Ongoing wet conditions throughout the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence River basin have resulted in record-high or near record-high water levels in each of the Great Lakes over the past couple of years. These high water level conditions have caused tremendous challenges (which are still ongoing in certain areas) for people living and working along the Great Lakes – St. Lawrence River shoreline including direct damages to their homes and valued property.
As part of the GLAM Committee’s long-term requirement to review the outflow regulation plans for Lake Superior and Lake Ontario, it is important for the committee to document water level impacts to various stakeholders throughout the system. Information on water level impacts can be used to improve predictive models needed in the adaptive management effort and to inform International Lake Superior Board of Control and the International Lake Ontario – St. Lawrence River Board.
While impact information can be gathered and assessed in various ways, the GLAM Committee benefits greatly from direct stakeholder feedback and insight. The GLAM Committee is using various questionnaires as a way to gather stakeholder input in a structured way.