Officials in charge of managing the Great Lakes in Michigan expressed their satisfaction with their status shortly before the turn of the year 2024/2025 in July.

Mark Breederland, an educator with Michigan Sea Grant Extension, told UpNorthLive that water levels are looking good after an unusually wet spring in the Michigan area.

“We are right in the range of the long-term average for both Lake Superior and Lake Michigan-Huron,” Breederland said. “Lake Michigan-Huron is just a few inches above the long-term average.”

Breederland added that no further major temperature increases or decreases are expected, but with rising temperatures caused by human-caused pollution, weather conditions are becoming increasingly difficult to predict.

High water levels benefit people who enjoy boating on the lakes. And the Great Lakes’ adequate supply of H2O is also extremely beneficial for local wildlife.

“When water levels were extremely low, a lot of wetlands were lost and we are a little concerned because some species are migrating to the wetlands and are unable to spawn in the spring,” Breederland noted.

A healthy lake is crucial for a healthy ecosystem. A strong fish population encourages the presence of hunting birds. These birds help control fish populations to avoid overcrowding of swimming spaces and reducing oxygen levels.

Many birds are also notable pollinators, which encourages the growth of native plant species. Native plants, in turn, also provide habitat for a variety of insects, small mammals and other birds.

Fortunately, there are signs that lake health is improving across the U.S. The Great Salt Lake in Utah, for example, has seen an impressive rise in water levels in 2024, although experts continue to advise caution. Elsewhere, a lake system in San Francisco has been revitalized thanks to conservation efforts.

We can all do our part to keep lake levels from falling. Many lake systems are important to domestic water supplies, so conserving as much water as possible at home can help reduce the pressure on these important ecosystems. Recycling rainwater for the garden or replacing a monoculture lawn with hardier, lower-maintenance alternatives like buffalo grass can go a long way in protecting freshwater supplies.

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