Cornwall Tourist Board

Dropping levels raise concern

Eastern Ontario tourism operators, shoreline businesses and recreational boaters are watching water levels drop on the St. Lawrence River with trepidation.

Levels on Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River are down about 30 centimetres from the high-water mark experienced in June, when concerns were being raised about soil erosion and docks being submerged after heavy spring rains and extensive snow melt from the winter.

Now, though the amount of water flowing through the Robert Moses Saunders Power Dam in Cornwall has been reduced, the alarm is being raised over fears that a further drop in water levels appears inevitable.

"We always expect a bit of a drop, but our hope is it doesn't get as bad as last year," said Mark Janus, co-owner of Caiger's Resort on the 1000 Islands Parkway near Rockport.

In 2010, after a dry spring and little winter runoff, water levels were so low that even experienced boaters were running aground on unknown shoals that were previously unexposed.

Janus said the situation hasn't reached that point, but a continuing drawdown of water could spell an early end to the lucrative fall tourist season.

"We struggled last year with low water levels, but we have enough water right now," Janus said. "I am starting to get concerned because the water is going down."

A key element of the resort's business -- three boats for scuba diving charters that require four feet of water to operate -- will be threatened by a continuing decline.

Janus said divers account for 75% of the resort's room rentals.

"We could be looking at a lot more losses than just people coming for lunch."

Figures provided by the International Joint Commission's board of control, which regulates water levels, show levels at a station near Brockville at 74.9 metres, which is just slightly above average but down significantly from 75.023 metres measured in June when the board allowed a maximum outflow of 8,780 cubic metres per second to pour through the dam at Cornwall.

That flow has been reduced twice since July 2 and is now at 8,080 cubic meters per second.

Tom Hartshorn, president of the International Water Levels Coalition, a group that monitors levels on Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River, said the reduction in flows isn't likely to maintain current water levels on either body of water.

Hartshorn credited the board for taking some action to restrict outflows, but fears it won't be enough to salvage the remainder of the tourist season.

Healey's Cornish Cyder Farm, Penhallow | One Stop Cornwall

Come and see why we are ‘The Nation’s Favourite Farm Visit’ every year for the last 5 years as verified by the English Tourist Board. Visitors are always welcome. Our farm shop offers free tastings of all our products and you can ‘watch us work’.

We are the largest Cornish Cyder maker in Cornwall and the only distillers making Cyder Brandy and Fruit spirits. In fact we have Cornwall’s only distillery – the first in Cornwall for 300 years. We make over forty varieties of delicious fruit products including farm scrumpy, sparkling cyder, country wines, jam, chutneys and spirits.

In 2001, we won the the title of Supreme International Champion Cider at the ICPC International Cider & Perry Competition held in Hereford, beating 114 entries from around the world.

Healey’s cyder is committed to promoting the responsible consumption of alcohol. We operate a strict “Ask 25″ policy throughout our entire on-site facility.

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