NEWS RELEASE
May 3, 2011

Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Working Group holds seventh meeting

QUEBEC, Quebec - The Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Working Group met April 27 and 28 to continue the development of a potential new approach for improved management of water levels and flows in the Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River (LOSLR) system.

At the meeting, the Working Group reviewed technical aspects of a draft regulation plan that would encourage restoration of wetlands and habitats for key species through more natural flows while continuing to protect other interests. The Working Group also began to identify the critical components of an adaptive management strategy to monitor and assess conditions and refine the regulation plan as needed, including adjustments for significant climatic changes.

The Working Group is an ad hoc group made up of senior representatives of the federal governments of Canada and the United States, the governments of Quebec, Ontario and New York, and the International Joint Commission (IJC). Its purpose is to provide advice to the Commission on the future regulation of water levels and flows in the LOSLR system.

The Working Group is taking into account the comments provided by stakeholders across the system over the past several years. The IJC will invite public comment on the potential new approach before it presents a revised Order of Approval at formal public hearings.

The International Joint Commission prevents and resolves disputes between the United States of America and Canada under the 1909 Boundary Waters Treaty and pursues the common good of both countries as an independent and objective advisor to the two governments.

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