Lake level investigation gets fast-tracked
By SooToday.com Staff
SooToday.com
Published October 20, 2007
OTTAWA – Sault MP Tony Martin has welcomed the International Joint Commission’s decision to speed up its investigation into low water levels in the Great Lakes, crediting area residents and political pressure.
The IJC says it now expects to be able to verify or disprove the allegations of excess water loss by February, 2009 - a full year ahead of schedule.
“This is a good decision taken by the IJC as people felt 2010 was definitely too long,” Martin said. “I believe it is in direct response to public and political pressure, including hearing from the public, as I did from Sault and Algoma residents along Lake Superior and Lake Huron.
“I organized and attended public forums on both sides of the border. The media including CBC’s The National publicized the issue. All the letters and e-mails have made a difference and hopefully we will get to the bottom of this before we see too much of the bottom of these lakes with all this disappearing water.”
Preliminary information on the outflow problem is expected next year.
While scientists cite climate change and drought explanations, residents speaking at the forums cited stories of water diversion to U.S. states and dredging of the St. Clair River near Sarnia.
The IJC is dealing both with the reports of alleged excessive outflows from the St. Clair River and record low levels on Lake Superior.
The IJC has decided to leave unchanged for now the current plan governing the amount of water being released through the control locks at Sault Ste. Marie.
It’s been noted any action to help Lake Superior’s levels can exacerbate low-water problems on Lakes Huron and Michigan.
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