Control of Great Lakes Water Levels

The major objectives of control of the Great Lakes are to improve domestic water supply and sanitation, navigation, water for power and industry, flood control, agriculture, fish and wildlife, and recreation. To accomplish these objectives, it is necessary to reduce extreme outflows to satisfy riparian interests, while maintaining sufficient storage to meet power and navigation requirements. Currently, two of the Great Lakes are regulated ‐ Lake Superior since 1921, and Lake Ontario since 1960. The rules or regulations in effect on these lakes at present are known as the Rule of 1949 and Plan 1958‐D. This article provides a description of the system, along with natural regulation, natural factors, artificial factors and their effects, economic factors, riparian interests, navigation and power interests, and costs and methods of regulation.