International Joint Commission (IJC)

Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Water Levels Webinar

April 3, 2020

SPEAKER: Jane Corwin, US Co-Chair

• • Lakes Erie and Superior will hit new record highs if it’s a wet year. Lake Superior will peak in August.
  • Lake Erie is at a record-high level and water is flowing into Lake Ontario at a record rate. 85% of Lake Ontario water comes from Lake Erie.
  • IJC now deviating from Plan 2014 to increase outflows beyond recommendations to accommodate increased water intake
  • Now allowing above-normal water levels near Montreal to accommodate Lake Ontario
  • Moses-Saunders Dam is the only way to directly influence Lake Ontario and Lake St. Louis water levels.
  • Moses Saunders dam at Cornwall outflow Jan-March 2020: 9,500 cm3/sec
  • Flooding up and downstream from the dam in 2019
  • Opening date for shipping is up to the Seaway Corporation
  • April 1st, determining how much outflow can be allowed without endangering mariners
  • IJC communicates with Seaway and gives advice on shipping date
  • IJC advice resulted in the delay of shipping to remove extra water through March 2020
• Flow limits for downstream flood levels and limits for Seaway are similar.
• Suspending navigation wouldn’t allow you to move any more water. 
• Ice season was shorter this year and that allowed them to increase outflows.
• No limit on the rising of water levels in Lake Ontario
• IJC states that having a limit for Lake Ontario is unnecessary as the limits are often ignored in favour of best judgement.
• Cannot increase flooding downstream more than would have occurred with natural conditions.
• Removing 1cm of water in Lake Ontario means adding 11cm in Montreal 

QUESTION PERIOD

Why are outflows less than around February 27th?

• There is so much water that it is hard to release as much as is coming in.
• Ice flow blockage also impacts outflow levels.

Would limiting shipping hours allow for increased outflow levels?

• Ships cannot stop in the middle of their trip.
• Time limits would have limited impact on shipping anyway.

Where can we see the minutes of IJC Board meetings?

• Minutes can be found on the IJC website
• Worth noting that the IJC operates by consensus not majority decision

What is being done to lower levels in Georgian Bay?

• IJC has no mechanism to impact Georgian Bay.

Can the St. Lawrence be dredged?

• Yes, but all that water would end up downstream.

Can mitigation measures be implemented only if shipping is not affected?

• No

How long does it take for water from Lake Superior to get to Lake Ontario?

• Two years

Where can water level and outflow information be found?

• Contact the Board to request that information: https://www.ijc.org/en/contact

Will the IJC consider ending the shipping season early?

• That has been considered but it would have minimal impact on increasing outflow levels.