Lake Ontario Water Plan Lacks Transparency

By Daniel Yang

Boating season along the Great Lakes is about to begin, but there’s something troubling the waters in the North Country. On the shores of Lake Ontario, there’s a growing controversy this year on just high the water should be.

Sandy Creek, NY (NCC) - Sailboater John Mayer says high water levels during the summer are good for racing, but the waves are devastating the peninsula between Port Bay and the lake.

"The Canadians and the Americans let the water levels go up," said Mayer, "and it completely washed this out. You can see that trees are down... 500 feet in front of here, this used to be an apple orchard."

But bringing the level down can be bad for charter boats.

"Means you can't get access to the docks," said Randy McCoy, recreation director at Port Bay Marina. "You'll either ingest mud or strike the bottom and the propellers."

How high the waters run affects everything from fishing and shipping to hydroelectric power to.... well, just going to the beach. They all rely on international regulations that control how much water is allowed to flow from Lake Ontario through the Moses-Saunders Power Dam on the St. Lawrence River, now considered one of the most endangered rivers in America, because of a water plan that turns 50 years old this year.

More water flows through the dam during the spring and summer -- to help commercial shipping and power production-- and less in the fall and winter, when the St. Lawrence River freezes. This reduces flooding and helps protect Central New York vacation homes along the shore.

But after years of disrupting a more natural cycle of highs and lows, erosion is a huge problem--destroying half the wetlands around the lake. Only a few species of plants and animals can survive the constant change, like the invasive cattail, now considered a weed.

"There used to be a 30 to 35 year cycle between highs and lows in the system," said John Farrell, director of the Thousand Islands Biological Station. "When we draw levels down for storage in the fall time, it really dries up the wetland. And when flooding is reduced, it really affects the fish spawning processes."

The International Joint Commission that regulates Lake Ontario spent $20 million of American and Canadian taxpayer money researching a new plan that was supposed to address environmental concerns but only lowers levels during the storm season.

Governor David Paterson says the plan is too conservative and fails the environment. Senator Chuck Schumer and 23rd District Congressman John McHugh call the IJC's plan irresponsible.

"I am disheartened that the IJC has chosen to disregard the effort made by so many local residents who thought they were participating in an open and transparent government process," said McHugh.

The commission says a more environmentally- minded plan that New York has endorsed risks flooding in Montreal and makes too many sacrifices for commercial shipping.

Residents have until July 1st to comment on the new plan. The IJC will be holding several hearings in June, open to the public.