IWLC Monthly Board meetings are open to the public

IWLC 2010 ANNUAL MEETING

The IWLC held its annual meeting on August 21, 2010 at Caiger’s Marina & Resort, in Malloytown, Ontario.  The Honourable Robert Runciman was the featured speaker.

Senator Runciman began his presentation by congratulating the IWLC for “the great work” that has been done.  He reiterated the fact that the current water levels regulation management plan is outdated and that any plan which may help one area has the potential to harm another.  He pointed out that “we lose 1/3 of our annual tourism season” by having the water levels lowered so early and so drastically in the fall.

The Senator also pointed out that the decision on a new plan is “a political decision” and urged attendees “to keep the pressure on.”  He stressed the point that now is not the time to quit or to lessen the effort.

BOARD OF CONTROL MEMBER ATTENDS IWLC BOARD MEETING

International St. Lawrence River Board of Control member Tom Brown attended our February 20 Board meeting and shared the following with us:  “I would say that the science is behind us.  Everybody agrees that there is only one direction to go and that is to go with a new environmental plan such as Plan B+ that begins to move back toward a natural variability of water levels and that seems to be now universally accepted … We have been fighting for years to get that recognition and that is backed up by the fact that there now is in place a high level international work group with high level executive representatives  from New York State, Provinces of Quebec and Ontario and the two federal governments to see if they can now get agreement at those levels that will then trigger a new plan.”  The IWLC will follow this process and keep members informed of any new developments.

 IJC REJECTS PLAN 2007

September 4, 2008 –Irene Brooks, Chair, United States Section, International Joint Commission, sent a letter to United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice stating that “… Plan 2007 is not a practical option for implementation and concludes that the regulation of water levels and flows should be based on a revised set of goals and objectives and criteria, specifically moving towards more natural flows to benefit the environment, while respecting other interests.”

Commissioner Brooks further stated that the IJC would like to work with a small group of representatives of the two federal governments and the governments of New York, Quebec, and Ontario to develop a new Order of Approval and regulation plan.  This small working group would help develop the mitigation and adaptive management framework with a mandate to develop the details for evaluation by June 2009.  In the interim, the current regulation plan, Plan 1958D with deviations, will remain in effect.

 Please continue to monitor our web site for updates.