Great Lakes Crisis

(Ed. note: My friend, Capt. John Konrad has post about the shrinking waters of the Great Lakes. You can find his excellent blog here.)

Bottom line is that the level of Lake Ontario is seven inches below last year.

At issue is whether the low levels are part of a natural cycle or part a a global warming trend. A $17 million, five year study has been commissioned to ascertain the cause.

Whatever the cause, the article states: "for every inch of water that the lakes lose, the ships that ferry bulk materials across them must lighten their loads by 270 tons — or 540,000 pounds — or risk running aground, according to the Lake Carriers’ Association, a trade group for United States-flag cargo companies."