Lake Superior outflow dominates Q and A at Board Of Control webinar

The International Lake Superior Board Of Control had its annual public meeting. The webinar discussed the projected levels of Lakes Superior and Michigan-Huron over the next few months. Other discussion also centered around the outflow from Superior and fluctuations that come with gate openings at the St. Marys Rapids. Jacob Bruxer is a Regulation Representative with the board. He attempts to answer that concern…

Those figures could continue to be juggled over the next several weeks due to a Gate Movement Limit Study that is just getting underway. This will involve data gathering aimed at refining gate movement to improve condition for aquatic species in the St. Marys River. During an average summer month, as many as 5 gates are open to control outflow at the Rapids. Bruxer says one important factor will determine the outflow figure…

The average outflow for June is expected to 26 hundred and 40 cubic meters per second. But that amount is also expected to fluctuate, with various gates opening from time to time. Some gates were partially opened earlier this month, while another was opened to assist in trapping sea lamprey. A Goulais Bay resident asked the question of how gate openings will affect the levels of Lake Superior during the summer. Bruxer says this should result in very little negative impact…

In January, the International Joint Commission allowed the board to implement an update of its ‘Plan 2012’. This allow the board to control outflow that satisfies various stakeholders from commercial interests to aquatic species, resulting from more natural flows in the St. Marys River. A deviation strategy is also considered, where gate openings may affect outflow depending on rainfall and hydro power plant outages. The latter is expected to happen over the next several weeks.