Great Lakes: The Basin Is Overflowing

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In Milwaukee, a new joke is making the rounds: Q. Do you own any shore property? A. Not yet. Lakeside residents in the upper Midwest find the humor somewhat strained. Last week Lakes Michigan and Huron had risen to their highest level since 1887, nearly 3 ft. over their average March altitude of 578 ft. above sea level. Lake Superior, at more than a foot over its norm, is not far behind. Waterfront-property owners are battling flooded basements and beach erosion, and some face the prospect of losing their homes. Says Park Planner Bob Elmore of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore: "This is a cycle in the lake history that no one has been through before."

Water levels are rising because of years of abnormal amounts of rain and snowfall, 26% above normal in the lakes basin during 1985 alone. With damages totaling well above $15 million since last spring, lake dwellers are heading into the snowmelt and storm season with growing dread.