Green Local 175 News

In­ter­na­tional advisory board in­ves­ti­gating record low water levels on Lake Ontario


Jun. 16, 2021


After years of record flooding, there are now international efforts to address low water levels on Lake Ontario.


The International Lake Ontario – St. Lawrence River Board, who regulates outflows along the lake, says the Great Lakes are experiencing drought conditions not seen since 1966, with lower than average rainfall and water levels on Lake Ontario.


There is concern that it could affect boating and tourism along the lake this summer.


“It isn’t possible for the board to have a game plan with respect to a certain water level target, because the board can only manage the outflows and not the levels,” said Board Secretary Bryce Carmichael. “But what happens to the lake levels depends on what inflows the lake receives from Mother Nature.”


The board expects water levels to decline further as the summer goes on, although that could change if we see some significant rainfall