Great Lakes Article:

Lake Superior's low levels cause problems for shippers
Dredging News Online
Published May 3, 2007

According to reports on Minnesota Public Radio, lingering drought is being blamed for near record low water levels on Lake Superior, which is a major headache for lake shippers.

The problem has reportedly stirred a long simmering sense of frustration over the federal government's harbour dredging programme.

"The lake is about 18 inches below normal, and a foot lower than just a year ago. In the Port of Duluth-Superior, there are places where the harbour is just drying up," said the report.

Primarily, said the report, the weather is to blame, and in less than 10 years, the Great Lakes have gone from unusually high water levels to near record low levels.

But the federal government deserves some of the blame as well, according to Duluth Seaway Port Director Adolph Ojard. Ojard says the Army Corps of Engineers is responsible for dredging the harbours and shipping channels, and that hasn't been done in recent years.