A complete list of all programs within the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE)
Resources and information on utilizing RRD's data exchange and the Inventory of Facilities.
An interactive map displaying contaminated sites throughout Michigan regulated under Parts 213, 201, and 211.
EGLE's interactive calendar is designed to provide timely information on decisions before the Director, proposed settlements of contested cases, administrative rules promulgation, public hearings, meetings and comment deadlines, and environmental conferences, workshops and training programs.
The Michigan Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) provides all persons (except persons incarcerated in correctional facilities) with access to public records of public bodies. Requests to inspect or receive public records from EGLE must be in writing and describe the requested records with enough detail to enable the department to identify and locate the requested records. Some records are exempt from disclosure under the FOIA or another statute and thus will not be provided. A fee may be charged to process your request. Please note that many records are available that do not require a formal FOIA request.
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EGLE's Water Resources Division (WRD) is requesting that shoreline property owners remove sandbags that were placed along the shoreline during the Great Lakes High Water Levels. EGLE will be contacting property owners over the next several weeks. Contact the EGLE staff that covers your county should you have any questions.
The Great Lakes are dynamic. Water levels on all of the Great Lakes are constantly moving up and down with changes in the weather, with the seasons, and with the changing climate. The main reasons water levels change are precipitation and evaporation. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers records and tracks the water levels of the Great Lakes.
Lake levels can change in a matter of hours due to weather. Seiches occur when strong winds and rapid changes in atmospheric pressure push water from one end to the other. When the wind or pressure changes, the water moves to the other side of the lake. Lake Erie is especially susceptible to large seiches.
The water levels on the Great Lakes also change with the changing seasons. In autumn, water freezes and becomes snow and ice which reduces flow into the lakes. Water levels will fall through the winter. In the spring, the ice and snow melts and rainfall become abundant. Water levels will rise through the summer. Lake levels will generally change 1-2 feet from season to season.
Great Lakes’ water levels cycle several feet between periods of high water and low water over decades. During long-term periods of dry weather, lake levels fall. In the early 2010’s, prolonged dry and warm weather resulted in record lows for some lakes. When precipitation remains above average, water levels rise. This happened in 2015 to 2020, one of the wettest 5-year periods on record for the Great Lakes region and resulted in the 2020 record high water event.
The variability of Great Lakes water levels is necessary for the continued health of the Lakes but can create challenges for waterfront communities and homeowners. Giving the Lakes the space they need to change will protect our infrastructure and ensure healthy Great Lakes for future generations. If you are planning a construction project on or near the Great Lakes, a permit from EGLE may be required.
Current and forecast Great Lakes water levels, US Army Corps of Engineers
Overview of Great Lakes Water Levels
Living on the Coast: Protecting Investments in Shore Property on the Great Lakes
Michigan's Coastlines Through Time
EGLE administers several programs related to the great lakes and their shorelines. EGLE’s programs include assistance for property owners and communities as well as permitting. Permits are required from both EGLE and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) for work within the Great Lakes. Construction within designated Critical Dune Areas and High-Risk Erosion Areas also requires a permit.
The submerged lands program regulates construction activities below the OHWM of the Lakes.
For projects involving submerged lands, dredging, wetlands, or inland lakes and streams contact the land/water permit staff for your county. For projects involving high risk erosion areas or critical dune areas, contact the shorelands staff for your county.
