Steady lake levels have hurt coastal wetlands, which rely on variable water levels to maintain species diversity, says Jim Howe. The new plan calls for some variability, which would help the wetlands and let beaches and dunes rebuild.
ENVIRONMENT | BY JEREMY MOULE
ENVIRONMENT | by jeremy moule
Meetings set on lake levels
Rochester to ban fracking?
Balance is key when it comes to artificially raising and lowering Lake Ontario’s water levels. For 50 years, the levels have been managed to favor shipping, hydropower, and lakeside property, while ignoring environmental concerns. That would change under a new plan proposed by the International Joint Commission, which was formed via treaty between the US and Canada. The commission sets policies governing the water levels of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence Seaway. The IJC will hold two local informational meetings this week on the proposed plan. The first is at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 6, at Quest Elementary School’s auditorium, 225 West Avenue, Hilton. The second is at 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 7, at Williamson High School’s auditorium, 5891 Route 21. The current plan keeps Lake Ontario’s water levels relatively steady, though the lake naturally fluctuates. That stability has hurt coastal wetlands, which rely on variable water levels to maintain species diversity, says Jim Howe, executive director of the Nature Conservancy in Central and Western New York. The new plan calls for some variability, which would help the
wetlands and let beaches and dunes rebuild, he says. “I think the plan is, overall, a much more balanced plan than is already in place,” Howe says. The Nature Conservancy is Jim Howe. FILE PHOTO one of several prominent environmental groups backing the plan. But there is opposition from a group of lakeside property owners and some elected officials. Dan Barletta, who is active with the Lake Ontario Riparian Alliance, says the plan would cost private and public property owners money. Barletta lives along the lake in Greece and says that erosion-preventing break walls along the lakeshore are designed with existing water levels in mind. The new plan’s upper-level target would leave homeowners susceptible to wave damage, he says. This week’s public meetings are the beginning of a long process. Any new plan would need the approval of the US and Canadian governments before taking effect.
During its June meeting, the Rochester Planning Commission will discuss a oneyear moratorium on hydraulic fracturing in the city. | City Council member Loretta Scott is sponsoring the proposal, which has been referred to the Planning Commission for review. | Rochester sits on top of the Utica shale formation, which is thought to contain large natural gas reservoirs. But it’s not likely that drilling companies would target the city. Rather, the moratorium would be a way for city officials to show they are concerned about fracking. A moratorium would, however, allow the city to prepare should drilling interest develop, Scott says. | The moratorium would apply to city permits and approvals that would be necessary for drilling. And Scott says she also wants it to cover supporting industries, such as manufacturing or storage of fracking fluids. Those operations could locate in the city’s industrial zones. | The Planning Commission meets at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, June 11, at City Hall, 30 Church Street. The commission will make a recommendation to City Council, which should vote on the moratorium at its June 19 meeting.
Cost of War AFGHANISTAN TOTALS —
1,998 US servicemen and servicewomen and 1,032 Coalition servicemen and servicewomen have been killed in Afghanistan from the beginning of the war and occupation to June 4. Statistics for Afghan civilian casualties are not available. American casualties from May 21 to 27: -- 2nd Lt. Travis A. Morgado, 25, San Jose, Calif. -- Petty Officer 1st Class Ryan J. Wilson, 26, Shasta, Calif. -- Pfc. Cale C. Miller, 23, Overland Park, Kan. -- Cpl. Keaton G. Coffey, 22, Boring, Ore. -- Hospitalman Eric D. Warren, Shawnee, Okla. -- Spc. Vilmar Galarza Hernandez, 21, Salinas, Calif. -- Spc. Tofiga J. Tautolo, 23, Wilmington, Calif. -- Capt. John R. Brainard, 26, Dover-Foxcroft, Maine -- Chief Warrant Officer Five John C. Pratt, 51, Springfield, Va. -- Sgt. Julian C. Chase, 22, Edgewater, Md. -- Lance Cpl. Steven G. Sutton, 24, Leesburg, Ga. -- Cpl. Nicholas H. Olivas, 20, Fairfield, Ohio -- Petty Officer 2nd Class Sean E. Brazas, Greensboro, N.C. iraqbodycount.org, icasualties.org, Department of Defense SOURCES:
rochestercitynewspaper.com
City