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September 4, 2006 - Mr. Brian L. Simpson, Hamlin, New York

I have been a shoreline resident (riparian) for 36 years and have had to personally deal with the impact of high water under plan 1958D. While this plan is not perfect, it does contain provisions to protect shoreline residents and communities from extreme high water. The new candidate plans do not do this but instead pander to the "high water interests" - hydropower, shipping, and pleasure boating and result in higher average water levels and more frequent incidents of extremely destructive peak water levels. These groups have obviously been displeased that the lake has been near its historic averages for the last few years and are beating the drums for increased lake levels to increase their profits and pleasures. Meanwhile, our homes and shoreline communities will suffer and some will be forced out by the threat of high water. I am happy to join with my neighbors in the town of Hamlin and other shoreline communities to protest against this newest threat. The US - Canada treaty governing the lakes and river wisely places riparian interests above those of non-residents who are not at risk when the flooding comes.

We have been able to adjust to 1958D and stabalize the shoreline through the expensive and laborious task of constructing breakwalls using dolomite, sheetpile, or reinforced concrete. My shoreline is difficult to reach with heavy equipment. Over a period of seventeen years, I progressively added large and small rip-rap to areas of my shoreline and, as a result, for the last 7 years have had little trouble with the lake. Much of the smaller rip-rap had to be placed by hand using slings, chains, and come-alongs. However, I know from experience that, if the peak level is raised even a few inches, the waves will gain the extra destructive power needed to break through the wall and start eroding the shore behind it. I am getting too old to go on fighting the lake with my bare hands.

I urge you to reject all the candidate plans and stick with 1958D. Unless you can place restrictions in those plans (that will protect the shoreline from the high water incidents that cause damage and erosion) they are all unacceptable.

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