18 SEPTEMBER 2002, BURLINGTON, ONTARIO

The meeting was called to order at 0910 hrs.

The meeting was chaired by Mr. Jacques Lorquet, Chairman of the Canadian Section of the Board.

Attendance at the meeting was as follows:

The Chairman provided opening remarks. The Alternate Co-Chairman for the United States Section passed along the United States Co-Chairman’s regrets for not being able to attend the meeting due to other pressing business. The Board welcomed Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Hall as the new Regulation Representative for the United States Section. LTC Hall succeeds LTC Glen DeWillie whom the Board thanked and wished well in his future endeavours.

The Agenda was reviewed and revised. The final Agenda is attached.

This was a carry over item from previous meetings where time constraints did not allow for the review of the minutes. The draft minutes of the 19-20 March 2002 were reviewed and approved with minor revisions. The 9 April 2002 minutes were approved without change. The Secretaries would prepare and issue the final minutes.

The Board concluded that, in order to meet the requirements of the IJC’s directive regarding the posting of Board minutes on the web, it was necessary to expedite the Board’s approval of the minutes. The Board decided that, henceforth, minutes would be reviewed and approved through an e-mail process. Draft minutes would be issued within one week of the meeting and Board members and associates would have one week to comment. A second draft would be issued within a few days and there would be a final one-week period to comment.

The Regulation Representatives presented the current hydrologic conditions in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin. In summary, the levels of all of the Great Lakes were below average but above the levels of mid-September last year. The levels in Lac St. Louis and Montreal Harbour were well below average but, again, above those of last year. Precipitation in the Great Lakes Basin had been above average this year until mid June when it fell below average throughout the basin. The Lake Erie and Lake Ontario basins have been very dry since mid-July. On 15 September, the Lake Ontario level was at 74.64 m (244.88 ft), 10 cm (4 in) below long term average and 3 cm (1 in) higher than a year ago. As a net result of the Board’s previous outflow strategies, the level of Lake Ontario on 15 September 2002 was 0.40 cm (0.1 in) below the level that would have obtained if the outflows from Lake Ontario had followed the computed Plan outflows.

If supplies over the next 6 months were average, Lake Ontario’s level would remain slightly below the average while Lac St. Louis and Montreal Harbour levels would remain well below average. Under continued very dry conditions, Lake Ontario would fall well below average and, by November, could approach the low limit specified in the IJC Orders of Approval. With these dry conditions, Lac St. Louis would drop below the minimum depth required for Seaway navigation and Montreal Harbour would remain well below chart datum throughout the fall and early winter. Under very wet conditions, Lake Ontario, Lac St. Louis and Montreal Harbour would rise above average in September.

The Board reviewed these conditions as well as other relevant information related to the situation of the various interests in the system. In particular, the Board discussed the recurring issue of the definition of the critical needs of navigation and power generation. The Board decided that conditions warranted the application of its limited discretionary authority to deviate from the computed Plan outflows, in order to assist the downstream interests affected by the current dry conditions if this could be done without causing appreciable harm to other interests. The Board decided on the following Lake Ontario outflow regulation strategy:

Outflows would be in accordance with Plan 1958-D except that a maximum weekly over-discharge of 300 m³/s (10 600 cfs) and no more than 600 m³/s/day (21 200 cfs/day) above plan would be released as required for the following purposes:

• Ensure Montreal Harbour is at least chart datum when required by deep draft ship arrivals and departures.
• Maintain at least 20.6 m (67.58 feet) on Lac St. Louis.

• Ensure outflow increases to meet critical hydropower needs.

The total maximum allowable outflow increases for the above purposes shall be the equivalent of 8 cm (3 in) of water off Lake Ontario relative to Plan 1958-D. The strategy also allows for less than Plan 1958-D specified outflows if downstream conditions are favourable to do so. The strategy will be reviewed should accumulated over-discharges reach the equivalent of 5 cm (2 in) below Plan level, but in any event no later than early December.

The Board will continue to closely monitor conditions in the Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River System and intervene as required.

The Board decided to further discuss the critical needs of the hydropower and navigation interests at its next meeting. The purpose would be to help the Board establish regulation strategies that are appropriate to current circumstances.

Two members of the St. Lawrence River Board of Control are also full members of the IJC’s Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Study Board. These members provide the Control Board with regular updates on the progress of the Study. A brief update was provided at this meeting.

The Board reviewed and agreed with the process and protocols for the joint public meeting that were recommended by the Communications Committee.

Comments by members and associates had been incorporated and coordinated prior to the meeting. The Board reviewed key revisions proposed subsequent to the circulation of the current draft. The Secretaries will finalize the report and submit it to the IJC by the 20 September deadline requested by the IJC.

It was agreed that the St. Lawrence River Board of Control would join with the other two Great Lakes Boards of Control in a coordinated response to the IJC’s request for an update on security matters discussed with the boards six months ago. The Board’s response would be provided at the Semi-Annual Meeting in October. The response will address any additional comments the Boards may have concerning the responses of the operating agencies to security concerns as well as the Boards’ own contingency plans.

The Board received a briefing on the results of studies carried out by Ontario Power Generation (OPG) on the effect of the operation of Iroquois Dam on the levels of the upper St. Lawrence River. The study was undertaken in response to user group requests, notably the International Water Levels Coalition, to use Iroquois Dam to raise water levels on the upper St. Lawrence River. Earlier studies by the power entities concluded that dipping the gates of the dam had no effect on levels on the river upstream of the dam and on Lake Ontario but caused significant head losses below the dam. The current study employed temporary water level gauges to gather data to compare to the earlier findings. The results indicated that there was no lasting effect from use of Iroquois Dam if the flow and Lake Ontario level remain the same. It showed that the level of the river upstream of the dam is dependent on the flow and the level of Lake Ontario at Kingston. Therefore, it was confirmed that Iroquois Dam is not effective in raising water levels on the upper river. OPG offered to submit a report to the Board, for the Board’s use in addressing the public concerns raised.

2. Interim Turbine Rating Tables

This item was deferred to the next meeting when there will be a short briefing on turbine ratings at the Saunders/FDR structure.

3. Summer 2002 Hydropower Demand

Ontario Power Generation (OPG) and the New York Power Authority (NYPA) provided a summary of the hydropower demand over the summer. The extra demand this summer was the result of 24 days of 30 degree Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) or greater temperatures. A "level of alert" was declared on 23 of those days and on 9 occasions "energy emergencies" led to requests for over discharges above the outflow specified by the Regulation Plan. The Board was advised that further information on power demand can be found on the electrical market regulators’ web sites at:

<http:/www.theimo.com/imoweb/marketdata/marketToday.asp> for OPG and <http:/www.nyiso.com/> for NYPA.

4. Status of USACE Great Lakes Navigation System Review

The Board was informed that the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Reconnaissance Report was submitted to its Headquarters for review. If approved, the next step would be a full feasibility study of the options. The Canadian Government has been approached to participate in the studies and is currently considering its position.

5. Proposals to Facilitate Rapid Response to Changing Conditions

To facilitate the Board’s response to changing conditions, it was decided to schedule monthly Board teleconferences, using them when conditions or trends indicate. The Secretaries will develop a schedule for consideration at the next meeting. These conference calls will be in addition to the conference calls that take place from time to time under the Board’s standard operating procedure.

6. Power Entities Annual Peaking and Ponding Report

The Power Entities submitted to the Board their report entitled Report to the International St. Lawrence River Board of Control on Peaking and Ponding Operation for the Reporting Period of 2001.

7. Regulation Representatives’ Monthly Letter

The Board asked the Regulation Representatives to provide additional data in the monthly letter concerning projected supplies above or below those of the past. This is used to help define an approaching Criterion k situation.

The next meeting of the Board was scheduled for 9 October 2002 in Ottawa, Ontario.

The Board was scheduled to appear before the IJC on 8 October 2002 at 1100 hrs.

The Spring meeting of the Board was tentatively scheduled for 5-6 March 2003 in Chicago, Illinois.

The meeting adjourned at 1600 hrs.