Rainfall boosts levels of lakes

Being up north for a few days it is apparent that the lake levels are higher. We even have a small "lake" between our grass area and the real lake. This new lake is several inches deep and runs the length of the property. The Detroit News is reporting that Lake Huron is up a foot (12 inches).

Heavy, recent rains that have flooded basements and roads have also boosted Michigan's lake levels. Lake St. Clair is up 9 inches from last June. Lakes Michigan and Huron are up 1 foot.

Normally at this time, the lake levels are rising but with all the rain, they've been rising, even faster," said Scott Thieme of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Detroit. "We've definitely had an increase." Great Lakes levels have been below average since 1999 -- but they were above average for 30 years before that, Thieme said.