RE: [Paddlewise] Lake Superior

The ISK web site http://www.isk.canoe-kayak.org/ has links to NOAA sites
that will confirm the reports in the Strib.  Both the 1.5 ft. change in lake
level from last year and the statement about the lake level not changing
much at all are correct.  The authors are using different baselines for
their measurements.  The lake level has not changed much at all if you
consider your baseline to be the historical average, plus or minus 3 sigma;
the lake level is way down if you use last year or the year before as the
baseline.  In addition to the lower lake level changing where I can launch
my kayak, life gets very interesting when you are jumping into the lake
after sauna and find the rocks a foot and a half closer to the surface than
they were last year.

Dana

   >-----Original Message-----
     >Date: Wed, 17 May 2000 13:12:27 EDT
   >From: AndyTKnapp_at_cs.com
   >Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Lake Superior
   >
   >In a message dated 5/16/2000 7:42:55 PM Central Daylight Time, 
   >bieleckj_at_freeway.net writes:
   >
   >> Actually the lake level hasn't changed much at all.
   >
   >My source for the 1.5 foot lower level was a recent 5-part 
   >series in the 
   >Minneapolis Star Tribune which documented the declining 
   >levels in the Great 
   >Lakes, including Lake Superior, and a 4-foot drop in Lakes 
   >Michigan and 
   >Huron. This has adversely effected shipping capacities as 
   >approaches to the 
   >rivers and lock systems get shallower. When I get a chance, 
   >I will check to 
   >see if they have named any sources for their information.
   >
   >Several other articles have discussed the declining levels 
   >and their economic 
   >impact on shipping, tourism, and even the controversial 
   >water export issue. 
   >Anecdotal stories from other paddlers in the past year, 
   >myself included, have 
   >pointed to shallower waters in some popular kayaking spots 
   >such as the 
   >Apostle Islands, which implies there are lower water levels 
   >in other sections 
   >of the Big Lake as well. I haven't visited any familiar 
   >spots yet this year, 
   >however, to see conditions this spring.
   
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