Lake Ontario water levels expected to stay near or just below average into summer

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — While nothing is set in stone, early indications and forecasts from the International Lake Ontario – St. Lawrence River Board, which maintains outflow from Lake Ontario for the International Joint Commission, are that the normal mid-summer high point for Lake Ontario levels will remain slightly below average. That is according to Bryce Carmichael the US Section Secretary for the International Lake Ontario – St. Lawrence River Board.

“Lake Ontario itself this year is forecast to be a bit below average, but not to the extent where we see a drastic need for remediation or mitigation measures. The St Lawrence River, however, is already more below average than the lake is,” said Carmichael.

Lake Ontario is currently a few inches below 246 feet and expected to rise, which is normal through May and June, to just over 246 feet based on current forecasts. Which would leave Lake Ontario a few inches below its normal peak and much lower than the above-average levels seen around this time last year. Of more concern for the summer is levels along the St. Lawrence River near Massena.

“What we’re really looking at right now is really the impacts to the recreational boating community and tourism at large. We understand that under low water conditions, it causes people difficulties in access to Lake Saint Lawrence and the Saint Lawrence River and especially that section on Lake Saint Lawrence, which is just upstream of Moses Saunders Dam near Messina, New York,” said Carmichael.

Longer term where the levels on Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence River end up will be influenced greatly by the amount of rain we see through May and into June. Further considerations will be made by the Lake Ontario – St. Lawrence River Board on how to best manage levels if needed. Primarily though, outside of the already mentioned concerns for the St. Lawrence River, there isn’t much concern that levels on Lake Ontario in the coming months will pose much of an issue barring any short-duration changes that can’t be forecasted this far out.

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