Water levels reach 2017 flood levels

MORRISBURG – The agency responsible for managing water levels on the St. Lawrence River increased outflows in response to flooding on Lake St. Lawrence and the Great Lakes.nnThe International Lake Ontario – St. Lawrence River board increased the amount of water allowed through the Moses-Saunders power dam in Cornwall, and the Long Sault Control Dam beyond the maximum limit of 10,200 cubic metres per second. That is the equivalent of just over four Olympic-sized swimming pools every second passing through the two dams.nnThe board had been increasing waterflows by 100-200 m3/s per day until June 8th when the limit was hit.nnThe ILOSLR board announced that starting June 9th it approved a 50 m3/s increase per day to reach 10,400 m3/s, the level allowed when Lake Ontario flooded in 2017.nnUnlike 2017, all five Great Lakes are above flood levels this year with higher than normal run off and a wet spring contributing.nnThe increased water levels and higher outflows have increased the current on the St. Lawrence Seaway through Lake St. Lawrence.nnAs of June 5th, Lake St. Lawrence is 241.7 feet deep, 1.5 inches over the Plan 2014 level for the maximum water level.nnWater levels on Lake St. Francis are nearly one foot above maximum.nnThe impact along the shoreline has been felt mostly west of the Iroquois control dam.nnIn a separate release from Ontario Power Generation, the government agency advised the Iroquois control dam gates remain closed for recreational boat traffic.