Review of the Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Studies (2006) / Chapter Skim
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1 Introduction
1 Introduction
Pages 13-29
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From page 13... ...
At the broadest level, the vision of the LOSLR Study1 is, "to contribute to economic, environmental and social sustainability of the Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence River System." The goals of the Study are to identify flow regulation plans and criteria that serve the range of stakeholder interests, are widely accepted, and take into account hydroclimatic conditions in the basin.
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From page 14... ...
Lawrence River basin. The lower Great Lakes shared international waters extend from the lower Niagara River, downstream from Niagara Falls, through Lake Ontario and the upper St.
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Lawrence River Basin Water regulation activities in the LOSLR system date to the mid-20th century. Figure 1-2 describes the water level regulation institutional organization for the Lake Ontario-St.
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From page 16... ...
Lawrence River Control Structures.
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From page 17... ...
As the IJC considers possible attributes of a new water regulation plan, it will use the LOSLR study to provide scientific and practical bases for deliberating among candidate regulation plan options. The IJC has been clear about certain components needed to improve upon 1958D for regulating water levels in the LOSLR basin: sound scientific foundation, public participation, transparency in the development and decision making process of regulation plans, and environmental considerations will be included in the 1958D regulation plan successor.
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From page 18... ...
In the LOSLR Study, empirical and modeling studies were commissioned to form the scientific foundations for water regulation plans. Individual study subjects include wetlands, species at risk, recreational boat ing, fisheries, coastal processes of erosion and flood potential, commercial naviga tion, hydropower, industrial, municipal and domestic water intakes, public informa tion and education, and hydrologic modeling.
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From page 19... ...
Introduction 19 FIGURE 1-6 The Shared Vision Model structure. SOURCE: Werick (2005)
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From page 20... ...
The nine TWGs are in the technical areas of: wetlands, recreational boating, fisheries and the environment, coastal processes including erosion and flood potential, commercial navigation, hydropower, industrial, municipal and domestic water intakes, public information and education, and hydrologic modeling. Results from the TWG studies are conveyed to the Study Board, integrated into the SVM, and used in the formulation and evaluation of regulation plan options.
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From page 21... ...
cerning the statement of task, including documents reviewed can be found in Appendix A) : whether the studies and models employ reasonable scientific methods, assumptions and supported findings; how well the models integrate and display information needed for a comprehensive evaluation and understanding of tradeoffs among regulation plan options; and whether the studies and models are appropriate and sufficient for evaluating candidate regulation plans and the effects of water level changes.
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From page 22... ...
The IJC selected the documents for the committee to evaluate "the Lake Ontario/St. Lawrence River program science, as represented in the reports and model documentation ...
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From page 23... ...
The Approach to Reviewing LOSLR Documents The overall thrust of the NRC/RSC independent review was to determine the "appropriateness and sufficiency" of the wetlands, SAR, IERM, FEPS, and SVM work to inform decisions about regulation plan options. As "appropriateness and sufficiency" are not defined by the IJC or Study Board, the committee developed general evaluation criteria to gauge scientific appropriateness and sufficiency.
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From page 24... ...
CHARGE B: The LOSLR program science...will be reviewed in terms of the degree to which...the models [and studies] sufficiently and appropriately integrate and display the key information needed for a comprehensive evaluation and understanding of the tradeoffs for selecting among the candidate Regulation plans.
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From page 25... ...
Criterion 5: Spatial and Temporal Resolution and Scaling Evaluating candidate regulation plans in a complex system like the LOSLR basin involves data across a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. The resolution of the models and empirical studies, for those cases where empirical study results are used as model inputs, must be managed with care.
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From page 26... ...
evaluate, select, or eliminate regulation plans and (2) estimate impacts of water level fluctuations in the future.
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From page 27... ...
This relationship between the scientific and practical professional aspects of the LOSLR Study is important in determining the overall appropriateness and sufficiency of the LOSLR work to make decisions about regulation plans. Criterion 10: Identification of Future Study Needs The LOSLR basin has a long history of adapting regulation plans to changing conditions.
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From page 28... ...
The report recognizes the difficulty of using science for policy decision making purposes in a large-scale, water resources planning project with complex ecological, economic, and social considerations. The LOSLR Study has sought a comprehensive approach to water resources planning that is strongly encouraged.
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From page 29... ...
Lawrence River Changes in the Institutional Structure and Their Impact on Water Levels, 1950-2001. Report to International Lake Ontario-St.
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