Lawmaker wants review of Lake Michigan outflows

By JOHN FLESHER
AP Environmental Writer

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — A member of Congress from Michigan wants federal officials to take another look at the longstanding policy of allowing millions of gallons of water to flow out of Lake Michigan daily at Chicago.

All the Great Lakes are below their long-term averages, and Lakes Michigan and Huron are edging toward record lows. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says the biggest reasons are the recent lack of rain and snow in the region, plus warmer temperatures that boost evaporation rates.

But on Thursday, Rep. Candice Miller asked Army Secretary Jo-Ellen Darcy for a review of how the loss of water at Chicago might be affecting lake levels.

Water has been diverted from Lake Michigan since construction of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal more than a century ago.