Assessment of WaterLog® Microwave Water Level Sensors in the Great Lakes

The Great Lakes Water Level Measurements have been continuously taken since the 1800s. In 1970, the Great Lakes Water Level Stations carrying out those measurements were transitioned from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to the newly formed National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). This responsibility resides with the NOAA National Ocean Service (NOS) Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS). The purpose of this report is to document NOAA NOS CO-OPS multi-year evaluation and subsequent findings of use of new microwave water level (MWWL) radars as a promising longterm water level measurement sensor in the Great Lakes. As a temporary short-term (under 6 months) sensor, the sensor has been deployed many times in the Great Lakes and interconnecting rivers for hydrographic, photogrammetric, and hydraulic analysis, as well as in support of the International Great Lakes Datum 2020 Update (by both Canada and United States).