INCREASING FLOW IN ST MARYS RAPIDS

["David Fay" <david_fay@pch.gc.ca>]

           INTERNATIONAL LAKE SUPERIOR BOARD OF CONTROL
     
                                                    22 April 1997
     
     
           ANGLERS CAUTIONED OF HIGHER FLOWS IN ST MARYS RAPIDS
     
     Starting on Wednesday April 23, 1997 fourteen gates are being 
     partially opened to 38 cm to increase the flow through the control 
     structure at the head of the St Marys Rapids.  Over the next couple of 
     weeks, as ice in the upper St Marys River disappears, the gates will 
     be opened further until eight gates are fully open.  As a result, the 
     flow and water levels will increase in the St Marys Rapids.  
     
     The gates are being opened to increase the outflow from Lake Superior 
     in late April, rather than in early May as specified by the regulation 
     plan.  This is being done to offset flow limitations expected to start 
     in May, when maintenance work is scheduled to begin on the gates of 
     the control structure at the head of the St. Marys Rapids.  The U.S. 
     Army Corps of Engineers, owner of the eight gates in the U.S. portion 
     of the structure, will have two gates closed for maintenance until 
     September, as they have for the past two summers.   Although only two 
     gates are being worked on this year, to permit work boats to safely 
     navigate along the upstream side of the structure during the repair 
     period, adjacent gates must also remain closed.  This results in only  
     8 gates of the 16 gates in the structure being available for use.
     
     Gate #1, at the head of the fishery channel north of the fishery dike, 
     is expected to be fully opened as soon as ice conditions allow and 
     will remain fully open until at least mid-July to provide stable water 
     levels in the fishery channel during the spawning, hatch out and fry 
     development period for rainbow trout and salmon. 
     
     Additional information can be obtained from Mr. Peter Yee, Great Lakes 
     St.Lawrence Regulation Office, Environment Canada, Cornwall at (613) 
     938-5725 or by e-mail at Peter_Yee@pch.gc.ca. or from Mr. David 
     Schweiger, Great Lakes Hydraulics and Hydrology Branch,  Detroit 
     District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, at (313) 226-6440 or by e-mail 
     at david.l.schweiger@usace.army.mil