Comments received >

September 12, 2006 - Mr. David R. Turner, Director, Oswego County Department of Community Development, Tourism and Planning, New York, for Chairman Russ Johnson

Dear Chairman Schornack:

On behalf of the Oswego County Legislature and its Chairman Russ Johnson, I would like to thank you for the opportunity to comment on the regulation of Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River water levels and flows and your various proposals related thereto.

Oswego County lies at the southeastern corner of Lake Ontario. We have extensive southern and eastern shoreline mileage, with rocky and low bluff shores, as well as the 17 mile long sandy barrier beach/dune/wetland complex modeled by the LOSL study. Part of the charge to this department is to help grow the economy of Oswego County by assisting our constituent communities in their planning processes and often we are their partners throughout the implementation of development initiatives.

Chairman Johnson applauds the LOSL study team for a thorough and thoughtful consideration of all factors and interests affected by the regulation of Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River water levels and flow. However, our county, like many others throughout the northeast, continues to work to recover from the gradual loss of the manufacturing base that for more than a century provided the livelihoods for our residents. In that effort we have turned a good deal of our focus to the tourism sector. Given the extensive frontage that we have on the Lake Ontario shoreline much of that new economic activity is centered around water related businesses. Hence, it is extremely important for us and our private sector partners that there be some consistency to the levels of the lake particularly during the seven peak months of April through October.

After reviewing the proposals put forward by the LOSL study team we support the selection of Plan B+, the Balanced Environmental Plan as the best option for IJC to adopt. While this plan does not guarantee consistent lake levels it is probably the closest of the choices when seeking a balance between economic and environmental needs.

Plan B+ lays out a positive alternative for habitats and species because it moves toward the hydrology conditions that support them. It partially restores the multi-year pattern of high and low water level periods, while curbing the extremes that cause economic damage to landowners, municipalities, and the boating interest. The fine tuning over the last year helps to reduce impacts to other interests, especially boaters. It also restores the within-year timing of high and low levels so important for many habitats and species.

Chairman Johnson recognizes that Oswego County residents depend economically on the benefits provided by the coastal zone. Since the occasional high and low levels resulting from this plan may cause economic hardship for our citizens, we strongly encourage the IJC to work with New York State agencies to find ways to mitigate these impacts. Expedited permitting for dredging in marinas is one mitigation technique that would help ease the pain during low water periods. It would also be helpful if the IJC worked with our state and federal partners to develop and implement new funding sources for shoreline development or protection initiatives.

We would like to recommend that IJC consider the following points made by the Study Board:

• Adaptive management capacity – funding and structures need to be put in place for regular data-based performance review.
• Deviations should be limited to true emergency conditions, and should maintain the intent of the plan.
• IJC should develop the education program recommended by the Study Board.
• IJC should call on the parties to work together to establish shoreline management programs for coastal property owners impacted by flooding and erosion. Shoreline property owners often pay a disproportionate level of taxes and deserve support for their management needs.

Finally, we strongly encourage continuing efforts to mitigate the economic impacts of this plan on our coastal property owners and those businesses that depend on reliable and consistent lake levels for their survival.

Thank you again for this opportunity.

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