News Releases

[International Falls, MN, and Fort Frances (Ontario)] The International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Board (IRLWWB) Water Levels Committee (WLC) will host a follow-up virtual information session on Thursday, April 18, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. CDT. This session will be an update to the February 29...

The gate setting of the Compensating Works at the head of the St. Marys Rapids will be maintained in April at a setting equivalent to approximately one-half gate fully open (Gates #7 through #10 open 20 cm (7.9 in)) and Gate #1 at its typical setting of 20 cm (7.9 in) open. St. Marys Rapids flow...

International Falls (MN) / Fort Frances (Ontario) The International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Board (IRLWWB) ’s Water Levels Committee (WLC) established an initial spring regulation plan for Rainy and Namakan Lakes on March 10, 2024. This plan is issued in accordance with a Temporary...

The gate setting of the Compensating Works at the head of the St. Marys Rapids will be maintained in March at a setting equivalent to approximately one-half gate fully open (Gates #7 through #10 open 20 cm (7.9 in)) and Gate #1 at its typical setting of 20 cm (7.9 in) open. St. Marys Rapids flow...

The International St. Croix River Watershed Board invites you to attend a virtual public meeting with the Board on March 6th at 6 pm EST (7 pm AST). The meeting is an opportunity to learn about the Board and to ask questions or raise concerns about water resource issues in the St. Croix River...

The gate setting of the Compensating Works at the head of the St. Marys Rapids will be maintained in February at a setting equivalent to approximately one-half gate fully open (Gates #7 through #10 open 20 cm (7.9 in)) and Gate #1 at its typical setting of 20 cm (7.9 in) open. St. Marys Rapids flow...

Fargo, ND.—The International Red River Watershed Board (IRRWB) will be hosting an in-person public open house meeting during the Red River Basin Commission Annual Conference on Thursday, January 18, 2024 from 11:20 am to 12:05 pm CST. The IRRWB assists the International Joint Commission (IJC) in...

The gate setting of the Compensating Works at the head of the St. Marys Rapids will be maintained in January at a setting equivalent to approximately one-half gate fully open (Gates #7 through #10 open 20 cm (7.9 in)) and Gate #1 at its typical setting of 20 cm (7.9 in) open. St. Marys Rapids flow...

The International Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Board is providing this notice to summarize the water level conditions as winter approaches. As a reminder, Plan 2014 is a set of rules that govern Lake Ontario outflows through the Moses-Saunders Dam located between Massena, New York and Cornwall...

The gate setting of the Compensating Works at the head of the St. Marys Rapids will be lowered in December to a setting equivalent to approximately one-half gate fully open. After the gate adjustments on Wednesday, December 6, the St. Marys Rapids flow will be approximately 96 m3/s.

The International Lake Superior Board of Control will host a virtual meeting to give an update on operations on the St. Marys Rapids and Regulation Plan 2012. The meeting will be Tuesday, December 12, from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm.

As of November 1, 2023, the Rule Curve for maximum and minimum Osoyoos Lake levels has changed for the winter period, allowing lake levels to be maintained between 909.0 feet and 911.5 feet until March 1, 2024 (Figure 1). Figure 1: 2023 Osoyoos Lake Levels (bright green) and allowable range under...

On September 1, 2023, the International Joint Commission (IJC) Rule Curve for Kootenay Lake level switched to using the Queens Bay gauge at elevation 1745.32 feet for compliance measurements. The Rule Curve lowers prior to September 1 to allow farmers in the Kootenai Flats region to work their...

The gate setting of the Compensating Works at the head of the St. Marys Rapids will be lowered in November to a setting equivalent to approximately one gate fully open. After the gate adjustments on Monday, November 6 (U.S. gates) and Tuesday, November 7 (Canadian gates), the St. Marys Rapids flow...

The International Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Board is providing this notice to summarize the water level conditions from September 2023 through the remainder of Autumn.

The International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Board (IRLWWB) Water Levels Committee (WLC) released its 2022 Post-Flood Report: A Report on High Water Levels in the Rainy River Basin.

The Great Lakes -St. Lawrence River Adaptive Management Committee (GLAM Comittee) released earlier this year a water level impacts questionnaire for 2022 and 2023 to seek input from residents along the Great Lakes and the St. Lawerence River who have been impacted by high or low water levels in 2022...

The gate setting of the Compensating Works at the head of the St. Marys Rapids will be lowered in October to approximately four gates fully open. After the gate adjustments on Friday, October 6 (American gates), and Tuesday, October 10 (Canadian gates), the St. Marys Rapids flow will be...

The International Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Board has been using its authority to deviate from Plan 2014 since September 2nd to provide higher and more predictable water levels on Lake St. Lawrence and the upper St. Lawrence River. Dry weather conditions have caused water levels on Lake...

Anglers and other users of the St. Marys Rapids, please be advised that testing of Gate #5 of the Compensating Works will be conducted on Tuesday, September 19. Gate #5 is located on the Canadian side of the structure, as highlighted in the figure. There will be a temporary increase in St. Marys...

The International Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Board will use its authority to deviate from Plan 2014 from September 2nd through October 9 to provide higher and more predictable water levels on Lake St. Lawrence and the upper St. Lawrence River.

The gate setting of the Compensating Works at the head of the St. Marys Rapids will be maintained at the current setting in September, which is equivalent to approximately five gates fully open. The St. Marys Rapids flow is approximately 773 m3/s. At this flow, some low-lying areas of Whitefish...

The International Lake Ontario–St. Lawrence River Board and International Niagara Board of Control will host two virtual public meetings, one in English and one in French, to share the most up to date forecast for the Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence River basin and discuss ice boom installation for...

The gate setting of the Compensating Works at the head of the St. Marys Rapids will be maintained at the current setting in August, which is equivalent to approximately five gates fully open. The St. Marys Rapids flow is approximately 784 m3/s. At this flow, some low-lying areas of Whitefish Island...

On Wednesday, the flow through the St. Marys Rapids will decrease from approximately 1,200 m3/s (42,380 cfs) to 780 m3/s (27,500 cfs). The gate setting will be equivalent to approximately five gates fully open. At this flow, some low-lying areas of Whitefish Island including recreational trails may...

The International Joint Commission (IJC) released its 2022 Activities Report outlining the projects and accomplishments of the IJC and its boards over the past year. Over the course of the year, IJC staff and boards continued to meaningfully engage with communities, applying local perspectives to...

The St. Marys Rapids flow will remain at approximately 1,200 m3/s for the month of July. Low-lying areas of Whitefish Island including recreational trails are currently flooded and portions of the Island have been closed by Batchewana First Nation. Users are encouraged to use extreme caution.

Anglers and other users of the St. Marys Rapids, please be advised that the gate setting of the Compensating Works at the head of the St. Marys Rapids will be maintained at the current setting equivalent to approximately eight gates fully open. Low-lying areas of Whitefish Island including...

The United States Army Corps of Engineers will be performing an inspection on the gates of the Compensating Works at the head of the St. Marys Rapids on Tuesday, May 23, 2023.

Lake Ontario water levels are approaching the seasonal peak. Outflow into the St. Lawrence River is gradually increasing, as Ottawa River flows gradually decrease.

The spring freshet in the Okanagan/Okanogan and Similkameen basins has commenced as snowpacks have begun to melt due to above normal temperatures in the last week. The snow pillow gauge at Mission Creek (elevation 1,780 meters or 5,840 feet) in the Okanagan basin was above normal for this time of...

Higher than normal stream flow conditions have developed in the headwaters of the Rainy River watershed, including flows into Namakan Lake and Rainy Lake, following snowmelt and precipitation in late April. These high flow conditions have led to the water levels of Namakan Lake rising above its...

A wet weather system has remained over the Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River basin for several days. The persistent rain and runoff from the system continues to cause water levels in Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River to rise.

Anglers and other users of the St. Marys Rapids, please be advised that the gate setting of the Compensating Works at the head of the St. Marys Rapids will be increased on Monday May 8, 2023, from the current setting equivalent to approximately five gates fully open to a setting equivalent to...

The International Kootenay Lake Board of Control, after consultation with FortisBC on Corra Linn Dam operations, has determined that “the commencement of the spring rise” for purposes defined in the 1938 International Joint Commission Order on Kootenay Lake occurred at 00:00 PDT on April 30, 2023...

Heavy rain in recent days across the Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River basin has led to rapid increases in Ottawa River flows and rising Lake Ontario water levels. Continued wet weather and runoff from the recent rains may result in flooding of vulnerable areas along the Lake Ontario shoreline as well...

The  International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Board (IRLWWB)’s Water Levels Committee (WLC) met to review current conditions and forecasts and determine new lake level targets for the remaining spring freshet. The target water levels for Rainy and Namakan Lake will be within the 25-75% band...

Anglers and other users of the St. Marys Rapids, please be advised that the gates of the Compensating Works at the head of the St. Marys Rapids will be adjusted on Monday April 24, 2023. Gates #6 through #16 will each be raised to a setting of 94 cm (37 in.), which is equivalent to approximately...

The  International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Board (IRLWWB)’s Water Levels Committee (WLC) met to review current conditions and forecasts and determine lake level targets for the period of April 15-30 following the Public Information Session on April 11th. The target water levels throughout...

Anglers and other users of the St. Marys Rapids, please be advised that a higher than customary gate setting continues to be maintained to minimize the impacts of ongoing maintenance at Evolugen’s Clergue hydropower facility in Canada.

The International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Board (IRLWWB)’s Water Levels Committee (WLC) met to review current conditions and forecasts and determine lake level targets for April 15 th. Personnel from the National Weather Service-Duluth Office, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and...

Anglers and other users of the St. Marys Rapids, please be advised that a higher than customary gate setting continues to be maintained to minimize the impacts of ongoing maintenance at Evolugen’s Clergue hydropower facility in Canada. The International Lake Superior Board of Control (Board) expects...

The International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Board (IRLWWB) Water Levels Committee (Committee) will host an in-person information session on Tuesday, March 7 at 6:00 p.m. CST at the Minnesota North College - Rainy River . This information session will provide an overview of the Water Levels...

The International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Board (IRLWWB) Water Levels Committee (Committee) will host a virtual pre-spring information session on Monday, February 27, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. CST. The Committee ensures that International Joint Commission orders for the operation of the dams on...

The International Joint Commission (IJC)’s Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Adaptive Management (GLAM) Committee has begun work on the second phase of an expedited review of the binational regulation plan for Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River, known formally as Plan 2014 (Plan). This is the plan...

The International Lake Ontario – St. Lawrence River Board (Board) is seeking your input. The Board would like to collect information specifically related to the reduced outflows from Lake Ontario October 7 through October 10, 2022 to support boat haul out and learn more about where people access the...

Anglers and other users of the St. Marys Rapids, please be advised that a higher than customary gate setting will be maintained this winter to minimize the impacts of ongoing maintenance at Evolugen’s Clergue hydropower facility in Canada. The gates of the Compensating Works at the head of the St...

Climatological conditions within the Okanagan/Okanogan and Similkameen River basins varied during 2022, with the greatest impacts related to a cool spring leading to delayed snowmelt and a delayed freshest peak at Osoyoos Lake. While near-normal temperatures prevailed at the start of 2022...

Higher than customary gate setting will be maintained this winter to minimize the impacts of ongoing maintenance at the Canadian hydropower facility. The gates of the Compensating Works at the head of the St. Marys Rapids will be maintained at an equivalent of two gates fully open (Gates #6 through...

The IJC issued a Temporary Order of Approval on December 20, 2022, to allow for installation of 21 of the 22 sections of the Niagara River ice boom. NYPA installed 21 spans of the ice boom this ice season leaving out the last span of the ice boom located nearest to the Canadian shore. The...