Water Levels
Poor water levels management on the St. Lawrence River has caused significant damage to the River ecosystem.
History
With the completion of the Moses-Saunders hydropower dam 50 years ago, a regulation plan was put into place that has artificially constrained water levels, resulting in considerable damage to thousands of acres of coastal wetlands on the River and Lake Ontario.
Before the installation of the dam, water levels on the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario were very dynamic. This variability in water levels enabled wetlands to thrive by
- Allowing shoreline seed banks to grow during low water levels
- Allowing muskrat activity during the winter months
- Allowing access to inner marshes for fish spawning
With the implementation of 1958D water level variability was limited, causing over 50 years of environmental degradation to coastal wetlands, which are the life blood of the River and Lake ecosystem.
Plan B+
After more than five years of study funded by $20-million taxpayer dollars, the International Joint Commission – the agency had the opportunity to select a scientifically-based and publicly supported management plan – Plan B+ – which would have delivered significant environmental improvements to the region. Instead, the IJC has turned its back on the Lake and River environment by proposing a plan that continues, and perhaps even worsens, the environmental destruction of the Lake and River.
Latest News
Action Alert! Speak Out on Water Levels!
We are headed into a critical period in the fight for a more natural water levels plan on the St. Lawrence River. We need your help to finally get a new, natural water levels regulation plan in place! read more
WWF-Canada Report Finds St. Lawrence River in Jeopardy, Cites Outdated Water Levels Plan as Cause
WWF-Canada today released a new report titled Rivers at Risk, which examines the health of 10 major Canadian rivers including the St. Lawrence. The report finds the St. Lawrence River as currently in poor health and forecasts the River’s health as declining in the future. read more
St. Lawrence among America’s Most Endangered Rivers; Ancient Management Plans Threaten Iconic Waterway
The national river advocacy organization American Rivers, announced in April 2008 that the St. Lawrence River had been designated as one of the top ten Most Endangered Rivers in America. The St. Lawrence River was selected because of the significant damage caused by a read more
IJC Plan Fails the People and the Environment
March 28, 2008 - In a press conference held this morning, the International Joint Commission announced a draft water level regulation plan – called Plan 2007 – which does nothing to end fifty years of documented environmental degradation along Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River.
read more
See our blog for more news!
