Designing for Inland Waterway Operational Continuity throughout High and Low Water Levels
Publication: Ports 2022
ABSTRACT
After a several-year period of historically low water levels between 1999 and 2014, the Great Lakes returned to their average seasonal water levels and then saw record high monthly levels through 2019 and continuing to 2020. Although water levels stabilized in 2021, normal trends are becoming increasingly more affected by environmental factors. This paper provides a discussion and summary of the factors affecting water levels in the Great Lakes and inland water system, including seasonal variations, cyclical multi-year variations, climate change, and glacial isostatic adjustments. It will conclude with a discussion of considerations for future project planning and design scenarios related to maintaining operational continuity through sustained periods of high and low inland water levels.
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Ports 2022
Pages: 156 - 162
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Published online: Sep 15, 2022
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