10/25/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/26/2024 07:22
The International Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Board is providing this notice to summarize the water level conditions from September 2024 through the remainder of Autumn.
Plan 2014 is a set of rules that govern Lake Ontario outflows through the Moses-Saunders Dam located near Massena, New York and Cornwall, Ontario.
Water supply conditions have resulted in one of the longest periods of sustained near long-term average water levels on Lake Ontario.
The International Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Board used its authority under its minor deviation directive, to deviate from the rules of Plan 2014 on three occasions this fall. The cumulative effect of these minor deviations is equivalent to +0.5 cm (+0.2 in) of water on Lake Ontario relative to if the deviation had not occurred.
The Board implemented two other minor deviations at the request of hydropower entities for a 12-hour period on September 4 (net effect of 80 m3/s belowthe flows prescribed by Plan 2014 Rule Curve for the week of August 31 through September 6) and a 12-hour period on September 24 (net effect of 30 m3/s belowthe flows prescribed by Plan 2014 Rule Curve for the week of September 21 through 27). Flows during these periods were temporarily reduced to enable safe conditions for in-water work at dam facilities.
As required by the IJC's Directive, minor deviations must be restored by equivalent offsetting deviations from the plan flow. In this case, outflows through the dam will be increased above the flows prescribed by Plan 2014 Rule Curve for a two-week period.
For more information on:
Contacts:
United States: [email protected]
Canada: [email protected]
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InternationalLakeOntarioStLawrenceRiverBoard
The International Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Board ensures that outflows from Lake Ontario meet the requirements of the International Joint Commission's Orders of Approval. Under any regulation plan, the ability to regulate the outflow from Lake Ontario does not mean that full control of lake levels is possible. This is because the major factors affecting water supply to the Great Lakes, precipitation, evaporation, and runoff cannot be controlled, and are difficult to accurately predict.