Navigation

By the Numbers: Low Lake Levels

25

Inches below the long-term average that Lake Michigan’s current water level is

13

Inches lower the current Lake Michigan water level is than last year’s

4,530

Total miles of Great Lakes coastline

95

Percent of the U.S.’s fresh surface water supply the Great Lakes account for

6 quadrillion

Gallons of fresh water in the Great Lakes

40 million

Tons of cargo handled by Wisconsin commercial shipping ports each year

$8 billion

Value of cargo handled by Wisconsin commercial shipping ports each year

9,550

Jobs supported by Wisconsin commercial shipping ports

26.5

Percent of U.S. Great Lakes shoreline use that is residentially owned

6.7

Percent of U.S. Great Lakes shoreline use that is commercial or industrial

1.5

Percent of U.S. Great Lakes shoreline use that is agricultural

65.3

Percent of U.S. Great Lakes shoreline use that is public, beach, forest or barren land

250

Species of fish in the Great Lakes

40 million

Number of people who get drinking water from the Great Lakes

1,000

Miles of international border in the Great Lakes

$4 billion

Value of Great Lakes sports fishing industry

Sources: Army Corps of Engineers, Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, Great Lakes Information Network, International Upper Great Lakes Study, Department of Transportation Ports Economic Impact Report