Economic Impact of Low Water Levels on the Great Lakes

Having low water levels on the Great Lakes has a direct

economic impact on both the business and private sector.

The most immediate impact is on businesses that

rely on lake freighters for transport. Freighters have to

haul less or risk scraping the bottom of their hull.  This adds

to the cost of freight overall.

In Superior, the Wenonah ferry can no longer

passengers from Grand Portage. Commercial freighters

carry less iron ore, less grain, less coal. It is estimated that

freighters are carrying 8,000 tons less per trip than they

normally would.

This spells trouble for the manufacturing sector. Consider

that this region accounts for 70 percent of our

nation's steel making capacity, 70 percent of auto

production, and 55 percent all heavy manufacturing,

any burden to additional costs has a severe impact on

our nation's economic heartbeat. In other words,

increase the cost of shipping, and you drive up the

overall cost of these goods.

And then there's the dammage to fisheries and native

species dependent on fresh water. If lake levels drop,

this affects inland tributaries as well.

A great deal of tourism in Michigan depends on

the Great Lakes, in both winter and summer.

Every year, thousands of tourists travel throughout

Michigan in order to go swimming, fishing, skiing,

boating, hiking, camping, golfing, mountain biking,

just to name a few activities. Healthy Great Lakes

make Michigan an appealing place for such activities.

Lower lake levels means homeowners with lake

front property are seeing the water receed year after

year from their property. This spells lower property

values.

Click here to read more about the economic benefits

of saving the Great Lakes