Citizens Of Lake Ontario Watershed Urged To Voice Support For Improved Water Regulation Plan

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The International Joint Commission (IJC), the bi-national commission that manages the waters of the U.S.-Canada border, is holding public hearings in Alexandria Bay, Massena and Oswego, N.Y. in June to discuss options for managing the future water levels of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River.

Leading state and national environmental organizations, including The Nature Conservancy, Save the River, Ducks Unlimited, Sierra Club, Audubon New York, and Citizens Campaign for the Environment, encourage the public to attend these public hearings and to endorse Plan B+, a water regulation plan that offers significant benefits for the environment, tourism, recreation, commercial navigation, low-cost hydroelectric power and the local economy. For more information on Plan B+, a new website has been formed, http://www.nature.org/planb.

The purpose of the new website is to provide background information on the IJC process, and on the two regulation plans under consideration, Plan 2007 and Plan B+. The web site also provides information on how the public can participate in the hearing process.

“We commend the IJC for realizing the need to update a 50-year old water management plan for Lake Ontario,” said Jim Howe, Executive Director of The Nature Conservancy’s Central and Western New York Chapter. “It’s time for a new plan, and Plan B+ is clearly the best option.”

Plan B+ offers significant benefits. “Plan B+ controls extreme high and low water levels which can cause economic damage and also supports a greater diversity of species, including species at risk like the northern pike and black tern” said Sean Mahar, Associate Director of Conservation for Audubon New York..

“Plan B+ also offers significant economic benefits, said David Klein, Senior Field Representative for The Nature Conservancy. “It improves fishing conditions, and extends the boating season by increasing the number of days a shoreline business can remain open”. “The plan improves revenue for hydropower production by more than $6 million per year, Klein continued.

Concerns over shoreline erosion, particularly along the southern shore of Lake Ontario, have caused some to question the need for a new regulation plan. ”Shoreline erosion is a natural process that no regulation plan can eliminate,” Klein noted. “The IJC’s excellent study report points out that any management plan for the Lake and River will result in shoreline erosion.”

The International Joint Commission is proposing Plan 2007 as the new regulation plan for Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence. “Unfortunately, this plan does not go far enough in restoring the 30-year cycles in water levels that are essential for maintaining the health of wetlands and coastal habitats and the species they support,” said Peter Gibbs, Regional Biologist for Ducks Unlimited.

“The science behind the 5-year IJC study is sound, “ said The Nature Conservancy’s Jim Howe. “The conclusions of this research are consistent with scientific literature – worldwide — on the impacts of stabilizing a river or lake. “

The IJC is scheduling the hearings to gather public comments about which of the regulation alternatives – Plan 2007 or Plan B+ – to select. Remaining public hearings include Alexandria Bay (June 25), and Oswego (June 26). Hearing locations can be found on the website, http://www.nature.org/planb.

Comments can also be emailed to the IJC: [email protected] or faxed at 202-467-0746. To mail comments: The Secretary, United States Section, International Joint Commission, 1250 23rd St. NW, Suite 100, Washington, D.C., 20440.

The IJC will receive public feedback until Friday July 11, after which the commission will make a final recommendation to the U.S. and Canadian governments.

“The public wants a restored and protected Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River –the backbone of our regional environmental, recreational and commercial economy,” said Dereth Glance, Executive Program Director for Citizens Campaign for the Environment. “To date, almost 4,000 citizens have signed petitions calling on the IJC to adopt a firm deadline to implement Plan B+. Now is the time for the public to speak to the IJC commissioners in support of Plan B+,” Glance added.

For more information on Plan B+ and how you can participate in the comment process go to http://www.nature.org/planb.

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