Record spring rise leaves Lake Michigan water levels near average in West Michigan

A snowy winter and rainy spring could have led to rising water levels affecting Lake Michigan and surrounding coastal communities — but that’s not the case this year.

Despite a record spring rise, water levels are near the long-term average.

That’s a good thing, according to local park officials, creating favorable conditions for parks, beaches and boating across West Michigan.

Jason Boerger, coordinator of park maintenance and operations for Ottawa County Parks and Recreation, said previous years of high water levels caused damage to trails, boardwalks and beach access points along Lake Michigan. 

“We lost a lot of the trails, steps and boardwalks along Lake Michigan,” Boerger said, explaining that higher water levels several years ago led to shoreline erosion and damage in some park areas.

This spring, high water levels along the Grand River also caused temporary flooding at several Ottawa County parks, including Eastmanville Bayou and Riverside Park. Portions of the Idema Explorers Trail were underwater for several weeks before park staff cleared debris and reopened the trails. 

Despite those challenges, Boerger said conditions have improved heading into summer. 

“It's actually starting to look pretty good right now as we get into summer. We’re not having any real lasting effects of high water at this point right now,” Boerger said. 

High water levels can also reduce beach space and damage access points. Boerger said that during previous high-water years, beaches became much smaller. At Cook Park, there was once so little beach that visitors had very little room between the dunes and the water. This summer, he said, there is much more space for visitors to enjoy.

Even with favorable conditions, Boerger encourages visitors to remain cautious around Lake Michigan. 

“There's really no such thing as a green flag day on Lake Michigan,” Boerger said, emphasizing that visitors should always be aware of rip currents, cold water temperatures, and changing lake conditions. 

While Ottawa County officials have seen conditions improve this summer, experts say the changes in water levels are part of a much larger natural cycle. 

Mark Breederland, an outreach educator with Michigan Sea Grant, said Great Lakes water levels are primarily driven by precipitation over long periods of time. 

“Were really in the sweet spot of the Great Lakes levels,” Breederland said. 

After a snowy winter and an unusually wet spring, Lake Michigan experienced a historic rise in April. Breederland said water levels increased about 13.4 inches during April 2026, the largest April rise recorded since measurements began in 1918. Even with the record increase, he said current water levels are now near the long-term average. 

“April of 2026 was the biggest by far,” Breederland said. “The average April rise is about 4.3 inches. This year it rose 13.4 inches.” 

Breederland said current conditions are creating favorable conditions for beachgoers, boaters and parks because beaches have more usable space, boat launches remain accessible and shoreline erosion is less severe than during years with unusually high water. 

Ben Cage, supervisor at Ottawa Beach Marina, said current water levels have not created problems for boaters this season. 

“I don’t think the water levels have been a factor for the boaters,” Cage said. Instead, he said weather conditions are the biggest concern before heading onto Lake Michigan. 

Cage encourages boaters to check wind speed, wind direction and the forecast before leaving the marina because lake conditions can change quickly throughout the day. 

Both Breederland and Cage stressed that while water levels are favorable this summer, visitors should continue to respect Lake Michigan. 

Breederland said swimming in the Great Lakes is different from swimming in inland lakes because of waves, currents and shifting sandbars. He encouraged visitors to obey warning flags, wear life jackets when appropriate and remain alert around piers. 

“Enjoy the Great Lakes, but really respect them,” Breederland said. 

With favorable water levels and improving park conditions, officials encourage residents to enjoy Lake Michigan this summer while remaining aware of changing weather, water conditions and beach safety. 

— Semaj Marshall is a broadcast journalism student at Grand Valley State University and a reporter for the Ottawa News Network. Contact her at smarshall@ottawanewsnetwork.org.