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If the region gets through winter with mild temperatures and relatively dry conditions, the lake levels will continue to recede.
Byrne noted his relief that the area has so far avoided the heavy deluge of more than 50 mm of rain that fell over a 24-hour period in early January of last year.
That one event affected the entire Great Lakes basin and saw levels jump up and then hold through winter and early spring.
Both lakes remain well above their monthly long-term averages, with St. Clair 736 mm higher and Erie 660 mm higher.
”High water levels and potentially record high water levels are expected to persist for at least the next six months so flood prone areas are expected to remain vulnerable,” the Army Corps of Engineers update said.
With high lake levels persisting for the past six years, ERCA has been processing permits for breakwalls and shoreline protection at record rates.
Byrne, however, said there are still “thousands of properties that have not had the opportunity to upgrade protection. “
Lakes Michigan, Superior and Huron all set high-water records in 2020 while Erie and Ontario were way above average.
“We need to get down to those long-term average levels,” Byrne said.
mcaton@postmedia.com
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