Great Lakes near record lows

Lake Superior, the world's largest freshwater lake is nearing its lowest level in more than 80 years.
A regional 18-month drought is to blame, panelists from Environment Canada and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers told reporters in a telephone conference yesterday.
The drought is also set to continue, they said. Forecasts point to average monthly record lows in the lake's level for August, September and October, with an all-time low expected sometime this fall.
Longer-term forecasts show a chance of wetter weather, which could mitigate the problem in the new year, they said.