General Guidelines for Calculating a Water Budget

In this publication by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, the various components of a water budget are explained. The Hydrologic Studies Program of the MDEQ Water Resources Division calculates flood and low flow discharges and conducts other types of hydrologic analyses in support of the department’s water-related programs. Retrieved July 2, 2018, from https://www.michigan.gov/documents/deq/wrd-water-budget_565040_7.pdf

General Guidelines for Calculating a Water Budget

A water budget is an accounting of all the water that flows into and out of a project area. This area can be a wetland, a lake, or any other point of interest. Development can alter the natural supply of water and severely impact an area, especially if there are nearby ponds or wetlands. A water budget is needed to determine the magnitude of these impacts and to evaluate possible mitigation actions. This document, found on the Climate Change Resource DVD, was produced by Land and Water Management Division (LWMD).

Great Lakes Advanced Hydrologic Prediction System (AHPS)

The Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory provides a semi-automated system combining near real-time data with a suite of mathematical models developed to simulate the current state of basin hydrology. Water levels as well as hydrologic variables are forecast from one to nine months in the future for the Great Lakes, Lake St. Clair, and Georgian Bay. The image map below leads to AHPS products which are updated daily. Plots for monthly values of inflow, outflow, total supply, mean lake level and other hydrological/meteorological variables are available, as well as tabular results. Retrieved July 2, 2018, from https://www.glerl.noaa.gov/ahps/curfcst.html

Monthly Bulletin of Great Lakes Water Levels

The US Army Corps of Engineers produces a monthly bulletin about the water levels in each of the Great Lakes. There is information about current Great Lakes Basin hydrology (precipitation, outflow, water supplies), forecasts, and historical data. Retrieved January 24, 2013, from http://www.lre.usace.army.mil/greatlakes/hh/greatlakeswaterlevels/

NOAA: Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory

GLERL: Great Lakes Sensitivity to Climatic Forcing. This report is research to get a better understanding of the climate-hydrology relationship, and derivation of the sensitivity of lake levels to high-amplitude climate change through numerical modeling. Retrieved July 2, 2018 from https://www.glerl.noaa.gov/

“Our Waters”

The “Our Waters” series is published by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and the Great Lakes WATER Institute. Great Lakes Water Balance. We depend on our waters for drinking water, irrigation, industry, transportation, power production, recreation and scenic beauty. Understanding our region’s waterrelated issues and future challenges can help us protect clean, abundant water for generations to come. Retrieved January 23, 2013 from http://www.glwi.freshwater.uwm.edu/ourwaters/documents/GreatLakesWaterBalanceBWeb.pdf

Superior Facts | 3-quadrillion gallons, one Great Lake

This site contains information about Lake Superior, including origin, climate, weather, water budget and more. Retrieved January 23, 2013 from http://www.seagrant.umn.edu/superior/facts

Teaching with Great Lakes Data

Michigan Sea Grant’s Teaching with Great Lakes Data site features Great Lakes lessons, activities and data sets. These multidisciplinary resources offers opportunities to explore climate, weather, water quality and fish habitat; encourage students to develop higher-level thinking skills using real data, and enhance teaching skills through guided inquiry methods. A hydrology of the Great Lakes section has long-term data sets. Retrieved January 24, 2013, from http://greatlakeslessons.com/

USGS: The Great Lakes Water Balance.

Water-Resources Investigations Report 02-4296, by Brian P. Neff and Jason R. Killian. 2003. Water balance calculations for the Great Lakes have been made for several decades and are a key component of Great Lakes water management. This report uses long-term data collected to discuss water resources. Retrieved July 2, 2018 from http://windowoutdoors.com/Teaching/CE%205302%20Groundwater%20Hydrology/Literature/Great%20Lakes%20Water%20Balance%20and%20Pumping%20Effects.pdf