News Releases

The International Lake Champlain-Richelieu River Study Board has published a new technical report, A Strategy for Addressing Climate Uncertainty Affecting Lake Champlain-Richelieu River Flooding. As part of the study board’s work identifying the causes and recommending solutions to the impacts of...

Anglers and other users of the St. Marys Rapids are advised that on Wednesday morning, May 11, 2022, Gates #9 through #12 will be raised from their current position to a setting of 33 cm (13 in) open for the remainder of the month. Gates #7 and #8 will remain at their current setting of 20 cm (8 in)...

Extremely high flow conditions have developed across the Rainy River watershed, including flows into Namakan Lake and Rainy Lake, following record high precipitation in April. These high flow conditions have led to the water levels of Namakan Lake and Rainy Lake rising above their respective Rule...

Outflows from Lake Superior and into Lake Michigan-Huron continue to be set in consideration of water levels upstream and downstream. The Board expects the total outflow to be 1,910 m3/s (67 tcfs) in May, which is as prescribed by Lake Superior Regulation Plan 2012. The gate setting at the...

The International Kootenay Lake Board of Control, after consultation with FortisBC on Corra Linn Dam operations, has determined "the commencement of the spring rise," for purposes defined in paragraph 2, (6) of the 1938 International Joint Commission Order on Kootenay Lake, occurred at 00:00 PDT on...

The International Joint Commission’s Great Lakes Water Quality Board brought together advocates and critics of nuclear energy to recommend improvements to nuclear power plant retirement plans to better protect the environment. The board studied the issue of aging nuclear facilities in the Great...

The International Lake Champlain-Richelieu River Study Board is pleased to release a series of reports investigating best practices for floodplain management in the Lake Champlain-Richeulieu River (LCRR) Basin. Four reports covering the topics of flood mapping, flood risk communication, floodplain...

The International Joint Commission (IJC) has released its final report and recommendations to the Governments of Canada and the United States in response to their joint reference in July 2017 to investigate water supply and flooding issues in the Souris River basin. The IJC was tasked by governments...

The International Lake Ontario – St. Lawrence River Board will host two virtual public meetings, one in English and one in French, to review winter and early spring conditions, and share the most up to date forecast for the Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence River basin. These meetings are essential to...

Lake Superior water levels remain below the seasonal long-term average while Lake Michigan-Huron water levels remain above the seasonal long-term average. Lake Superior outflows continue to be set in consideration of water levels upstream and downstream.

Preparations are underway for the removal of the Lake Erie – Niagara River Ice Boom 2022.

In accordance with the 2018 Supplementary Order, the Water Levels Committee of the International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Board has determined that the standard rule curve will be used this spring to guide the operation of the dam at the outlet of Rainy Lake. Current and forecast conditions...

Lake Superior and Lake Michigan-Huron water levels are near their seasonal low point and depending on weather and water supply conditions could begin their seasonal spring rise over the coming weeks. The gate setting at the Compensating Works will be maintained at the setting equivalent to one-half...

The International Joint Commission (IJC) today released for public comment the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Adaptive Management Committee’s (GLAM Committee) report “ Expedited Review of Plan 2014, Phase 1: Informing Plan 2014 Deviation Decisions Under Extreme Conditions.” Comments can be submitted...

Weather and water supplies to Lakes Superior and Michigan-Huron were much drier than average in January. Lake Superior water levels remain below the seasonal long-term average while Lake Michigan-Huron water levels remain above the seasonal long-term average.

Ice has formed in the critical sections of the St. Lawrence River in the Beauharnois Canal and on Lake St. Lawrence. As ice conditions stabilize, outflows from Lake Ontario will be increased in accordance with the rules of the plan.

Across the Great Lakes basin, hundreds of water utilities treat water from the Great Lakes and deliver safe, high-quality drinking water to nearly 40 million residents. The risk of getting a stomach bug from this treated drinking water is very low—but there is some risk. A new study of environmental...

The International Red River Watershed Board (IRRWB) of the International Joint Commission (IJC) will be holding its annual public information session, in person and virtually, on Thursday, January 13 at 10:30am CST as part of the Red River Basin Commission’s Annual Conference being held at the...

The Board expects the total outflow to be 1,730 m3/s (61.1 tcfs) in January, which is as prescribed by Lake Superior Regulation Plan 2012. The gate setting at the Compensating Works will be maintained at the setting equivalent to one half gate open (Gates #7 through #10 partially open 20 cm (7.9 in)...

Following multiple atmospheric river events in November, during which Southern BC and Washington State were subjected to periods of heavy precipitation, Kootenay Lake levels rose rapidly from below-normal to historical maximum levels for the autumn season. As a result, the elevation of Kootenay Lake...

After slowly declining since late July following a dry summer, Osoyoos Lake level reached the targeted winter operational elevation of between 909.45 to 909.55 feet in early December according to the Washington State Department of Ecology, which owns and operates Zosel Dam. Lake level is anticipated...

Floodwater Storage Report Released by Lake Champlain-Richelieu River Study Board December 22, 2021 – The International Lake Champlain-Richelieu River Study Board has released its Floodwater Storage report. The report, one of several undertaken by the Study Board, explores using wetland and temporary...

Recent extreme weather events around the world and in the transboundary region have raised awareness of the need to be prepared for a changing climate and the complications it brings. Recent reporting from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), an intergovernmental body of the United...

Currently the regulation plan is prescribing very high outflows, the third highest on record for this time in December, and these plan flows are higher than in December 2020. The regulation plan will continue to prescribe high outflows over the winter.

Installation of the ice boom for the 2021-2022 ice season could begin as early as December 10th, 2021 weather permitting. Each winter since 1964, the Lake Erie-Niagara River Ice Boom has been installed near the outlet of Lake Erie to reduce the amount of ice entering the Niagara River.

Lake Superior outflows continue to be set in consideration of water levels upstream and downstream. The gate setting at the Compensating Works will be maintained at the setting equivalent to one half gate open (Gates #7 through #10 partially open 20 cm (7.9 in)). There will be no change to the...

Recent polling on water quality issues reveals that an increasing majority of Great Lakes residents believe government and individual actions to protect water quality are important and valuable. The International Joint Commission Great Lakes Water Quality Board conducted its third Great Lakes...

The International Lake Ontario – St. Lawrence River Board (Board) is seeking your input. The Board would like to collect information specifically related to the reduced outflows from Lake Ontario October 8 through October 11 to support boat haul out and learn more about where people access the water...

The International Joint Commission’s (IJC) Commissioners approved the formation and membership of the International St. Mary and Milk Rivers Study to explore options to improve access to apportioned waters by each country, in recognition of climate change and challenges to apportionment since the...

Kootenay Lake levels have risen rapidly following heavy sustained rainfall and rising temperatures from the Category 5 atmospheric river which hit southern BC and Washington State last week. Increased discharge in the Duncan and Kootena(i) Rivers (Figure 1), along with smaller tributaries, resulted...

On November 15th, discharge of the Similkameen River began to increase rapidly. This was due in part to the landfall of a Category 5 atmospheric river causing heavy, sustained rainfall and rising temperatures resulting in additional runoff from snowmelt. A flood warning for the Similkameen River was...

Lake Superior and Lake Michigan-Huron have both continued their seasonal declines in October. As a result of the continued drier than average weather and water supply conditions, water levels on Lake Superior remain slightly below the seasonal long-term average. Weather and water supply conditions...

Lake Ontario outflows will be increased by 200 m3/s (7,100 cfs) above the amount set by Plan 2014, beginning October 16. This will continue for approximately eight weeks to return water levels in Lake Ontario to the level it would be had outflow deviations not been required earlier this year.

The International Joint Commission (IJC) is inviting public comment on recommendations made by its International Souris River Study Board in a report, “Managing Water Supply and Flood Control in the Souris River Basin,” which recommends potential reservoir operation options to improve flood control...

The water level on Lake St. Lawrence at Long Sault Dam on Wednesday morning, October 6th was approximately 72.86 meters (239.04 ft.). The International Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Board will temporarily reduce outflows from Lake Ontario from noon on Friday, October 8th through noon on Monday...

Lake Superior and Lake Michigan-Huron have both continued their seasonal declines in September. As a result of the drier than average conditions, water levels on Lake Superior have gone below the seasonal long-term average for the first time since April 2014.

Anglers and other users of the St. Marys Rapids are advised that the gate setting of the Compensating Works structure at the head of the Rapids will be adjusted on September 27, 2021. The four middle gates (Gates #7 through #10) will be closed and four gates on the US side of the structure (Gates...

The International Joint Commission, through the Water Levels Committee (WLC) associated with the International Rainy Lake of the Woods Watershed board, works to secure to the people of Canada and the United States the most advantageous use of the waters of Rainy Lake and the Namakan Chain of Lakes...

The current water level on Lake St. Lawrence at Long Sault Dam is approximately 73 meters (239.50 ft.). The International Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Board will temporarily reduce outflows from Lake Ontario to increase water levels on Lake St. Lawrence the second weekend of October.

As a result of the drier than average weather and water supply conditions, Lake Superior water levels have declined and have reached the seasonal long-term average for the first time since April 2014. Conditions have been wetter in the Lake Michigan-Huron basin and water levels are midway between...

There are approximately 700 marina and boat club slips, and hundreds of private docks located along the shores of Lake St. Lawrence. Recreational boaters who navigate the St. Lawrence River, Lake St. Lawrence, and adjacent rivers and lakes have experienced high and low water level conditions that...

(In French only) - Les conseils de régularisation des eaux des Grands Lacs de la Commission mixte internationale (CMI) vous invitent à assister à un webinaire prévu le mercredi 8 septembre de 12 h à 13 h (HAE). La séance se déroulera en français. Le Conseil international de contrôle du lac Supérieur...

(In French only) - Les conseils de régularisation des eaux des Grands Lacs de la Commission mixte internationale (CMI) vous invitent à assister à un webinaire prévu le mercredi 8 septembre de 12 h à 13 h (HAE). La séance se déroulera en français. Le Conseil international de contrôle du lac Supérieur...

The International Osoyoos Lake Board of Control is holding its annual public meeting regarding the regulation of Osoyoos Lake water levels and the related operations of Zosel Dam by the State of Washington under the International Joint Commission’s Orders of Approval.

The International Kootenay Lake Board of Control annual public meeting regarding the regulation of Kootenay Lake and the operation of Corra Linn Dam under the International Joint Commission’s Orders of Approval is scheduled for Wednesday September 22nd.

The International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Board invites you to attend a virtual public meeting with the Board on September 14th, 2021 from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm (Central Time). Register in advance to participate in this Zoom meeting.

The International Joint Commission (IJC) Great Lakes water levels boards invite you to attend a webinar scheduled for Friday, August 27 from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm (EDT).

The International Joint Commission (IJC) Great Lakes water levels boards invite you to attend a webinar scheduled for Friday, August 27 from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm (EDT).

The International Joint Commission (IJC) Great Lakes water levels boards invite you to attend a webinar scheduled for Friday, August 27 from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm (EDT).

​​​​​​​The current level of Kootenay Lake is at its lowest level for mid-August since Water Survey of Canada (WSC) records began in 1928.