UPCOMING GATE CHANGES AND TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF GATE #1

Date

21 August 2018

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

UPCOMING GATE CHANGES AND TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF GATE #1

The International Lake Superior Board of Control, under authority granted to it by the International Joint Commission (IJC), advises that the gate setting at the head of the St. Marys Rapids will be adjusted this week. Anglers and other users of the St. Marys Rapids need to be cautious of the changing flows and water levels that will be experienced in the rapids.

The construction project to automate Gates #11-14 has been completed. On Wednesday, 22 August, Gates #9 through #16 will be temporarily closed to allow the construction equipment to be removed.  

Furthermore, inspections of some of the gates will be completed on Thursday, 23 August, requiring temporary closures of the gates. Gates #7 through #9 will be temporarily closed on Thursday, 23 August to facilitate an underwater inspection of Gate #8. After the inspection of Gate #8 is completed, Gates #7 through #9 will be partially opened 91 cm each. Gates #1 through #3 will then be temporarily closed to facilitate underwater inspections of Gates #1 and #2.  After the inspections are completed, Gates #2 and #3 will be partially opened 91 cm each and Gate #1 will return to its typical setting of 20 cm open.

Gate #1 typically supplies a flow of about 15 m3/s to the channel north of the Fishery Remedial Dike. The temporary closure of Gate #1 on Thursday, 23 August, has been approved by Canadian and U.S. federal, state and provincial agencies and by the Batchewana First Nation. Measures have been put in place to mitigate the effects on aquatic life.

Mr. Jean-François Cantin is the Board Member for Canada.  Major General Mark Toy is the U.S. Board Member.  

For further information, please contact Mr. Rob Caldwell, Canadian Secretary, International Lake Superior Board of Control, by phone at (613) 938-5864 or by e-mail at Rob.Caldwell@canada.ca.

Additional information can also be found at the Board’s homepage at http://ijc.org/en_/ilsbc or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/InternationalLakeSuperiorBoardOfControl