Chicago River and Lake Michigan at Risk From Climate Change
Emily Webb
Emily Webb Published: November 1, 2021
Photo by Hide Obara on Unsplash
When you think of climate change causing a rise in sea levels, I'm sure lakes are not the first thing to cross your mind. However, it turns our nation's lakes are at risk just as much as the coasts.
Heavy rainfall at times and drought at other times have caused extreme swings in the water levels of Lake Michigan and The Chicago River. The swings between these high and low levels are happening with more frequency than any time in recorded history.
For years, ambitious engineering efforts have attempted to keep the water levels balanced, but unfortunately, experts say the problem could still become worse in the future as climate change brings more extreme weather. Lake Michigan has swung more than six feet in only seven years; an unsettling warning that the inland sea has been beginning to buck.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is exploring its options. They will be launching a study, funded by the environment protection agency, but as far as anyone can tell this will only be corrected if we can get a handle on global warming.
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