Prepared for the International Joint Commission
By The
St. Lawrence River-Lake Ontario
Plan of Study Team
September, 1999
| 3. | PURPOSE AND SCOPE |
| 3.1 | Emphasis |
During the Levels Reference Study, and since its completion, a number of interests or user groups have been identified as being directly affected by fluctuations of water levels and flows in the Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River system. The potential impacts of the levels and outflows on the majority of these interests, documented in previous reports, are essentially understood.
Nonetheless, the work envisaged in this study will include an assessment of how water level fluctuations affect all the various interests. This will consist of a review of work previously completed, including the data, findings and reports of the 1993 Levels Reference Study, followed by additional field investigations which will include, but not be limited to, data collection, interviews and questionnaires. Where practical, studies or data already completed for other agencies or other purposes will also be utilized to minimize duplication of cost and effort. Emphasis will be placed on identifying the needs of the environmental, recreational boating and shoreline property interests as is reflected in the Scope of Work. However, in accordance with the IJC Directive, the needs of all interests will be determined. Thus, appropriate information gathered will be suitable to evaluating the effects of criteria modifications on these and any other major affected interests.
The study will be carried out within the bounds of the "rules or principles" set forth in Article VIII of the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909 and will use the existing conditions of the 1952 Order of Approval and 1956 Supplementary Order as a starting point. These documents are contained in Annex 4(d).
| 3.2 | Geographic Scope |
Regulation of the outflows of Lake Ontario affect water level conditions on the lake and the St. Lawrence River as far downstream as Lac St. Pierre near Trois-Rivières, Quebec. It should be noted that water level fluctuations downstream of Cornwall, Ontario - Massena, New York are also affected by actions taken at the other control works as well as natural factors.. The levels and flows of the St. Lawrence River in the vicinity of Montreal can also be significantly affected by discharges from the Ottawa River, particularly during the Ottawa River freshet. The Ottawa River Regulation Planning Board coordinates the Ottawa River discharges. These discharges can at times be as significant as the outflows from Lake Ontario. However, the Ottawa River is not under the jurisdiction of the IJC, and therefore no changes will be proposed to its management. The Ottawa River will be considered only in terms of its hydrologic effect when combined with the effect of Lake Ontario regulation at Montreal and downstream.
| 3.3 | The Necessity of Appropriate Data |
Recent work has generated extensive information on the perceived needs of various interests in relation to water level fluctuations. However, data in a form required to quantitatively analyze the effects of different outflow regulation criteria and plans on the interests are not yet available. Useful, representative information pertaining to the environment, wetland habitats, and shore property are key examples.
The Scope of Work document recommended that efforts be undertaken to address shortfalls in information regarding erosion, flood damage estimates and wetland inventories. Since that recommendation was made several studies have been initiated and may provide useful information in terms of redefining criteria for Lake Ontario. These include:
Also, on May 26, 1998, the Commission conducted a teleconference in order to identify groups that were involved in studies which might relate to revisions of Lake Ontario regulation criteria. An Ad Hoc Group was established as a result of the call, which considered an incremental approach for pursuing the Scope of Work for the Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River System. Six sub-groups were formed: environmental, recreational boating, erosion, damages, climate change/variability and water level/flow modeling. Each of the sub-groups provided information to the IJC and an Ad Hoc Group meeting to assess overall progress was held with the Commission in Ottawa on November 16, 1998.
In its April 15, 1999 letter to governments, the Commission concluded that the Scope of Work cannot be executed incrementally and thus has initiated the work outlined in this Plan of Study. However, information and data generated by the Ad Hoc Group will be incorporated into this more extensive effort as appropriate.