The level of Lake Superior dropped a little more than 1.5 inches in December, only half its normal decline for the month, remaining precariously close to record high levels and spurring continued erosion problems along its shoreline. That was the report Friday from the International Lake Superior Board of Control that warned lakeshore residents to “prepare for potentially severe coastal impacts, especially during periods of strong winds and high waves.” Lake Superior is a whopping 13 inches above its normal Jan. 1 water level and a full 4 inches above the Jan. 1, 2019 level one year ago. The lake is less than an inch from its all-time record high January level set in 1986 as an unprecedented six-year wet period continues. Heavy rain and snow and continued free-flowing rivers still not locked in ice contributed to the big lake’s slower-than-usual decline. “Lake Superior and Lake Michigan-Huron remain near record-highs for this time of year, and although they are expected to continue their seasonal declines in January, levels are expected to remain high over the next several months and may again exceed record-highs if wet conditions continue in 2020,’’ the board said in its monthly report. “As a result, there will continue to be a significantly increased risk of shoreline erosion, lakeshore flooding and coastal damages through the winter.” To view the full article visit the Duluth Tribune.
