Ridal joins four other local scientists including Henry Lickers, environmental science officer with the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne. Matthew Thompson, environmental resource co-ordinator from the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe and Clarkson University biologist Dr. Michael R. Twiss.
“I am looking forward to having this unique opportunity to work with dedicated scientists for the benefit of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River in this new role,” said Ridal.
The International Joint Commission (IJC) invites you to participate in a teleconference briefing on Thursday, June 13 regarding public hearings on a proposal for regulating the water levels and flows of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. IJC staff will make a presentation and be available to answer questions.
When: June 13, 2013, at 2:00 pm
How to participate:
Teleconference number: 1-877-413-4781
Participant code: 736 879 4
Webinar login information:
1. Go to https://pwgsc-nh.webex.com/pwgsc-nh/j.php?ED=207417192&UID=0&PW=NYWJkNGQxMGRk&RT=MiMxMQ%3D%3D
2. Enter your name and email address.
3. Enter the meeting password: IJC
4. Click “Join Now”.
To update this meeting to your calendar program (for example Microsoft Outlook), click here.
WebEx will automatically setup Meeting Manager for Windows the first time you join a meeting. To save time, you can setup prior to the meeting by clicking here.
Contacts:
Frank Bevacqua, Public Affairs Adviser, Washington D.C. – 202-736-9024, bevacquaf@washington.ijc.org
Bernard Beckhoff, Public Affairs Adviser, Ottawa ON – 613-947-1420, beckhoffb@ottawa.ijc.org
Excerpt from Senator Bob Runciman address talking about the status quo to maintain water levels and IJC recommendations. Is IJC kowtowing to interest of wealthy New Yorkers? Is status quo working? Link to full address included: “…They [INTERNATIONAL JOINT COMMISSION – IJC] came up with what is known as Plan BV7, a plan that respects the natural flows of the river, that satisfied, for the most part, boaters, tourism operators, residents and, in particular, environmentalists. A plan that would extend the tourism season in the Thousand Islands and wouldn’t drain the wetlands along the river’s banks. A plan that is much more environmentally sound than the 50-year-old approach now in use. Plan BV7 would not solve everyone’s problems, but it would balance their interests. Everyone would have enough water, most of the time. We’re not likely to do better. In 2011, we were told by the International Joint Commission that the new plan would be in place by the end of 2012 or early 2013. Last spring, they held public consultations, with the promise that public hearings – the final step before implementation – would follow last fall. Finally, after decades of delays, it seemed that change for the better was coming. But nothing has happened and a cloak of secrecy has descended over the entire process. What happened is anyone’s guess. But I suspect the IJC has decided to side with a few wealthy property owners who built on the floodplain in the Rochester area of New York state and believe the proposed plan could result in flooding of their property. Thousand Islanders fear that a few powerful interests could scuttle the good work and millions of dollars spent to develop a plan that the overwhelming majority of people support. Meanwhile, the optimism, the hope that finally the IJC was listening to the people is quickly fading. Today, I call on the International Joint Commission to move forward and fulfill the commitment it has made. http://www.bobrunciman.com/index.cfm?ID=111&ViewItem=Yes&IDln=137&ShowText=No
Blurb on legislation to balance shoreline resident interests with tourist operators and shipping: Canadian Sen. Robert W. Runciman is urging the International Joint Commission to “quit stalling” and adopt the proposed Plan Bv7 water management plan. In a news release, Mr. Runciman said the current approach cuts short the boating season by almost a third and threatens wetlands in the Thousand Islands. The senator said Plan Bv7 is the best approach he’s seen to balance the interests of shoreline residents along Lake Ontario, tourist operators on the upper St. Lawrence River, Seaway shipping companies, the Montreal harbor and the environmental movement. http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20130306/NEWS03/703069888
Lake Levels 