By Mark Scott
Oswego, NY – Water levels in the Great Lakes are falling.
The "New York Times" reports Monday that water levels in all five Great Lakes are below long-term averages and are likely to stay that way until at least March.
Environmental researchers say that low precipitation, mild winters and high evaporation due to a lack of heavy ice covers in the winter are depleting the lakes.
Lake Ontario, for example, is about seven inches below where it was a year ago. And for every inch of water that the lakes lose, shippers say they must lighten their loads or risk running aground.