Lake Ontario Water Levels
The International Joint Commission (IJC) today released information about a new approach to manage water levels and flows in Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River system. Details of the approach are available at www.ijc.org/loslr.
Building on 50 years of experience, 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 will has a webinars February 1 to provide a brief overview of the new approach and features on the website dedicated to that topic. Instructions for participating in the webinars Click below attached.
February 1 at 7 p.m. Overview for Public in English
Sign up for webinar
More information from IJC
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