New Regs Proposed for Lake Ontario

[gpiatt]

Just a FYI for all boaters.

This article came from RNEWS on TimeWarner.

For more info on the proposal follow link to their web site: http://www.ijc.org/en/activities/losl/index.php

Let me know what you think of this proposal, looks like boaters on Lake Ontario will be the only one's that might get the shaft.

The International Joint Commission issued a new plan to regulate water levels in Lake Ontario and the flows of the Saint Lawrence River.

But now, the commission is proposing a new order of approval called Plan 2007. It has three options.

A+ would help with power, but was not good for the environment. B+ is environmentally friendly, but has shoreline problems. D+ is a balance of the two.

"So, we're presenting two things, 2007 which is a modification of D+, plus the option to go to B+, the environmental plan if the governments put in place the mitigation measures that satisfy the various criteria that we have to work with," said Jack Blaney, IJC Canada commissioner.

"The plan we feel is a good plan. It's what we can do right now for recreational boaters and the environment without losing the benefits that people enjoy, the other interest enjoyed right now," said Irene Brooks, IJC U.S. commissioner.

The plan will now undergo a 90-day public comment period.

[LongLine]

Looks like what they want to adopt is to let as much of the lake out as possible from the middle of December through the end of March as long as they don't damage anything east of the power station.

The whole order (both 1958 & 2007) is designed to help power generation & commercial navigation. They forget that com nav is what has put us in the situation we're in with invasives. However the IJC isn't concerned with the condition of the water, only whether the big ships have enough to safely float on.

This low water means a lot of guys won't be able to get out of the bays, ponds & creeks in the spring.

This order will definitely help property owners as far as damages go, but if they have docks, the docks will be out of water in the spring.

They say they'll favor the environmental option if mitigation takes place. They really don't define "mitigation" but leave that up to the states. I don't see NYS having funds to appease anyone for property losses due to periods of high/low water.

Tom B.

(LongLine)

(Personnally I think Montreal would make a really good wetland.)