MUSKEGON, Mich. — The parking lot at Waterfront Sports Park in North Muskegon is partially covered in water that's escaping from Muskegon Lake.
It's a sign of high water on the lake. And it's not just in North Muskegon. Over on the south side of the lake, Muskegon's Hartshorn boat launch is closed. Water there is close to the top of the city's sea wall.
In recent weeks, the water level on Muskegon Lake has risen closer and closer to Edgewater Street. Waves are now splashing onto the street.
Water levels on Muskegon Lake are closely tied to the level of Lake Michigan. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says surging water levels on Lake Michigan will continue over the next six months. The lake is higher than it was in May last year, and expected to be well above the lake's long-term average all summer long. Lake Michigan should approach the all-time high water mark but not surpass it.
Lake Superior is about 15 inches above its long-term average level for this time of year, and nine inches higher than a year ago.
Lake Erie is 26 inches over its long-term average.
"Goes in a cycle," said Richard DeCommer who just put his sailboat into a slip at Muskegon's Conservation Club.
DeCommer says all of the marina's docks were raised in recent years.
"Because the water just kept getting higher and higher," he said.
If the docks hadn't been adjusted they'd all be underwater.
Marinas all around Muskegon Lake are likely going to have to adjust the heights of some docks, unless those docks are floating docks.
Boaters like high water. But not so high that docks and sea walls are damaged by waves.
Overall water levels on the great lakes have been trending upwards since 2013. According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, this wave of high water is going to take a couple of years to work its way through the system.
►Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Download the 13 ON YOUR SIDE app now.
Have a news tip? Email news@13onyourside.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter.