Heavy rains and flooding throughout the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River region have authorities considering shutting down the seaway for shipping until water levels recede.
The St. Lawrence River has been at record highs due to heavy rainfall, prompting authorities to consider shutting down shipping on the St. Lawrence Seaway.
According to Rob Caldwell, Canadian regulation representative of the International Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Board, the Moses-Saunders Power Dam, a dam on the St. Lawrence River that straddles the U.S.-Canada border between Massena, N.Y., and Cornwall, Ontario, needs to release more water, as it is currently overflowing at 10,200 cubic meters per second.
Although a rare occurrence, the board does have precedence for shutting down the seaway. In 1993, the seaway was closed for a few days a week for a seven-week period.
Currently, the water flow in the St. Lawrence Seaway is at maximum volume, with more rain forecasted for Lake Ontario, which is expected to contribute another centimeter to water levels.
However, the board’s water experts will have to determine how much more water that a downstream Hydro Quebec dam can handle before deciding whether to open the taps and release more water at Cornwall.
Max water levels might shut down St. Lawrence Seaway
