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Facts & Figures Index (1) Chart Datum, Detroit River.- Depths and vertical clearances under
overhead cables and bridges given in this chapter are referred to the sloping surface of
the river corresponding to a Lake St. Clair stage of 572.3 (174.4 meters) and a Lake Erie
stage of 569.2 feet (173.5 meters) above mean water level at Rimouski, Quebec, on
International Great Lakes Datum 1985 (IGLD 1985), which elevations are the planes of Low
Water Datum for the two lakes. (See Chart Datum, Great Lakes System, indexed as such,
chapter 1.)
(2) General description.-Detroit River is about 32 miles long from
Detroit River Light at its mouth in Lake Erie to Windmill Point Light at the head of the
river at Lake St. Clair.
(3) The lower part of the river is broad and is filled by many islands and shallow
expanses. The river banks in this part are more flatly sloping than those in the upper
river. The river bottom is generally earth and boulders, except for a section of bedrock
and boulders about 6 miles N of the lower end of Bois Blanc Island. Extensive rock
excavation and dredging have been necessary to provide channels for deep-draft vessels.
(4) The upper 13 miles of the river is a single deep cannel, except at its head where it
is divided by Peach Island and Belle Isle. The river banks in this stretch are quite
steep, and the bottom is earth.
(5) Channels.-Two dredged channels lead from Lake Erie to the mouth of
Detroit River. East Outer Channel, a two-way passage, extends NNW from the lake to the
Detroit River Light. West Outer Cannel passes W of the light and provides a passage for
vessels of moderate draft bound for Monroe or Toledo.
(6) Above Detroit River Light, lower Livingstone Channel is a two-way passage to the
junction with Amherstburg Channel. From the junction, the two channels extend N to the
junction with Ballards Reef Channel, Amherstburg Channel for upbound traffic and
Livingstone Channel for downbound traffic. Ballards Reef and Fighting Island Channels lead
from the upper junction of Amherstburg and Livingstone Channels to the N end of Fighting
Island. From here, natural deep water can be carried to the upper end of Belle Isle,
thence a dredged channel leads to Lake St. Clair.
(7) The Channels through the river are well marked by lights and buoys.
(8) Anchorage.-Numerous submerged pipelines and cables are in the Detroit
River. Vessel masters are advised to exercise caution when coming to anchor in the river.
(9) Fluctuations of water level.- Each year the normal seasonal
fluctuations produce a difference of about 2 feet between the highest and lowest monthly
mean levels in the river. However, strong E or W winds can raise or lower, respectively,
the water levels in the W end of lake Erie and in the lower Detroit River by as much as 6
feet within 8 hours. The atmospheric pressure changes may cause temporary water level
fluctuations of 1 foot or more.
(10) On the 5th and 12th of each month the District Engineer, Corps of Engineers, Detroit,
publishes a bulletin of the predicted range of water levels. (See Appendix for address.)
(11) Water level information for the Gibralter area may be obtained by contacting Detroit
Guard Group on VHF-FM channel 16. The information is given in whole inches above or below
chart datum. In addition, Detroit Group at the beginning of the scheduled radio broadcast
notice to mariners (see schedule in the appendix) includes this information.
(12) Currents, Detroit River.- The following currents are based on the
averages of water flow through the entire cross section of the river, that is, from bank
to bank and from the surface to the bottom during normal water flow conditions. Normal
water flow conditions are encountered when there is no wind, Lake St. Clair is at a stage
of 573.9 feet (174.9 meters) and the lower Detroit River (Lake Erie) stage is 571.0 (174.0
meters) above mean water level at Rimouski, Quebec, on International Great Lakes Datum
1985 (IGLD 1985), that is 1.6 feet (.05 meters) and 1.8 feet (.05 meters) above their
respective Low Water Datums. The current encountered at mid stream is usually about 1.5
times the average velocity. Greater velocities may be expected when the difference between
lake levels is greater, or when lake stages are higher.
(13) Currents for the following locations on the Detroit River are given at high water
flow of 210,000 cubic feet per second (cfs), medium water flow of 184,00 cfs, and low
water flow of 170,000 cfs, respectively.
(14) Livingstone Channel Upper Entrance Light: 0.8 mph (0.7 knots), 0.7 mph (0.6 knots),
and 0.7 mph
(15) Fighting Island North Light: 1.5 mph (1.3 knots), 1.5mph, (1.3 knots), and 1.4 mph
(1.2 knots)
(16) 1.7 miles below the Ambassador Bridge: 1.6 mph (1.4 knots), 1.4 mph (1.3 knots), and
1.3mph (1.2 knots)
(17) Lower end of Belle Isle: 1.4 mph, 1.3 mph, and 1.2 mph
(18) Peche Island Light: 1.5 mph, 1.4 mph, 1.2 mph.
(19) Weather.- Strong winds are most likely during fall and early spring.
However, extremes often occur in squall lines or thunderstorms. Detroit has recorded a SW
wind at 75 knots and an 83 knot wind from the NW; both occurred in June. At Windsor, the
maximum sustained wind was 49 knots in March; an 81 knot gust was once recorded. Winds
along the river blow mainly out of the SW and W, but others are common. In spring and
summer, N through E wind are frequently encountered as are northwesterlies and southerlies
in fall and winter.
(20) Ice.- The lower part of the Detroit River, below Fighting Island, is
generally the shallow and has the same freezing characteristics as the W end of Lake Erie,
forming an average thickness of 7 inches and an average maximum thickness of 11 inches.
This ice generally starts to clear by mid-March because of the temperatures and the
prevailing W winds. The upper part of the river is generally ice free except for shore ice
and occasional drift ice. However, as a track is opened through Lake St. Clair, the broken
ice will accumulate in the river above the natural ice cover in the lower part of the
river. (See winter navigation chapter 3.)
(21) Navigation Regulations.- A vessel traffic reporting system and
related navigation regulations have been established for the connecting waters from Lake
Erie to Lake Huron. (see 33 CFR 162.130 through 162.140, chapter 2 for regulations.)
(22) Vessel Traffic Services.- The Canadian Coast Guard operates a vessel
traffic service in Canadian waters from Long Point in Lake Erie through The Detroit and
St. Clair Rivers to Detour Reef Light in Lake Huron. (See chapter 3 and the Annual Edition
of Canadian Notices to Mariners for complete information.)
(23) Pilotage.- The waters of the Detroit River are Great Lakes
designated waters; registered vessels of the United States and foreign vessels are
required to have in their service a U.S. or Canadian registered pilot. Registered pilots
for the Detroit River are supplied by The Lakes Pilots Association.
(24) Principal Ports.- The principal ports on the Detroit River are at
Trenton, Wyandotte, and Detroit, Mich., and Windsor Ont. Deep draft facilities have been
developed throughout the length of the river.
(sections 25 - 207 omitted)
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