 |
 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| |||||
Air Quality Coastal Management Ecosystem Management Habitat Islands Land Use Sustainable Development Wetlands Water BeachCast Conservation Levels and Hydrology Quality Quantity and Use Rivers and Lakes Watersheds Flora and Fauna Biodiversity Endangered Species Forests Invasive Species Invasive Mapping People Plants Wildlife Pollution Air Toxics Areas of Concern Human Health Pollution Prevention Soil Erosion Toxic Contamination References Agencies & Organizations Environmental Justice Laws and Policy Sanctuaries and Reserves Research Weather and Climate Legislative Tracking Great Lakes Priorities Legislative News Lake Conditions Lake Erie Lake Huron Lake Michigan Lake Ontario Lake Superior Also: Lake St. Clair |
St. Marys River Flows Overview | General Resources | Related Resources Levels & Hydrology Section: Home | Levels | Hydrology | Flows 
Overview The St. Marys River is the natural outlet of Lake Superior. Near Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario and Michigan, a rock ledge at the head of the St. Marys River Rapids is the natural control of the Lake Superior outflows. The rock ledge acts like a weir, which permits flows to increase and decrease relative to Lake Superior's level. This self-regulating feature, along with Lake Superior's immense storage capacity, makes the lake a highly naturally regulated water body.  This natural outflow control began to change as early as 1822, when water was diverted from just above the rapids for operation of a sawmill. A ship canal was constructed in 1855. Subsequently, various expansions to these facilities took place, culminating in the flow control facilities we see today. They now consist of three hydropower plants, five navigation locks and a 16-gated control structure (called the Compensating Works) at the head of the St. Marys Rapids. (Click on the adjacent map to see an enlarged version; select various locations to see photos of these structures.)
 Since the Compensating Works (see photo) were completed in 1921, Lake Superior outflows have been regulated. This regulation is carried out by the International Lake Superior Board of Control in accordance with conditions specified by the International Joint Commission. Lake Superior’s outflows are adjusted monthly, taking into consideration the water levels of both Lake Superior and lakes Michigan and Huron (which are considered one unit hydrologically). The objective, called systemic regulation, is to help maintain the lake levels both upstream (Superior) and downstream (Michigan-Huron) close to their long-term seasonal averages, and to prevent any one of them from getting either extremely high or low. The regulated outflow is achieved by adjusting the flows through the three hydropower plants, after the amounts required for lockages, the St. Marys Rapids fishery and industries at Sault Ste. Marie are met. A minimum of one-half of one gate is kept open at the Compensating Works to maintain water in the rapids for fish spawning. More gates are opened when flows in the river exceed the capacities of the hydropower plants. Hydropower diversions and lockage data are compiled monthly by the Lake Superior Board.
David Schweiger U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District david.l.schweiger@usace.army.mil Peter Yee Environment Canada, Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Regulation Office peter_yee@pch.gc.ca
General Resources International Lake Superior Board of Control Map of Control Facilities on St. Marys River International Lake Superior Board of Control Photo Gallery International Lake Superior Board of Control
Related Resources GLIN: Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Water Flows GLIN: Weather and Climate in the Great Lakes Region
This page was created under the guidance of the binational Coordinating Committee on Great Lakes Basic Hydraulic and Hydrologic Data. This symbol is used throughout the GLIN hydrology section to indicate data or references prepared under the auspices of the Coordinating Committee.
| |
|
News | Calendar | Great Links | SOTM | E-Lists | Info Center | About GLIN The Great Lakes | Environment | Economy | Education | Maps and GIS | Tourism Follow us on Facebook and Twitter. |
||
