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Environment

Canada Warns of Even Lower Lake Level

Story Filed: Monday, March 20, 2000 11:45 AM EST

OTTAWA (March 20) XINHUA - Environment Canada is warning of the lowest water level in Great Lakes in 36 years due to protracted dry weather and more evaporation from the world's largest fresh water sources.

The Globe and Mail newspaper Monday quoted Environment Canada's water-level information office as saying that the declining water level is currently caused by an inadequate snow supply around Lakes Superior, Michigan and Huron.

Superior, where snowfall accounts for 30 to 40 percent of water supply, was 23 centimeters below its long-term average in February. Lakes Michigan and Huron were 45.7 centimeters below average, while Erie and Ontario was respectively 23 centimeters and 12.7 centimeters lower than the average level.

If there's no heavy rainfall this spring and summer, Lake Huron 's water level, for instance, could be 10 to 30 centimeters lower than what it was last summer, when it reached 176.4 meters, the lowest of the past 35 years, according to the department.

"But even with very wet conditions, we expect they will likely be no higher and probably lower," said Ralph Moulton, manager of the water-level information office.

Businesses have been affected by the dry weather as well, since low water levels mean fewer boats are in the water and fewer recreational boaters are spending money, the newspaper said.

Copyright ) 2000, Xinhua News Agency, all rights reserved.

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-- (Dee360Degree@aol.com), March 20, 2000