IJC's New Approach To Manage Water Levels & Flows

Jan 30: The International Joint Commission (IJC) released information about a new approach to manage water levels and flows in Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River system. According to a release, following a five-year binational study and extensive public comment, the IJC is developing a new approach with the assistance of a Working Group of representatives from the governments of Canada, the United States, the provinces of Ontario and Quebec, and the State of New York.

    The flow of water from Lake Ontario down the St. Lawrence River is regulated by the Moses-Saunders Dam in accordance with the IJC's 1956 order of approval. The current regulation plan moderates extreme high and low water levels on Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. However, it is based on conditions of the last century, does not take the environment into account, and has no process for adapting to future challenges such as bigger storms and more severe droughts. While continuing to moderate extreme high and low water levels, the new approach would allow for more natural water levels and flow patterns and is expected to produce significant environmental improvements. An Adaptive Management strategy would improve the capability to adapt to future changes, including socio-economic changes and significant changes in climate throughout the system.

    The IJC welcomes public input on the new approach and will host online forums and public information sessions around the basin in late spring 2012. Written comments on the new approach may be submitted via the LOSLR website or sent by regular mail or email.

    The organizations Save The River, The Nature Conservancy and World Wildlife Fund – Canada (WWF–Canada) issued a joint release offering their organizations' support for IJC's new approach to water level regulation in Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. The three organizations are encouraged by the proposal, known as Plan BV7 which they said, "if appropriately implemented, will take steps to restore the lake and river after 60 years of environmentally damaging regulation."

    Access a release from IJC with commenting instructions (click here). Access complete details of the approach (click here). Access a release from the organizations supporting Plan BV7 (click here). Access more information on the Plan from Save The River (click here).

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