If it stays low or even falls further, I'm going to have to learn it all over. All the good backwater largemouth spawning flats are dry or close to it. If it falls any farther, the launches will definitely have to be reworked. I could barely get out a couple times at Erie Metro. The last time I launched in November, the wind was from the East and it wasn't bad but when it blew from the West I dragged bottom out to the channel and at one point had to lift the big engine and use the trolling motor to get unstuck. Some of the good backwater areas like the hot pond were not excessable. I know the water level has been low before but this is the lowest I personally can remeber and I've been out there for 20+ years.

[fiker]

After the weather we've had the past year it's not surprising.  What we need is some really cold weather to freeze over the lakes and retard evaporation.  

That, and a lot of snow.

It's actually getting kind of scary.  Not just here, but many places throughout the country.

[stratosjoe]

Has there been any change in the water level?  I know here in central Illinois we need some rain or some serious snow or we will be hurting this summer. I usually put in at SANG is that gonne be doable this spring?

[t-bone]

The lake has been frozen over much more than last year - should help with evaporation. We have had both rain and snow at significantly higher levels that last year. If it doesn't increase I would at least think it will help to stabilize it.

[Firefighter Jeff]

Ummmmm dumb question, where is this SANG

[LennyB]

Ummmmm dumb question, where is this SANG

I believe it stands for "Selfridge Air Nation Guard". It's North of Metro Beach a few miles on the West shore.

[t-bone]

So the Feb data shows St. Clair down 20 inches from a year ago but expected to rise 4 inches in the next month - guess that is some good news but it has a ways to go...

[Firefighter Jeff]

Ummmmm dumb question, where is this SANG

I believe it stands for "Selfridge Air Nation Guard". It's North of Metro Beach a few miles on the West shore.

    Ahhhhhh  ok.  I've actually gone out of there for the first time last year.  Didn't realize they called it that.  Thanks. 

[Got Fish??]

I have herd that  the amount of water  we  received  this winter . Is twice  the amout of last year, and above average for the year. It  got cold enough to have ice on the lakes. Let's hope that it helped the water levels.

[t-bone]

I also heard that the snow fall up north (U.P. and Canada) has everyone worried about flooding when the melt starts. That has to translate into raising the water level a bit. Guess we will see.

[LennyB]

I drive across the Detroit River every day and look at the water line on the rip-rap protecting Elizabeth Park and so far the lake level is right were it was last fall or within a couple inches.

[Skulley]

Right now the water level has been fluctuating on Erie between 10 and 20 inches above low water displacement.  So there is enough to get around and launch at Erie Metro or Bolles for walleye.  Getting the boat out Friday.


BD                           

[BIGSHOW]

Does the level generally go up as the spring progresses? I never really payed attention since it hasn't been a concern

[LennyB]

It is highest right after the winter thaw and generally drops as the year progresses. This can all change if we get a lot of consistant rain during the summer. In the 90's, the water was as high as I can remember. I remember fishing the canals around metro beach on St. Clair and catching fish on a buzzbait by casting up on the peoples lawns and buzzing it over the top of the seawalls. Summer before last the water was really starting to come up again but not that high and then last years drought dropped it down again. Who knows what this year will bring.

[Mouse]

SANG. selfridge air national guard. Launch at the end of M-59. Not to change the subject but have a fishing trip to lake gogebic in the U.P. for the walleye opener May 15th. They have had over 13 feet of snow this year and is still snowing, Over a foot of ice yet. Hopefully trip won't consist of towing the boat out with a snowmobile and using an ice auger over the side and ice fishing. Right now just waiting for stratosjoe to get here for a donut and cigar and fish st. clair. We plan on launching at SANG and fish from there to start. Hope the water level rises some with the rain we are supposed to get this week. Don't know how much it will rise with 2 inches of rain that was in the last forecast. Everyone be safe out there.

[Mouse]

Well, we cancelled the trip to the U.P.  They got another foot of snow and there is no way it will all be gone in 3 weeks. So will now wait for stratosjoe and fish here. Does anyone know how the water levels are doing or are they still down? Hopefully all that rain brought it up a little. Be safe out there. Mouse

[BIGSHOW]

If their not up I don't know where all this water is going? All the rivers are as high as I can remember.

[Firefighter Jeff]

If their not up I don't know where all this water is going? All the rivers are as high as I can remember.

  After the recent weather, I don't think water levels will be nearly the problem as water clarity.