Lake Ontario Water Level Near Record Low
By: Ashley Zilka
Updated: December 1, 2012
Lake Ontario's water level is near record low levels and that's causing problems for business owners and boaters.
The lake is now at 243.7 feet. The average water level for this time of year is 244.55 feet. The record low, set back in the 1930s, is 242 feet.
"This has been ongoing. Every year it's gotten progressively worse. This is by far the worst I have ever seen it," said Brian Antes.
For the past 35 years, Brian Antes has spent several days a week fishing in Lake Ontario and Irondequoit Bay. The low water levels mean not only less fish but also dangerous, shallow conditions for his boat.
"It's hard accessing areas that you use to be able to access and now you can't because there is obviously no water there, so it makes it hard," said Antes.
Lake levels rely a lot on the weather. Last year's mild winter and this year's dry summer didn't help the situation.
"It was great for fun, as far as having picnics and everything, but it ultimately impacted the water level so it started lowering in Lake Ontario, all the Great Lakes are low on water," said Ken Strimple, Bayside Boat & Tackle Owner.
It's also a problem for business owners, like Ken Strimple. Behind his shop. Bayside Boat & Tackle, all you see is mud and sand.
"It's just land. It's silly to say it but in the Spring of 2011, we had water that was at the docks, we had to actually bring in pallets to put pallets on top of them so people wouldn't get wet," said Strimple.
The business was forced to stop renting boats in the middle of the summer.
"We normally in the Spring of 2011, we were renting boats all the way to the end of October. This year, we had to actually pull our pontoon boats, which are our party boats, we had to pull those out of the water a week before Labor Day, and Labor Day is one of our busiest days," said Strimple.
Now, all business owners and fishermen can do is wait. So what are they hoping for?
"A strong winter. A lot of rain. A lot of snow. A good skiing season is good for us too," said Strimple.
"I hope to see those levels come back up so we can get back to normal fishing. The way it use to be," said Antes.
The lake is now at 243.7 feet. The average water level for this time of year is 244.55 feet. The record low, set back in the 1930s, is 242 feet.
"This has been ongoing. Every year it's gotten progressively worse. This is by far the worst I have ever seen it," said Brian Antes.
For the past 35 years, Brian Antes has spent several days a week fishing in Lake Ontario and Irondequoit Bay. The low water levels mean not only less fish but also dangerous, shallow conditions for his boat.
"It's hard accessing areas that you use to be able to access and now you can't because there is obviously no water there, so it makes it hard," said Antes.
Lake levels rely a lot on the weather. Last year's mild winter and this year's dry summer didn't help the situation.
"It was great for fun, as far as having picnics and everything, but it ultimately impacted the water level so it started lowering in Lake Ontario, all the Great Lakes are low on water," said Ken Strimple, Bayside Boat & Tackle Owner.
It's also a problem for business owners, like Ken Strimple. Behind his shop. Bayside Boat & Tackle, all you see is mud and sand.
"It's just land. It's silly to say it but in the Spring of 2011, we had water that was at the docks, we had to actually bring in pallets to put pallets on top of them so people wouldn't get wet," said Strimple.
The business was forced to stop renting boats in the middle of the summer.
"We normally in the Spring of 2011, we were renting boats all the way to the end of October. This year, we had to actually pull our pontoon boats, which are our party boats, we had to pull those out of the water a week before Labor Day, and Labor Day is one of our busiest days," said Strimple.
Now, all business owners and fishermen can do is wait. So what are they hoping for?
"A strong winter. A lot of rain. A lot of snow. A good skiing season is good for us too," said Strimple.
"I hope to see those levels come back up so we can get back to normal fishing. The way it use to be," said Antes.
