St. Lawrence River braces for largest dam-water release ever

Ward’s Island resident Alison Gzowski on at Ward’s Island Beach where sand used to span out beyond beyond the lifeguard stand. The Toronto island has been plagued with flooding in areas as heavy rains have cause Lake Ontario levels to rise. The city has closed access to much of the island including Centre Island. (Deborah Baic/The Globe and Mail/Globe and Mail Update)

As part of an emergency measure to begin Wednesday, more water from Lake Ontario will flow into the St. Lawrence River than ever before, as officials put into effect a flood-reducing strategy expected to delay shipping schedules and keep captains and others affected by high water levels on anxious watch.

At a meeting Monday, the International Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Board agreed to increase the flow rate over the Moses-Saunders Power Dam near Cornwall, Ont. – from 10,200 to 10,400 cubic metres a second. That’s the equivalent of four Olympic-sized swimming pools draining into the river every second. Though Lake Ontario levels seem to be receding, the emergency measure will be in effect for at least a 72-hour trial period. Officials will determine whether the river, and the ships that navigate it, can handle the swelling current […]

Full article: St. Lawrence River braces for largest dam-water release ever