Learning Tools & Videos
Understand Our Watersheds
Streamside Stewardship | Guide for Property Owners
Educator Resources (K-12)
Cleveland Metroparks Virtual Academy:
Stormwater and Sustainable Development
Stormwater and Sustainable Development
Lake Erie
Lake Erie Water Levels
Lake Erie’s water level constantly undergoes natural fluctuation. Daily changes, seasonal cycles, and long-term changes in the level of the lake all occur. The water level at any moment is the result of complex interactions between climate, wind, precipitation, bathymetry (the shape of the lake bottom), and the levels of the upper lakes (Superior, Michigan, and Huron).
Lake Erie Facts
Lake Erie has three basins: the western basin includes the islands area; the central basin extends from the islands to about Erie, Pennsylvania, and Long Point, Canada; and the eastern basin extends from Erie, Pennsylvania to the east end of the lake.
Ohio’s portion of the Lake Erie shore is about 316 miles long and the depth of Ohio’s waters ranges from about 24 feet to about 60 feet.
The maximum depth is 210 feet (64 m) and occurs in the eastern basin. Average depths in the basins are: western, 24 feet (7.3 m); central, 60 feet (18.3 m); and eastern, 80 feet (24.4 m).
The water surface area is 9,910 square miles (25,667 sq. km), and the volume is 116 cubic miles (483 cu. km).
Approximately 22,720 square miles (58,845 sq. km) of land drain directly into Lake Erie; however, if the drainage areas of the upper Great Lakes (Superior, Michigan, and Huron) are included, the total drainage area of Lake Erie is 263,650 square miles (682,850 sq. km).
Water flow from the Detroit River makes up 80 to 90 percent of the flow into the lake.
The lake and its shoreline also are a major source of many minerals:
The largest sandstone quarry in the world is located in Amherst (Lorain County).
Salt mines in Cuyahoga and Lake Counties extend out under Lake Erie.
Sand, gypsum and limestone used for construction purposes are found in abundance.
Large reserves of natural gas—over 3 trillion cubic feet—are located under Lake Erie.
More consumable fish are in Lake Erie than all other Great Lakes combined.
Sources: ODNR Lake Erie Geologic Survey
Lake Erie is a dynamic body of water and conditions can change quickly, especially after storm events. Learn more with info provided by ODNR here.
Visualizing Water Quality Around Lake Erie
Are you curious about water quality around the Lake Erie Basin?
A new online platform to visualize water quality monitoring data from eight watershed groups within the Lake Erie Basin has been developed by the Cleveland Water Alliance and the Chesapeake Commons. You can view side-by-side comparisons of water quality monitoring parameters to obtain a more holistic idea of concern areas.
Please check out the interactive map below, to learn more about historic and current water quality data.
Visual Trends Challenge
What trends do you notice when comparing parameters between watersheds?
What changes do you notice when looking at the graph of one parameter? What could impact these changes?
What do you think contributes to differences in parameter levels across the watershed?
What do you think are the benefits of having a online platform like this? What are the disadvantages?
