57th Annual Meeting of the GLFC Buffalo, NY June 6-7, 2012 Water Level Regulation in the LO/SLR System Environmental Considerations and Plan BV7

57th Annual Meeting of the GLFC Buffalo, NY June 6-7, 2012 Great Lakes – St. Lawrence River Drainage Basin

57th Annual Meeting of the GLFC Buffalo, NY June 6-7, 2012

57th Annual Meeting of the GLFC Buffalo, NY June 6-7, 2012

57th Annual Meeting of the GLFC Buffalo, NY June 6-7, 2012

57th Annual Meeting of the GLFC Buffalo, NY June 6-7, 2012 Background: Boundary Waters Treaty Act of 1909 – established International Joint Commission (IJC)Boundary Waters Treaty Act of 1909 – established International Joint Commission (IJC) IJC issued 1952 Order of Approval for the construction of the St. Lawrence River Hydropower ProjectIJC issued 1952 Order of Approval for the construction of the St. Lawrence River Hydropower Project Order amended in 1956 during construction to include regulation criteria designed to reduce the range of Lake Ontario water level fluctuations, facilitate navigation on the St. Lawrence River, and provide protection for riparian and other interests downstream in the Province of Quebec.Order amended in 1956 during construction to include regulation criteria designed to reduce the range of Lake Ontario water level fluctuations, facilitate navigation on the St. Lawrence River, and provide protection for riparian and other interests downstream in the Province of Quebec.

57th Annual Meeting of the GLFC Buffalo, NY June 6-7, 2012 Background: No consideration for environmental or recreational boating interests.No consideration for environmental or recreational boating interests. Pre-regulation range approximately 7 feet.Pre-regulation range approximately 7 feet. Target regulation range between and feet (74.15 – meters), recognizing that water level supplies might be outside of recorded range.Target regulation range between and feet (74.15 – meters), recognizing that water level supplies might be outside of recorded range. Water level regulation Plan 1958D operational since Frequent deviations required to adapt to changing conditions/operating experience (1958D with deviations, or “1958DD”).Water level regulation Plan 1958D operational since Frequent deviations required to adapt to changing conditions/operating experience (1958D with deviations, or “1958DD”).

57th Annual Meeting of the GLFC Buffalo, NY June 6-7, 2012 Annual Range of Lake Ontario Water Levels

57th Annual Meeting of the GLFC Buffalo, NY June 6-7, 2012 Water Level Attributes Necessary for Sustained Ecological Benefits Magnitude (high water/low water)Magnitude (high water/low water) Seasonal timingSeasonal timing DurationDuration Rate of changeRate of change Long-term (15-35 year) frequency in supplies/levelsLong-term (15-35 year) frequency in supplies/levels

57th Annual Meeting of the GLFC Buffalo, NY June 6-7, 2012

57th Annual Meeting of the GLFC Buffalo, NY June 6-7, 2012 March 2010: ft (74.3 meters) IGLD

57th Annual Meeting of the GLFC Buffalo, NY June 6-7, 2012 Background: The “Levels Reference Study: Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin” (Report to the International Joint Commission by the Levels Reference Study Board, 1993) concluded: “The studies determined that a reduction in the range of Lake Ontario’s levels brought about by regulation of its outflows has had a significantly adverse effect on the extent, diversity, and integrity of its wetlands”. This same document concluded that Great Lakes wetlands that are flooded periodically each ten to twenty years and dewatered for two or more consecutive years between floods exhibited the greatest wetland vegetative diversity.

57th Annual Meeting of the GLFC Buffalo, NY June 6-7, 2012 Background: Wetlands are the most productive and diverse habitats, supporting hundreds of species of fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals, plants, invertebrates.Wetlands are the most productive and diverse habitats, supporting hundreds of species of fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals, plants, invertebrates. In the Lake Ontario/St. Lawrence River system, approximately 60,000 acres of wetland are negatively impacted by water level regulation.In the Lake Ontario/St. Lawrence River system, approximately 60,000 acres of wetland are negatively impacted by water level regulation. In SLR, approximately 100 species of fish that use wetland habitats at some point of their life cycle; feeding, breeding, nursery.In SLR, approximately 100 species of fish that use wetland habitats at some point of their life cycle; feeding, breeding, nursery.

57th Annual Meeting of the GLFC Buffalo, NY June 6-7, 2012 Background: Recreational angling extremely important to local economies: 2007 SLR>$33 million, Lake Ontario nearly $113 million.Recreational angling extremely important to local economies: 2007 SLR>$33 million, Lake Ontario nearly $113 million. Wetlands developed over thousands of years under very dynamic conditions.Wetlands developed over thousands of years under very dynamic conditions. Extreme highs maintained upper extent though flooding of robust emergents and upland plants; extreme lows expose accumulated sediments to oxygen aiding in their decomposition and allows for the germination of plant seeds that restores vegetative diversity to the benefit of organisms that rely on those plants.Extreme highs maintained upper extent though flooding of robust emergents and upland plants; extreme lows expose accumulated sediments to oxygen aiding in their decomposition and allows for the germination of plant seeds that restores vegetative diversity to the benefit of organisms that rely on those plants.

57th Annual Meeting of the GLFC Buffalo, NY June 6-7, 2012 (Doug Wilcox)

57th Annual Meeting of the GLFC Buffalo, NY June 6-7, 2012 Typha Dominance/Loss of Vegetative Diversity

57th Annual Meeting of the GLFC Buffalo, NY June 6-7, 2012 Photo- interpretation results showing loss of meadow marsh and increase in cattail after Regulation (Doug Wilcox)

57th Annual Meeting of the GLFC Buffalo, NY June 6-7, 2012

57th Annual Meeting of the GLFC Buffalo, NY June 6-7, 2012 IJC Proposed Plan BV7 2000: International Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Study (5 years; $20 million)2000: International Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Study (5 years; $20 million) Several proposed regulation plans developed, including “B+” (environmental plan); IJC released “Plan 2007” for extensive public review.Several proposed regulation plans developed, including “B+” (environmental plan); IJC released “Plan 2007” for extensive public review. From environmental perspective, Plan 2007 was more harmful than 1958DDFrom environmental perspective, Plan 2007 was more harmful than 1958DD After extensive consultation, “Plan BV7” developed.After extensive consultation, “Plan BV7” developed.

57th Annual Meeting of the GLFC Buffalo, NY June 6-7, 2012 IJC Proposed Plan BV7 Incrementally restores more natural water level variation without disproportionate, negative impacts to other interests.Incrementally restores more natural water level variation without disproportionate, negative impacts to other interests. During high water supply, would raise maximum level of Lake Ontario by 2.4 inches compared to Plan 1958DD.During high water supply, would raise maximum level of Lake Ontario by 2.4 inches compared to Plan 1958DD. During low supply periods, would lower minimum lake level by 8 inches.During low supply periods, would lower minimum lake level by 8 inches. If approved, adaptive management practices will be employed.If approved, adaptive management practices will be employed.

57th Annual Meeting of the GLFC Buffalo, NY June 6-7, 2012 Plan BV7 vs. 1958DD and Unregulated

57th Annual Meeting of the GLFC Buffalo, NY June 6-7, 2012

57th Annual Meeting of the GLFC Buffalo, NY June 6-7, 2012

57th Annual Meeting of the GLFC Buffalo, NY June 6-7, 2012 Thank you; questions?