Number: 1984-08
WHEREAS, the remaining St. Marys River rapids area below the outflow of Lake Superior provides unique and valuable fisheries habitat within the Great Lakes system in U.S. and Canadian waters; and
WHEREAS, land use for hydropower and navigation development has severely diminished the physical area of the rapids, thus reducing fish reproduction, nursery areas, and fish food production space; and
WHEREAS, past water demands for hydropower have resulted in extreme low flows over the rapids during periods of low discharge from Lake Superior, further impacting fisheries production and utilization; and
WHEREAS, United States and Canadian power interests have petitioned the International Joint Commission (IJC) for additional water for power generation, thus requesting an amendment to existing IJC Supplementary Orders regulating flows; and
WHEREAS, additional allocation of water for power production during periods of low discharge from Lake Superior would result in more frequent dewatered conditions in approximately half the habitat of the Canadian rapids, causing loss of fish food organisms, nursery areas, and spawning habitat; and
WHEREAS, the fish and fishery uses are prior protected uses of the rapids under terms of Article VIII of the Boundary Waters Treaty, and additional diversion would result in further violation of these terms; and
WHEREAS, Subsection 20(10) of the Canadian Fisheries Act states that “water shall be discharged in an amount sufficient for the safety of fish”; and
WHEREAS, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Great Lakes Fishery Commission have all expressed concern and are working for restoration and protection of the fishery resources of the St. Marys River rapids; and
WHEREAS, representatives of the above agencies, the power interests and other interested parties have held informal discussions and working meetings which have resulted in a consensus of remedial measures required;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation, in annual meeting assembled March 15-18, 1984, in Atlanta, Georgia, hereby supports the above agencies in their efforts to restore and protect the St. Marys River fishery resources; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation urges that a combination of minimum flows and remedial works be developed, to assure continued watering of the St. Marys River rapids, including the littoral zone of Whitefish Island and Whitefish Channel.