L. Ontario water levels under IJC's "Plan 2014"

Westspit Braddock Bay NY Summer 2014

In plain language, competing interests for water levels on Lake Ontario fight on stage called the "International Joint Commission."  This US-Canadian body has power over water levels due to both the hydro projects and the shipping locks in the St. Lawrence Seaway.  In between are nuclear and coal-fired power plants, sports fisherpeople, boaters, shoreline residents, birders, hunters, environmentalists and a plethora of scientists who make a living off this endlessly contentious issue.  

Water levels make or break $$$.  It's that simple. So everyone wants to preserve their investment.  Overriding all of this are the goals and policies of NY and Ontario.  Released this year is Plan 2014 [a refinement of Plan BV7] which is under scrutiny by both country's federal governments.  There is no word from the State of New York.  

In June it was reported that "US and Canadian commissioners said that Plan 2014 balances the interests of hydropower operators, the environment, commercial shipping, recreational boaters, and shoreline property owners. The previous plan didn't take the environment into consideration and, as a result, important coastal wetlands have been damaged. No regulatory plan can satisfy the needs of all the interests all of the time," said US Commissioner Dereth Glance said.

OK -- let's see whose message is the loudest in the coming months  . . . some of whom are business and environmental people with vested interests who know that a LOT of $$$ are coming down the pike for 'hazard mitigation' in light of possible water levels rising due to global warming [more storms and other weather events] as well as 'coastal restoration' types who fit the 'environmentalist' category.  Buzz words: "coastal flooding and erosion."  NOTE image of Braddock Bay's west spit on the lake side: where there is no 'rip rap' or other revetment [seawalls, rocks, shoreline concrete, etc.], there is a nice beach.  Research has demonstrated that wave and storm action against revetment does create a sloping sand 'beach' if the water levels are allowed to go up and then to go way down again.  The incoming sand piles up and in low water, it is a beach.  Because shoreline residents are essentially hysterical over this issue and have political clout with local politicians, they make a lot of noise: see Town of Greece Board opposing Plan 2014.