Water Levels and Flows
The Northern Waters Complex: A dream come true?
The Montreal Economic Institute announced a plan to divert the spring runoff of three Northern Quebec Rivers down to the St. Lawrence River. According to the proposal, the plan would make 70 million cubic meters of freshwater newly available, provide 14 terawatt-hours of energy each year through hydroelectric generation, and generate $7.5 billion to $20 billion of revenue from water sales annually and another $2.3 billion of revenue annually from energy sales.
Great Lakes United launches water conservation initiative
Fixing the regions wasteful water practices is the target of a new three-year campaign by Great Lakes United. Building on the gains of the Great Lakes Compact – which stopped the threat of long-range diversions – the initiative looks to put our own house’s plumbing in order.
Study says drop in lake levels natural, no need to act
In May, an International Joint Commission’s study board released a report asserting that relative changes in the levels of Lakes Michigan-Huron and Lake Erie since the last major dredging of the St. Clair River in 1962 is not the result of human activity.
100 years of shared water protection
This past Sunday was the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Boundary Waters Treaty. To commemerate the hundred years of water cooperation it ushered, the Consulate General of Canada, the United States Consulate General, and the International Joint Commission are hosting Boundary Waters Week from June 5 to 14 in Niagara Falls, New York and Ontario.
A Great Lakes year
This has been a remarkable year for Great Lakes protection. As 2008 comes to a close, we reflect on some of the achievements citizens and organizations across the region deserve to celebrate.
Why the compact is a win
When U.S. President Bush signed his approval of the Great Lakes Compact, a few groups and individuals across the region feared the commercialization of Great Lakes water. Sarah Miller, researcher with the Canadian Environmental Law Association, puts these arguments to rest, explaining why the Compact does not threaten to commercialize water, and why it must be celebrated as a win for the region.
Congress Passes Historic Great Lakes Protection
Earlier today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the historic Great Lakes Compact, ensuring the strongest protections ever to stop water diversions and to regulate large-scale water use. The final step is for President Bush to sign the Compact, as he has already pledged to do.
IJC abandons gutless plan for dam
Following public comment that chastised the International Joint Commission for selecting a plan that would continue the devastation of St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario coastal habitat, the IJC has withdrawn their proposed management plan in favour of finding a more environmentally responsible choice.
3008: A Great Lakes odyssey
We are all used to seeing pictures of the outline of the Great Lakes from space. Will that outline look the same for someone looking down from space 1000 years from now? That is highly unlikely.
Compact in Congress’ hands
Two and a half years after the Governors of the Great Lakes states signed the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact and the companion Agreement with the Premiers of Ontario and Quebec, the Compact has been ratified by all eight states. On July 9, 2008, Michigan became the final state to pass the Compact.
© 2008 Great Lakes News. 
