Lake Superior water levels low; Boaters urged to use caution at boat ramps

Boaters are being warned about low water levels on Lake Superior.

The Ashland County Forestry Department said in a news release that launching and receiving boats at Second Landing on Reykdal Road and at the boat landing behind Angler’s All is difficult, if not impossible.

Boaters are encouraged to check conditions and the water’s depth before launching to ensure they can recover their boats.

Although it looks like water levels are unusually low, Matt Hudson with the Mary Griggs Burke Center for Freshwater Innovation said it is “actually really close to the long-term average for this time of year,” only an inch or so lower. According to the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, Lake Superior’s water level was at 601.15 feet as of Friday, and the long term average dating back to 1918 is 601.74 feet. This time last year, the water level was at 601.97 feet.

Hudson said it’s a question of what people are used to seeing.

“I think a big reason why we feel like the lake is so low is that we’ve had above average water levels in the lake for the last 10 years or so. We’ve gotten used to the lake being higher than average, so now that it’s back down to average, it feels low,” he said.

The forestry department will monitor water levels and may have to close launches.

While out on the water, the forestry department encourages boaters to maintain a low boat speed.

Chris Hoffman, Ashland County forest administrator, has been working in the Bay Area for about 20 years and said “it’s as low as I’ve seen it.”

He recalled the county experiencing a drought period causing low water levels 12-13 years ago when the water was fairly low and, more recently, a couple seasons when the water exceeded normal levels.

Hoffman doesn’t believe these low water levels will persist, but if they do, he is worried the county would have to adapt.

“Our facilities might need major changes to make them safe and functional long term. I hope it’s a short term situation,” he said.

It’s the same situation over in Bayfield at the Port Superior Marina, where a spokesperson said the water levels are noticeably lower, but couldn’t give an exact figure.

Another reason why the lake feels really low, especially at places like the mouth of Fish Creek, is that the high lake levels lead to more sand and sediment deposition, Hudson said.

“Plus we’ve had some big flood events like the snow melt flooding from last April and the Father’s Day flood in 2018 that have brought extra sediment into the lake. This raises the lake bed in some places and once the water level drops a little, it exposes that new sediment and makes it seem like the lake is really low,” he said.