Heavy amounts of precipitation combined with temperature fluctuations directly raised the water levels, said Steve Blumer, a hydrologist at the USGS Michigan Water Science Center.

“Through the winter we’ve had a number of snowmelt situations where we’ve gone from a snowpack to dry grass,” Blumer said. “And due to this, I think we’ve seen the river flow at a high this winter.”

Water volume levels for the Red Cedar River were about three times the monthly average for January and more than 10 percent higher than 2007, according to the survey.

In February, volume levels measured about 60 percent higher than the monthly average.

Blumer said he expects the water levels to continue increasing during March and April as winter ground moisture reaches the rivers.

“Typically in March and April we have snowmelts,” Blumer said. “And when it snows and rains, there’s a significant amount of runoff.”

Most of 2007 was characterized by Red Cedar River water volume levels alternating above and below the monthly averages, according to USGS data. While rising levels haven’t led to serious flooding, officials have been forced to close several Red Cedar River valves to prevent overflow into local subdivisions, said Randy Abbott, draining maintenance supervisor at the Ingham County Drain Commissioner’s office.

Robert McCann, a spokesman for the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, said freezing temperatures have contributed to higher water levels across several state lakes and rivers.

“Extended periods of heavy freeze prevent evaporation, which is how water is lost,” McCann said. “And with the amount of snow we’ve gotten, it does bode well for water levels.”

Lakes Superior, Huron and Michigan soon should surpass their averages from last year, said John Allis, chief of the watershed hydrology branch of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District.

“Lakes Michigan and Huron had about 139 percent of their usual precipitation for February,” Allis said.

“Usually their water levels decline in January and February, but they increased this year.”

Mark Walton, a hydrologist for the National Weather Service station in Grand Rapids, said the state’s precipitation levels have significantly risen since December, but he doesn’t expect the heavy weather to continue.

“Mother Nature should give us less precipitation for the next couple months, but it depends on the jet streams,” Walton said.

“Things tend to even out.”