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Lake Ontario communities need money to recover from the high-water crisis

Record-high water levels on Lake Ontario continue to take a physical & economic toll
Posted at 6:34 PM, Jul 10, 2019
and last updated 2019-07-10 18:46:40-04

SOMERSET, N.Y. (WKBW) — Lawmakers and community leaders from Niagara and Orleans Counties are hoping to get part of $300 million allocated by New York State to help areas affected by the Lake Ontario high-water crisis.

During a meeting at the Somerset Town Hall, members of Governor Cuomo's Lake Ontario Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative (REDI) Commission explained how communities can submit project ideas, which will then be prioritized for funding.

The money is meant to help affected communities rebuild damaged infrastructure, bolster economies, and assist the communities in becoming more resilient against future high-water events.

However, there is 15% matching fund requirement that some worry could make it hard for smaller communities to qualify for the funding.

Submissions are due by August with the REDI Commission determining which ones will get funding by September.

Record-high levels on Lake Ontario in 2019 have once again devastated areas that count on summer boating, fishing and tourism.

"I am taking a beating. It is terrible," said Loura Maines, owner of the "Down on Main Street" restaurant in Wilson.

"Yes, the lake is flooded but our businesses are open," explained Maines who said she had to reduce staff and close early because tourists are not coming to the shoreline areas.

Taxpayers are also getting hurt.

After a high-water crisis on Lake Ontario in 2017 damaged municipal docks in the Village of Lewiston, $1.6 million dollars was allocated to make repairs and raise the docks higher.

However, the current water level crisis is preventing crews from finishing the work - meaning the Village of Lewiston is losing tens-of-thousands-of-dollars in leasing fees this summer.

"We depend on the summer season with all our shops and restaurants. With the waterfront in the condition it is, I am sure they have all had a loss of revenue," said Village Mayor Anne Welch.

Many blame "Plan 2014" for the problems, as the bi-national plan with Canada determines outflows from Lake Ontario through a hydroelectric dam on the St. Lawrence River.

The plan is administered by the International Joint Commission (IJC).

Lauren Kunz, a Rochester realtor, is one of many people hoping to have Plan 2014 repealed because of the damage it is causing to Lake Ontario communities.

Kunz has collected 16,000 online signatures for a petition calling on President Trump to do something to repeal the plan.

"We are hoping to take those to the printer ASAP and have that mailed out to the White House," said Kunz.

You can view the petition on change.org by clicking here.

7 Eyewitness News Reporter Ed Reilly visited Olcott, Wilson and Lewiston to see how those communities are dealing with the crisis.

The IJC released the following statement concerning the water levels on Lake Ontario:

"Water levels are declining throughout the system as warmer, drier weather and record Lake Ontario outflows of 10,400 m3/s (367,270 cubic feet per second) continue.

At its meeting on July 5th, the Board reached consensus to maintain the current outflow, which is 200 m3/s (7,060 cfs) higher than regulation Plan 2014 and the maximum safe navigation limit that would normally apply at these lake levels. The Seaway Corporations have implemented mitigation measures to allow safe navigation to continue at these higher flows, which will continue to lower Lake Ontario levels and provide relief to those impacted by this year’s high water event.

The Board deliberated several outflow strategies above 10,400 m3/s and considered both the additional decline on Lake Ontario and impacts to other stakeholders. These scenarios included incremental increases all the way up to maximum outflow capacity of the St. Lawrence River. At present, any additional increase in flow would require the Seaway Corporations to shut down shipping on the St. Lawrence River between St. Lambert and Cape Vincent. The economic costs for disrupting the supply chain of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence economy is estimated at $50,000,000 per day. Additional impacts were also expected for recreational boating and downstream shoreline property owners, including resumed and additional flooding in areas of the lower St. Lawrence River just upstream of Montreal. Additional environmental impacts were also expected due to sustained high flows, including impacts to fish, wildlife and waterfowl habitat and breeding grounds.

Outflows at maximum system capacity for 4 weeks would hasten the recovery of Lake Ontario in the short-term; however, when compared to maintaining the current record high outflow strategy both options converge to within 1 inch by December 31st. This is because the amount of water that can be physically passed down the St. Lawrence River is directly related to the level of Lake Ontario. As the lake declines, so does maximum river capacity. Maintaining the current major deviation strategy will provide comparable benefit by the end of the calendar year, without creating $1.4 billion in economic damages.

The Board has also agreed to maintain the flow at 10,400 m3/s (367,270 cfs) for a longer duration than in 2017, until water levels on Lake Ontario drop more than 30 cm (1 foot) and fall below 75.50 m (247.7 ft). Current forecasts suggest this may occur around mid-August, depending on water supplies. In addition, the Board has notified the Seaway Corporations that it will continue to set outflows at approximately 200 m3/s (7,060 cubic feet per second) above the normal safe navigation flow limit into the fall to continue lowering Lake Ontario levels at an accelerated rate. The Seaway Corporations will maintain mitigation measures to ensure safe navigation can continue during this period.

These enhanced outflow measures will help to provide both immediate and longer-term relief to all impacted upstream shoreline residents and property owners due to the high water levels. The intent of the Board is to lower water levels as much as possible prior to winter. It should be noted that the Board can only control outflows and not the water supplies to Lake Ontario. While the higher outflows will accelerate the rate of lowering that would otherwise occur, it is not possible, this year or any other, to lower Lake Ontario to a predetermined “safe” water level by the onset of winter.

The International Joint Commission has asked the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Adaptive Management (GLAM) Committee to expedite their ongoing review of Plan 2014. The Board will release a statement later this week describing the extents of the GLAM assessment.

Information on hydrologic conditions, water levels and outflows, including graphics and photos, are available on the Board’s website and posted to the Board’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/InternationalLakeOntarioStLawrenceRiverBoard [icm-tracking.meltwater.com] (English), and more detailed information is available on its website at https://www.ijc.org/en/loslrb [icm-tracking.meltwater.com]."