Temporary Adjustment to Gate Setting for Inspection of Railway Piers
Anglers and other users of the St. Marys Rapids are advised that the gate setting of the Compensating Works structure at the head of the Rapids will be adjusted on September 27, 2021. The four middle gates (Gates #7 through #10) will be closed and four gates on the US side of the structure (Gates #11 through #14) will be partially opened to a setting of 20 cm (8 in.).
This temporary adjustment will allow safe diving conditions for underwater inspections of the railway bridge piers located immediately downstream of the Compensating Works structure on the Canadian side of the border. The inspections are scheduled for September 28 and 29, 2021.
There will be no change to the setting of Gate #1, which supplies a flow of about 15 m3/s to the channel north of the Fishery Remedial Dike.
This adjustment in gate setting will have no measurable effect on total outflow. The gates will be reset to the typical setting equivalent to one-half gate open (i.e. Gates #7 through #10 open 20 cm (8 in.) each) on October 4, 2021.
The International Lake Superior Board of Control is responsible for regulating the outflow of Lake Superior and managing the control works on the St. Marys River. Under any regulation plan, the ability to regulate the outflow from Lake Superior does not mean that full control of lake levels is possible. This is because the major factors affecting water supply to the Great Lakes, precipitation, evaporation, and runoff cannot be controlled, and are difficult to accurately predict. Outflow management cannot eliminate the risk of extreme water levels from occurring during periods of severe weather and water supply conditions. Additional information can be found at the Board’s homepage: https://ijc.org/en/lsbc or on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/InternationalLakeSuperiorBoardOfControl