HomeMy WebLinkAboutLakeshore Advance, 2013-11-13, Page 11Wednesday, November 13, 2013 • Lakeshore Advance 11
Conservationists concerned about impact of
manmade structure in St. Clair River
Barbara Simpson
QMI Agency
Conservationists turned up the heat at a
public forum Tuesday, cautioning against
the controversial proposal to erect a struc-
ture in the St. Clair River to help alleviate
low water levels in Lakes Huron and
Michigan.
"When we talk about spending hundreds
of millions of dollars on structural options,
it would be nice to see a 10th of that spent
n the science that informs the decisions,"
wick Hibma, chair of Conservation Ontario,
told an audience gathered at Point Edward's
Holiday Inn.
The County of Lambton organized the
one -day Great Lakes Water Levels Public
Forum, inviting a cross section of speakers
and stakeholders, including from Chathatn-
Kent and Windsor -Essex.
In June, Lambton County council passed
a motion asking staff to call a public meet-
ing about the recommendations arising
from the International Upper Great Lakes
Study.
Ai
We have a very Targe water
system," it's difficult to
predict what the impact (of a
structure) may be, what the
unexpected consequences
may be."
— Patrick Donnelly, coastal resources
manager of the Lake Huron Centre
for Coastal Conservation
More than 200 scientists and other
jperts participated in the $17 -million
dy to examine whether physical changes
in the St. Clair River have affected the level
of Lakes Huron and Michigan.
In total, the lakes have seen a 23 -centi-
metre decline between 1963 and 2007,
according to the study.
In April, the International Joint Commis-
sion released its recommendations, calling
for a study of structures to address record
low water levels.
Suggested structures include weirs/dikes
extending across the river from Point
Edward and from Port Huron, inflatable
flap gaps across channels at Stag and Fawn
Islands, and 'speed bumps' in the deep end
of the river.
However, some conservationists aren't
sold on turning to a manmade structure.
"We have a very large water system," said
Patrick Donnelly, coastal resources man-
ager of the Laked luron Centre for Coastal
Conservation. "It's difficult to predict what
the impact (of a structure) niay be, what the
unexpected consequences may be."
The level of Lakes Huron and Michigan
raised 24 centimetres between January and
April, he noted.
"That occurred naturally," he said. "'That
didn't happen thanks to the impact of man.
Once again mother nature has the final
word"
Instead of a structure, Donnelly sug-
gested the closure of the Chicago diversion
that draws water out of Lake Michigan.
"If that was closed, it would raise the
level of Lakes Huron and Michigan by
about 20 centimetres," he said, adding it
would also deal with the spread of Asian
carp.
However, Canadian 11C commissioner
Gordon Walker refuted the figure, suggest-
ing the closure would ultimately only
restore one centimetre of water.
"The Asian carp problem has been stalled
with the installation of three electric fences
in the water 20 miles south of Chicago," he
added.
The I JC recommendations have been
passed on to both the RS. and Canadian
governments.
"It's up to them make whatever decisions
they're going to make," Walker said. "'They
can even choose not to respond to the
matter."
barbara.simpsonesun,nedia.ca
BY THE NUMBERS
The Internatiundl Uppei Great Lakes
Study pi ovided estimates for sev-
eral proposed structures that could
help raise water levels in Lakes Huron
and Michigan: These include:
$30 to $65 million -
Submerged sills
$130 to $170 million -
Inflatable Hap gates across east
channels al Stay and,oi Fawn Islands
$150 million --
Fixed dikeslweirs extend-
ing into Lake Huron at its outlet
$200 mullion -
Fixed dikes aci oss east
channels at gig ;Ind ur Fawn Islands
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Barbara Simpson OMI Agency
Patrick Donnelly, of the Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation, answers a question at
the Great Lakes Water Levels Public Forum held In Point Edward, Ont. Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2013.
Conservationists challenged a recommendation to erect a structure In the St. Clair River to address
low water levels.
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