Water??

[springlakebassman]

Because I am working full time and going to school full time nights I am kind of separated from the world at this point.  Has anyone noticed water levels to be getting terribly low? I am watching the grand river literally dry up.  I am afraid that there will be very few spots to fish on the river next year if we don't get some water back. Anyone out there know any info on why this might be happening? If we are selling water I think we better re think that and turn the faucet off before it is to late.

[Skip Johnson]

were running very low over here on the east side as well, last night on the channel 7 weather report jerry hodak said were supposed to have above average rain snow and temps Im hoping hes right.

[Waterfoul]

Low water levels are cyclical.  Many believe it to be a 30 year cycle.  They will go back up... eventually.  We here in Michigan (and many other states) were nearly at drought levels this summer.  Also, it was a fairly windy summer.... and wind evaporates more water than any other weather factor.  If we get a lot of snow this winter it won't matter if the lakes don't freeze over (like last year, many lakes didn't freeze over like in years past) they will continue to shrink.  What we need is a heavy snow, very cold winter to help our water levels.  Lake Michigan needs to freeze over more than it has in the past several years.  Lake Superior needs to freeze up more than it has the past several years.  Canada north of Michigan needs to get a LOT more snow than it has been getting (this is actually where most of the water for the Great Lakes comes from... the Canadien shield. 

"Selling" water has nothing to do with the level of our inland lakes and rivers.  None.  And, as a whole, "selling" water will have no lasting effect on the levels of the Great Lakes.  Unless they are going to sell it for irrigation purposes... then we might have an issue.  Low rain levels, low snow levels, and evaporation are our biggest concerns. 

Today, the Grand River is at 1610 cfm in downtown GR.  Our normal mean level for this date is 3050.  So it is roughly half as full as what we would call "normal."  Check this link... you can watch the river on a continuous cycle.  As a "guide" most believe the river to be wadable up to around 4000 cfm (if you are an experienced wader).

http://waterdata.usgs.gov/mi/nwis/uv/?site_no=04119000&PARAmeter_cd=00065,00060


What we need is rain.  And snow.  And more snow.  And a cold winter!!!!!

[Bender]

Luckily we have not had a problem like in the south, my brother lives on Lake Norman in NC and he said it is very low but nothing compared to the other lakes in the south.