Washington (April 17, 2008) — Tens of millions of people in two countries depend everyday on the St. Lawrence River. The health and vitality of this iconic North American waterway is tarnished due to outdated management plans of the Moses-Saunders Dam that date back to the Eisenhower Administration. Under these policies, the river that supplies drinking water to large sections of the United States and Canada is experiencing degradation undreamed of 50 years ago. It’s no wonder the St. Lawrence River has been named one of America’s Most Endangered Rivers.
 
“The St. Lawrence River has been held hostage by the Moses-Saunders Dam since 1958, or 9 years before the advent of color television” said Rebecca Wodder, President of American Rivers. “It’s time for new ideas that benefit the millions of people who depend on the river.”
 
Constructed in 1958 to harness hydropower and aid commercial navigation on the St. Lawrence River, the Moses-Saunders Dam controls water levels on the river and Lake Ontario. However, the dam was built in a bygone era, where environmental impacts weren’t taken into consideration. 50 years later new ideas and new science shows that the river’s health can be significantly improved, while continuing to serve commercial interests.
 
“The economics surrounding the river extend far beyond just shipping and hydropower,” said Jennifer Caddick, Upper St. Lawrence Riverkeeper and Save The River Executive Director. “Hundreds of millions of dollars are pumped into local economies every year by recreational activities: activities that are slowly being strangled by the Moses-Saunders Dam”
 
Water level management plans for the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario are set by the International Joint Commission (IJC). Both the United States and Canada have equal representation on the 6 member panel. After half a century, the antiquated management plan for the dam is up for revision. Research conducted by more than 180 scientists from  both countries discovered that the current plan, which severely limits natural water level fluctuations, has significantly reduced the diversity of plant species in river wetlands, which in turn has impacted populations of many fish and other wildlife. However, these conditions can be reversed by allowing the river to have a more natural flow. Such a plan is currently before the IJC; it is known as Plan B+.
 
“This should be an easy choice for the IJC, because it isn’t an either or decision,” added Wodder. “Communities up and down the banks of the St. Lawrence can have a healthy, thriving St. Lawrence River, and business interests can thrive as well. Plan B+ is a win-win for everyone.”
 
Plan B+ is widely supported by federal and state agencies, such as the United States Fish and
Wildlife Service, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Environment Canada, and
the New York Departments of Environmental Conservation and State, as well as numerous scientists, environmental groups, and federal, state and local lawmakers. The IJC will be accepting public comments this spring.
 
“As the IJC considers yet another round of public comment, we will be working closely with our allies, particularly Congressman John McHugh who has been a leader on this issue, to ensure that the IJC fulfils its responsibility to protect the environment and local communities.”
 
The new and difficult challenges presented by global warming make the immediate implementation of Plan B+ all the more imperative. Warmer water temperatures, more frequent floods and lower water levels could threaten water supply, water quality, shipping, recreation and wildlife in the watershed. This plan will increase community resiliency and best allow both business and the environment adapt to the coming changes.
 
“The Great Lakes are home to almost 25 percent of the world’s fresh water,” added Wodder. “Given all we know about the coming impacts of global warming, we simply can’t afford to be destroying the St. Lawrence River and watershed.”
  
About America’s Most Endangered Rivers™
 
Each year, American Rivers solicits nominations from thousands of river groups, environmental organizations, outdoor clubs, local governments, and taxpayer watchdogs for the America’s Most Endangered Rivers report. The report highlights the rivers facing the most uncertain futures rather than those suffering from the worst chronic problems. The report presents alternatives to proposals that would damage rivers, identifies those who make the crucial decisions, and points out opportunities for the public to take action on behalf of each listed river.
 
The America’s Most Endangered Rivers Report results in thousands of supporters taking action on behalf of their beloved river. Such action produces immediate and tangible result.  

Numerous organizations and officials released statements in reaction to the selection of the St. Lawrence River as one of America’s Most Endangered Rivers including:

Statement by Congressman John McHugh

Statement from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation 
Statement from Healing Our Waters Coalition
Statement from Great Lakes United

Joint Statement by Save The River, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Environmental Advocates of New York, and Great Lakes United on the Release of the International Joint Commission’s Draft Water Levels Plan for St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario

March 28, 2008 – In a press conference held this morning, the International Joint Commission announced a draft water level regulation plan – called Plan 2007 – which does nothing to end fifty years of documented environmental degradation along Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River.

After more than five years of study funded by $20-million taxpayer dollars, the IJC has the opportunity to select a scientifically-based and publicly supported management plan – Plan B+ – which would have delivered significant environmental improvements to the region. Instead, the IJC has turned its back on the Lake and River environment by proposing a plan that continues, and perhaps even worsens, the environmental destruction of the Lake and River.

Since the completion of the Moses-Saunders hydropower dam 50 years ago, the Lake and River ecosystems have suffered consistent losses to their globally significant biodiversity due to unnatural and damaging water levels regulation. The current regulation scheme has artificially constrained water levels, resulting in considerable damage to more than 50% of the region’s coastal wetlands and significant impacts to many fish species and nesting water birds.

Plan 2007 represents ‘business as usual’ for the Lake and River environment, and is therefore an unacceptable direction for the region.

Specifically, Plan 2007:

• Fails to provide critical access to fish spawning grounds during the breeding season;
• Fails to provide access for over wintering mammals that are essential for wetland health; and
• Fails to provide the natural variability necessary for improved wetland biodiversity.

Despite overwhelming public and scientific support, the IJC has rejected the environmentally responsible choice for the Lake and River – Plan B+. The above groups, representing hundreds of thousands of citizens with an interest in the health of the Lake and River, reject the IJC’s draft plan and demand that the IJC make the right decision for the ecological health of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River by implementing Plan B+.

For more information, contact:
Jennifer Caddick
Save The River/Upper St. Lawrence Riverkeeper
Office: ( 315) 686-2010/ Cell: (315) 767-2802

John Jackson
Great Lakes United
Office: (519) 744-7503

Dereth Glance
Citizens Campaign for the Environment
Office: (315) 472-1339

Katherine Nadeau
Environmental Advocates of New York
Office: (518) 462-5526 Ext. 221

‘Pass Strong, Federal Protections Now,’ Urge Conservation Groups

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (Aug. 5, 2008)—The Great Lakes will remain vulnerable to aquatic invasive species if a weak EPA permit goes into effect, asserted conservation groups in public comments submitted on Friday. The Great Lakes advocates urged the U.S. Senate to pass quickly federal legislation to address the serious and ongoing threat of invasive species.

“EPA whiffed on the chance to stop ocean-going ships from discharging invasive species from their ballast water into the Great Lakes,” said Andy Buchsbaum, regional executive director of the National Wildlife Federation’s Great Lakes office. “EPA’s proposed permit requires these ships to do nothing more to their ballast water discharges into the Great Lakes than they do today. While we urge the EPA to comply with the Clean Water Act and revise its weak, status-quo permit, the most effective solution to the invasive species threat is for the U.S. Senate to act now to pass strong, national protections before invasive species cause the collapse of the lakes.”

EPA proposed the permit following two court decisions finding that the agency has for more than 30 years illegally exempted ballast water discharges from its Clean Water Act discharge permit program. Under the proposed permit ocean vessels entering U.S. waters would have to exchange their ballast or perform a saltwater flush of empty ballast tanks in the open ocean for the next five years. This practice is already in place for vessels entering the Great Lakes – St. Lawrence River. The permit is set to go in to effect Sept. 30.

“EPA is sidestepping its responsibility to force ships to achieve water quality standards,” said Joel Brammeier, vice president for policy for the Alliance for the Great Lakes. “Zero discharge of invasive species is the only option. Under the draft permit, you can’t get there from here. The U.S. Senate can pass today legislation that will provide strong, effective and immediate protection from invasive species to the citizens, businesses and cities which rely on the Great Lakes.”

Comment on EPA’s permit comes as tough, federal legislation to halt the influx of invasive species into the Great Lakes and other U.S. waters is stalled in Congress. Legislation passed in the House of Representatives and pending in the Senate would require ocean vessels to meet environmentally protective standards through installation of technology to clean ballast before discharge. The timeline for installation begins in 2009, culminating in all ocean vessels being equipped with technology by 2012. The conservation groups submitting comments support passage of ballast water legislation.

“The EPA permit delays any serious solution to this problem for the foreseeable future,” said Jennifer Nalbone, campaign director of navigation and invasive species for Great Lakes United. “The quickest way to improve protections is by passing ballast water legislation currently stalled in the U.S. Senate. That legislation will require technology installation onboard vessels as early as next year.”

The No. 1 way non-native species like the zebra mussel enter the Great Lakes is through ballast water discharge from ocean-going vessels. Over 60 percent of all non-native invaders discovered since the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway in 1959 are attributable to ballast water discharge from ocean-going vessels. One new non-native species is discovered, on average, in the Great Lakes every 28 weeks.

Invasive species foul beaches, wreak havoc on the fishery, clog water intake valves of cities and utilities, and harm fish and wildlife. Invasive species are crashing the food chain. Aquatic invasive species cost the eight Great Lakes states and its citizens at least $200 million per year, according to researchers at Notre Dame University. Many scientists believe that invasive species are the worst problem facing the Great Lakes.

“In the global economy, plant and animal species show up where they don’t belong,” said Dr. Grenetta Thomassey, policy director for Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council. “When conditions are right, they invade ecosystems and dependant economies with terrible consequences.  In the Great Lakes region, we are experiencing some of the worst cases of freshwater invasions in the world. It’s time for everyone concerned – including the EPA – to take effective steps to slam the door on the rapid rate of new invaders.”

“The Great Lakes fishery is critically important to the millions of anglers that use the lakes on an annual basis,” said George Meyer, executive director for the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation. “The financial loss caused by the presence of invasive species is damaging to the important tourism industry of the Great Lakes states.”

In written comments, the conservation groups assert that the EPA needs to revise the permit to meet water quality standards.

The groups also assert that the agency does not have the authority to issue a general permit—the EPA has delegated to the states the ability to administer Clean Water Act discharge permit program. While the conservation groups maintain that the quickest way to gain new protections is through Congressional action, they nevertheless are pursuing all opportunities to put in place strong, national protections and want the EPA to revise the weak permit because the federal agency has not delegated authority to every state and a strong permit can serve as a model for state programs

National Wildlife Federation submitted comments on behalf of the Alliance for the Great Lakes, Great Lakes United, Indiana Wildlife Federation, League of Ohio Sportsmen, Michigan United Conservation Clubs, Minnesota Conservation Federation, Ohio Environmental Council, Prairie Rivers Network, Save the River, Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council and Wisconsin Wildlife Federation.

“Each day here on the St. Lawrence River, we watch as ocean-going vessels make their way into the Great Lakes, each possibly carrying the next devastating invasive species,” said Jennifer J. Caddick, Save The River executive director. “It is appalling that the U.S. EPA has put forth a new proposed permit that continues current, ineffective programs, which continue this game of Russian roulette with the river and lakes.”

“EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson, as chair of the Great Lakes Task Force, has personally witnessed the destruction that invasive species have caused to the Great Lakes ecosystem,” said Donna Stine, senior policy director for Michigan United Conservation Clubs. “And this havoc doesn’t just stop at the Great Lakes. Zebra mussels are now turning up in Western states. That EPA has chosen to ignore the program is unconscionable. Michigan hunters and anglers expect more.  It is time that this national disaster is addressed by the U.S. Senate passing federal legislation that slams the door on invasive species.”

“Lake Superior is a regional treasure and deserves to be protected,” said Gary Botzek, executive director of the Minnesota Conservation Federation. “The EPA permit just rubber stamps management practices that have already been put in place by the Coast Guard and Seaway. This permit needs significant improvements if it’s going to protect our waters to the fullest, which is why the U.S. Senate needs to step up to the plate now and pass ballast water legislation that will quickly and effectively put protections in place for the citizens, businesses and communities which rely on the Great Lakes.”

“It is unbelievable that 20 years after the invasion of the zebra mussel the U.S. EPA proposes weak ballast water provisions as the solution to slamming the door on aquatic invasive species via ballast water,” said Kristy Meyer, agricultural & clean water programs managing director for the Ohio Environmental Council.  ”More than 180 invasive species have become established in the Great Lakes since 1959.  Once these destructive pests get a toehold, it is virtually impossible to limit their expansion and their destruction.  It is up to the U.S. Senate to really protect our drinking water, our economy, our livelihood.  They should follow the lead of the U.S. House of Representatives and pass strong ballast water legislation this year.”

“The Great Lakes are facing catastrophic and permanent damage from invasive species,” Buchsbaum said. “But EPA’s permit does nothing to protect them. We need the U.S. Senate to act now to shut the door on invasive species. The future of the lakes is at stake.”

For more information, including the full comments by the conservation organization, visit: http://www.nwf.org/greatlakes

For Immediate Release:
 August 5, 2008

Contact:

• Jordan Lubetkin, National Wildlife Federation, (734) 887-7100
• Andy Buchsbaum, National Wildlife Federation, (734) 717-3665

• Joel Brammeier, Alliance for the Great Lakes, (312) 939-0838 x 224

• Jennifer Nalbone, Great Lakes United, (716) 213-0408
• Grenetta Thomassey, Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council, (231) 347-1181 x 115

• George Meyer, Wisconsin Wildlife Federation, (608) 516-5545
• Jennifer J. Caddick, Save The River, (315) 686-2010
• Donna Stine, Michigan United Conservation Clubs, (517) 346-6487
• Gary Botzek, Minnesota Conservation Federation, (651) 293-9295
• Kristy Meyer, The Ohio Environmental Council, (614) 487-7506