IJC Releases Preliminary Report, Suggests There is no 'Drainhole'
After calls to accelerate the Upper Lakes Study, the International Joint Commission (IJC) has released a preliminary report that suggests a 'drainhole' in the St. Clair River may not be present.
The 'drainhole' refers to increased erosion of the river-bottom driving a faster flow of the St. Clair River, resulting in lower levels in Lakes Michigan and Huron. Video evidence presented by the IJC in the report suggests that, in fact, the river-bottom in the upper St. Clair River is quite stable and not eroding. The report was quick to note that these results are only preliminary and more work is necessary before they can be confirmed.
The Georgian Bay Association released a report earlier this year that argued dredging and gravel mining have led to an erosion of the St. Clair River bringing about the lower water levels.
In Mid-October the IJC announced that a draft report on changes in the St. Clair River will be produced in June 2009, with intirim reports in 2008. The complete Upper Great Lakes Study is planned to be completed by 2012.
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