By the Numbers: Low Lake Levels
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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