The International Lake Ontario–St. Lawrence River Board announced plans to temporarily increase water outflows from Lake Ontario this week to assist recreational boaters on Lac Saint-Louis, located southwest of Montreal, in removing their watercraft as the season ends. This decision follows a notably dry summer and fall that have caused many marinas along the St. Lawrence River, like Marina de la Rive-Nord in Repentigny, Quebec, to face low water levels, exposing sections of the riverbed where boats and docks typically float.
Yvon Vannini, the marina’s owner, mentioned that the water levels are nearly two meters below the usual levels, with the current situation reminiscent of 1989 when water levels were last observed this low. This poses challenges for boat owners in moving their vessels without causing damage, as illustrated by several boats resting on the riverbed. The impending winter adds to concerns, as icy conditions may further complicate boat movement.
Despite acknowledging that his marina’s situation is relatively better than others, Vannini expressed worries about the changing weather conditions. To address these issues, the International Lake Ontario–St. Lawrence River Board plans to elevate the outflow by up to 500 cubic meters per second, starting Friday morning and continuing through Saturday evening. This initiative aims to raise water levels on Lac Saint-Louis by approximately 15 centimeters, facilitating boat haul-outs.
Jérôme Marty, the head of the International Association for Great Lakes Research, emphasized the urgency of the situation due to the lack of rainfall, indicating that this intervention may be crucial before potential precipitation. The board clarified that the temporary flow adjustment is authorized under its minor deviation authority, ensuring minimal impact on Lake Ontario levels while causing a slight drop of about 20 to 30 centimeters in Lake St. Lawrence during the operation.
The Canadian Drought Monitor reports moderate to severe drought conditions around Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River region. The board commits to ongoing monitoring of weather forecasts to refine the deviation plan in the coming weeks. Vannini plans to assess the operation’s effectiveness on October 18 but remains skeptical about the outcome despite the intervention.