Anglers cautioned of high flows in St. Marys Rapids

NEWS RELEASE INTERNATIONAL LAKE SUPERIOR BOARD OF CONTROL ************************* The International Lake Superior Board of Control, under authority granted to it by the International Joint Commission, expects to increase the Lake Superior outflow f

NEWS RELEASE

INTERNATIONAL LAKE SUPERIOR

BOARD OF CONTROL

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The International Lake Superior Board of Control, under authority granted to it by the International Joint Commission, expects to increase the Lake Superior outflow for the month of May.

The increased outflow is expected to exceed the capacities of the hydropower plants on the St. Marys River in May, and therefore the excess will be released through the control structure at the head of the St. Marys Rapids.

As a result, beginning on Monday, May 5, it is anticipated that the gate opening in the control structure at the head of the St. Marys Rapids will be changed from the present setting equivalent to half gate open to four (4) gates fully open.

Anglers need to be cautious of the changing flows and water levels in the rapids on May 5 and the unusually high flows and levels that will be experienced in the rapids during May.

These gate movements will primarily affect water conditions in the main rapids, but with four gates fully open in the control structure, water may overtop the Fishery Remedial Dike along the north side of the rapids, and may create a hazard.

There will be no change to the setting of Gate #1 which supplies water to the channel north of the Fishery Remedial Dike.

The Board will reassess conditions on Friday, May 2nd, before setting the final Lake Superior outflow for the month of May and establishing the required gate setting, and this information will be provided at that time.

The Board also continues to monitor conditions both on Lake Superior and downstream, and will advise the International Joint Commission accordingly on those conditions.

Mr. Jaymie Gadal is the Board Member for Canada. BG Margaret Burcham is the United States Board Member.

For further information please contact Mr. Jacob Bruxer, Canadian Regulation Representative, International Lake Superior Board of Control, by phone at (613) 938-5862 or by e-mail at [email protected]

Additional information can be found at the Board’s homepage

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