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Great Lakes Help
Restore Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River
A once in a generation chance to ensure a sustainable water
Level Management plan
The Great Lakes are an amazing natural
resource that are critical not only to the region’s
birds and other wildlife, but to the economy and quality of
life of the 42 million people that live within its watershed.
More than 300 different bird species call the Great Lakes
their home, but due to a host of factors, especially the loss
of coastal wetland habitat, the populations of many of these
species are in serious decline.
Specifically, the Lake Ontario/St. Lawrence
River levels and flows have been regulated by dams in the
river for nearly 50 years. This current regulation has eliminated
the natural 15-30 year cycles of low and high levels that
have shaped the beaches, dunes and wetlands of the lake’s
coastline. The current water regulating plan has also reduced
opportunities for a diversity of fish, water birds, and other
wildlife by artificially controlling water levels of Lake
Ontario.
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| Pied-billed Grebe © Jeff Nadler |
Due to this mismanagement, there has been
an astounding loss of coastal wetlands and marshlands in the
region. The loss of these important habitats not only reduces
nesting availability for many species of birds, but also reduces
food availability through the loss of important fish spawning
grounds.
Today, we have an historic opportunity
to change the Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River water
level management plan for the better.
The International Joint Commission (IJC),
after five years of study, has released a new water level
regulation plan (“Plan 2007”) for Lake Ontario
and the St. Lawrence River for public comment. Unfortunately,
the IJC has missed this important opportunity to reverse the
decades of decline, as “Plan 2007” will not restore
the natural cyclical rhythms of the Lake and River. A more
environmentally sustainable plan that balances commercial
navigation, recreational boating, and hydropower interests
is needed to restore this amazing ecosystem.
However, there is another option! Plan
B+ is the widely supported management proposal developed
by IJC that would provide significant environmental an economic
improvements to the region.
Now is your chance to help Audubon
New York change how Lake Ontario has been regulated by voicing
your support for Plan B+, the natural choice for improving
the environment and economy of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence
River for the next fifty years.
You can help us now by attending public
hearings taking place throughout the Great Lakes Basin in
New York and speaking out in support of Plan B+, or
you can email, write or fax comments to the IJC by July 11.
Go to www.nature.org/planb
for more information on how you can take action today!
Sean
Mahar
Director of Government Relations and Communications
Audubon New York
518-869-9731
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