{"id":9892,"date":"2023-10-13T02:35:02","date_gmt":"2023-10-13T01:35:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/?p=9892"},"modified":"2023-10-13T02:35:02","modified_gmt":"2023-10-13T01:35:02","slug":"does-lake-michigan-connect-to-the-mississippi-river","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/does-lake-michigan-connect-to-the-mississippi-river\/","title":{"rendered":"Does Lake Michigan Connect To The Mississippi River"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Lake Michigan, the second largest of the five Great Lakes, does not technically connect to the Mississippi River. Located in the northern portion of the United States, it is bordered on the west by Wisconsin and on the south by Illinois and Indiana. Despite this, the lake and river have close hydrological relations that allow them to influence each other, allowing goods and other materials to pass between both in odd ways. <\/p>\n

In 1989, the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal was built right alongside Lake Michigan to connect the lake with the Mississippi Watershed and the rest of the nation. Thus, it created a unique water connection that allowed access to the rest of the country’s waterways. This massive canal was 280 miles long and stretched from the Mississippi River to Chicago.<\/p>\n

The waters surrounding Lake Michigan, including the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, are regulated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Army Corps is responsible for controlling the flow of the water between the lake, Mississippi and other waterways, as well as to respond any environmental hazards or threats. The Corps is also responsible for other activities such as recreational activities, control of water levels and eradication of aquatic invasive species in the area.<\/p>\n

In 1985, the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement was signed in order to regulate and protect the quality of water within the Great Lakes. This agreement was signed by both the United States and Canada, and it was the first of its kind to be signed between the two countries. The agreement implemented a range of requirements regarding water pollution in the Great Lakes and its connecting rivers, including Lake Michigan.<\/p>\n