Calling for Approval of 'Plan 2014' to Restore Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River

Political leaders are still seeking support for the Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Plan 2014, which has been circulating since November 2014.

1 minute read

August 3, 2016, 10:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Moses-Saunders Power Dam

The Moses-Saunders Power Dam straddles the border between the United States and Canada on the St. Lawrence River. | Michel Rathwell / Flickr

Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY) writes an op-ed supporting Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Plan 2014 (Plan 2014), arguing that the plan will better regulate the waters of the North Country.

"Plan 2014 will better regulate water levels through the Moses-Saunders Power Dam as well as outline the conditions needed to change water levels and maintain the proper ecological balance," according to Congresswoman Stefanik.

"The current outdated water level plan" is "wiping out habitat" and "[clearing] a path for invasive species," according to Congresswoman Stefanik. "Plan 2014 would return Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence to more natural levels and a normal hydrologic cycle," writes Congresswoman Stefanik, "protecting our ecology and helping to preserve the long term health of the lake."

TheInternational Joint Commission referred Plan 2014 to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Stéphane Dion in November 2014. A recent round of public outreach, including an online petition and Congresswoman Stefanik's op-ed, is attempting to drum up the final necessary support for the plan's approval.

Wednesday, July 27, 2016 in American Rivers

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Green vintage Chicago streetcar from the 1940s parked at the Illinois Railroad Museum in 1988.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails

Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

July 13, 2025 - WTTV

Bend, Oregon

Bend, Oregon Zoning Reforms Prioritize Small-Scale Housing

The city altered its zoning code to allow multi-family housing and eliminated parking mandates citywide.

3 hours ago - Strong Towns

Blue and silver Amtrak train with vibrant green and yellow foliage in background.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail

The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

4 hours ago - Smart Cities Dive

Green Skid Row mural satirizing city limit sign in downtown Los Angeles, California.

LA Denies Basic Services to Unhoused Residents

The city has repeatedly failed to respond to requests for trash pickup at encampment sites, and eliminated a program that provided mobile showers and toilets.

5 hours ago - Los Angeles Public Press