Water levels in the Great Lakes: a cross border problem Presentation to SciencePolicy Briefing Works

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Water levels in the Great Lakes a cross
border problemPresentation toScience/Policy
Briefing Workshop Canadas Water Resources in a
Changing ClimateFebruary 22, 2007International
Joint CommissionDr. Murray ClamenSecretary,
Canadian Section
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Transboundary Watersheds
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Some Key Principles of the 1909 Boundary
Waters Treaty

• Equal and similar rights to the use of boundary
  waters
• Order of precedence of use --- sanitary and
  domestic purposes, navigation, power generation
  and irrigation
• Structures/diversions not to affect levels and
  flows on the other side
• Must not pollute water on either side to the
  injury of health or property on the other side

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The Commissions Roles

• Investigative/advisory conducts studies and
  reports to governments on questions referred to
  it
• Quasi-judicial approves and sets conditions for
  the operation of projects in boundary waters that
  affect levels and flows on other side of boundary
• Arbitration binding arbitration on issues
  referred by governments (never been used)

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The Commissions Structure

• 6 members (3 from Canada, 3 from United States)
• A creation of the Treaty, but not a creature of
  governments --- a permanent, binational,
  independent, unitary body
• Supported by binational boards, task forces,
  study teams and staff in three offices

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Great Lakes Experience

• Water Quality
• GLWQA Advisory Boards/Council
• References
• Water Quantity
• Orders of Approval - Control Boards
• References

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Chippawa-Grass Island Pool
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St. Marys River at Sault Ste. Marie(Looking East
or Downstream)
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Sugar Island
Edison Sault Electric Company
Great Lakes Power Limited
Canadian Lock
Fishery Remedial Works
US Government Power Plant
Compensating Works
Soo Locks
St. Marys River Flow
Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
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Vulnerabilities to Climate Change

• From our experience with three International
  Boards of Control (Lake Superior, Niagara and St.
  Lawrence Rivers) and four Advisory Boards under
  the GLWQA (Water Quality,Science Advisory,
  Research Managers, Air Quality)
• Possible precipitation increases increased
  evaporation reduced runoff and declines in lake
  levels decreased lake ice extent (some years
  without ice cover)

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By 2090 global warming may force levels below
natural variability.
Lake level variability
1.7 m range 1900- 2000
-1.38 m
Source NOAA - Great Lakes Environmental Research
Laboratory (National Geographic 2002)
2090 mean
Is lake-level sensitivity to future
higher-amplitude climate change similar to
presently known variability?
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Great Lakes Basin

• Agriculture
• Expansion northward
• Increasing water consumption
• Wetlands
• Change in net area
• Alien invasive species
• Potential for increase
• Fish
• Changes in habitat, temperature and dissolved
  oxygen
• Shift towards warm water species in assemblage
• Potential for greater productivity in upper Great
  Lakes

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Great Lakes Basin

• Domestic water use
• Infrastructure location
• Taste and quality issues
• Commercial navigation
• - Profitability and competitiveness
• - Longer season
• Seaway
• - Channel and locks infrastructure
• Regional economy
• - Impacted by higher bulk
• transport rates
• Human health
• - Water quality
• - Waterborne pathogen increase

? Hydro-electricity - Decreased
flow, efficiency and power
production ? Recreational boating -
Access to marinas - Decreased boater
habitat ? Municipal/industrial
wastewater - Lower dilution
rates in receiving waters
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What is IJC Doing?

• Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Orders Review
• Upper Great Lakes Study Board
• GLWQA
• Great Lakes Water Quality and Science
  Advisory Boards and Council of Great Lakes
  Research Managers groundwater quantity and
  quality water quality
• Air Quality watching brief
• Health Professionals Task Force human health

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