Great Lakes levels low, bad news for shippers

Water levels are lower than usual in the Upper Great Lakes, which is bad news for the shippers who rely on those waterways.

When water levels decline, ships can't be weighed down to maximum capacity. Instead the shippers "light-load," which keeps the vessels from riding down too low but means valuable cargo space is wasted.

The Associated Press reports Lake Superior is down a foot from long-term averages and Lake Michigan is down 15 inches.

However, weather forecasts look promising. The Army Corp of Engineers says water levels on Lakes Michigan and Superior should rise three to four inches in coming weeks.