ST. CLAIR/UPPER LAKES WATER LEVELS STUDY & RESPONSE

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The International Joint Commission's International Upper Great Lakes Study entitled, "Impacts on Upper Great Lakes Water Levels: St. Clair River - Final Report to the International Joint Commission" (December, 2009) is available at:

http://pub.iugls.org/en/Other_Publicati ... Report.pdf

In summary, the report states that:

· There has been no significant erosion of the channel in the upper reach of the St. Clair River bed since at least 2000.

· Based on 15 different analyses, an increase in the river’s conveyance capacity accounts for 7 to 14 cm (2.8 to 5.5 inches) of the decline in head difference between Lake Michigan-Huron and Lake Erie from 1963 to 2006; however, this change is not ongoing and there has been a slight decrease in conveyance capacity since 2000.

· Climate is the main driver of lake level relationships over time and accounts for 9 to 17 cm (3.5 to 6.7 inches) of the decline in head difference. In particular, hydroclimatic change contributed to a substantial decline in net water supplies to Lake Michigan-Huron in the most recent decade.

For the full press release from the International Upper Great Lakes Study go to:

http://pub.iugls.org/en/news/MediaRelea ... _15_09.pdf

Please note that a somewhat different perspective on the report is available from the organization "Georgian Bay Forever." Click the attachment below to access the press release from Georgian Bay Forever.

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The following letter to the editor appeared in the Chronicle-Journal newspaper of Thunder Bay (www.chroniclejournal.com) on Feb. 5th, 2010. It is a response to the Upper Great Lakes Study undertaken by the International Joint Commission.

START OF LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Friday, February 5, 2010

The International Joint Commission has completely overlooked the impact of clear cutting on the water levels of the Upper Great Lakes. Their recent summary report, entitled the International Upper Great Lakes Study, focuses on the St. Clair River and sidesteps the denuding of our forests on the Canadian side. Further, the consequent reduction in supply of water to Lake Superior and Lake Michigan-Huron over the past two decades from forestry operations will likely continue to be ignored.
Since the International Joint Commission has become a retirement home for political cronies rather than objective scientific appointees, maybe it should be disbanded.

Paul Filteau
Thunder Bay

END OF LETTER TO THE EDITOR