The Lake Ontario – St Lawrence River Board has stepped up the outflow from Lake Ontario to more than 367,000 cubic feet per second, up from the more than 360,000 they’ve been sending out for the past two weeks.
This is well above the levels spelled out for this time of year in the controversial Plan 2014, and the board says it’s the most they can do without flooding St. Lawrence River communities or posing a risk to shipping on the St. Lawrence Seaway.
The board says in a statement that it’s testing the new rate for 72 hours to check on the negative effects, mainly stronger currents on the St. Lawrence. They’ve also issued a warning to pleasure boaters on the St. Lawrence.
Despite the increased water releases, the lake has dropped only three-quarters of an inch from its record high of 249 feet in May. The Army Corps of Engineers says it’s currently at 248 and ¾ of an inch.