Ten degrees down by the bow

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by Tetepare

Wow mike! You're in Belleville area?
That walkway WILL be awash.

Yes, and yes. Belleville is our current home, although Newfoundland beacons. Hope we’ll make it this year…

The rains seem to be slowing now, but with all the water in the drainage basin, the Lake is going to continue to rise for weeks. Unless they dump more on Montreal and down the St. Lawrence we’re pretty much guaranteed to keep rising for a while.

BTW, I agree with your general sentiment. If you build on a flood plain, or below the high water mark, you have to accept you’re going to get flooded. I feel terrible for some of the people, but people have to accept responsibility for the choices made.

I’m not historical expert, but my understanding is that water management on the St. Lawrence Seaway (along with the interconnected Great Lakes) is primarily focused on commercial activity. It’s not managed to protect people’s waterfront property. The Seaway was expanded in 1960 to accomodate large salties. If it were left to its natural flow there’s no way we’d see the kind of commercial traffic (and economic activity) that the current Seaway allows.

Double-edged sword...

[30yearslater]

Originally Posted by Tetepare

I of course have friend with homes (not just seasonal cottages) on the Lake Ontario shores and bays. I feel for them. And of course I want to launch

That said I've watched sodus bay silt in in my lifetime. My bud and I shake our heads every year looking at a spot we used to bowfish which is now 40' inshore. The dock I swam from as a kid is now (as in right now) in maybe 4' of water with 4' of silt on the bottom.

As a hardcore right wing environmentalists I'd love to observe a year of totally natural water flow on my bay. I'm sure it would be an amazing experience.

Ok I'll address the 800lb gorilla now. Right wing environmentalists??? Is there such a thing? Absolutely. Right wingers believe in freedom, personal responsibility, and small government. That means you are free to build your home on the lake but you are responsible for it, not the government. Don't bitch if it gets washed away. Wanna bring god into it? Ok. God gave us a natural seasonal swing of potentially more than three meters. If god wanted water control he'd have done it.

Don't want to start a political fight- simply point out that we've controlled the environment and now pay the price and it's ironic that a cross-political spectrum can all be on the same side when they rely on government control. I say let it roll with the weather and I'll have to put my big boy Gills on and deal with it.

Same here with the feelings on the situation Tetepare. Friends with lake front homes and others I don't know. I also feel bad they chose to build in an area where the risks and rewards are so high. As sailors we are possibly more attuned to the great range of conditions the lake is capable of. We also have a keen interest in the health of the lake since it is our "playground". I tend toward socialism in my political leanings. I consider the impact on others, the greatest good for the greatest number, the higher ethic. A better water quality benefits the greatest number as does a few houses lost benefits a city wiped out downstream. I remember working at the former Riverview Yacht Basin in the early seventies. The Court Street dam had to be opened due to prevent flooding in Rochester. This caused some serious flooding at the marina to the point of us running around moving stock to higher shelves among other issues. This year the massive rainfall, about to break a few records, caught everyone unprepared. I always try to look at all the factors contributing to a situation. Are the wild weather swings a result of climate change? It was one of the effects postulated. Whatever one accepts as scientific proof matters little as long as we are making choices that we accept the responsibility for. Much like you, if I build a house on the top of a volcano I should expect at some point I will be launched into the atmosphere and incinerated without insisting some greater power or governmental agency protect me from my shortsightedness. Hope my ramblings don't upset to many people yet I can't help feel frustrated when folks do highly risky things and then lament no one coming to their aid and wanting to compel me to donate my coin to their relief. Hang in there it always trends toward the better.

[30yearslater]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

Yes, and yes. Belleville is our current home, although Newfoundland beacons. Hope we’ll make it this year…

The rains seem to be slowing now, but with all the water in the drainage basin, the Lake is going to continue to rise for weeks. Unless they dump more on Montreal and down the St. Lawrence we’re pretty much guaranteed to keep rising for a while.

BTW, I agree with your general sentiment. If you build on a flood plain, or below the high water mark, you have to accept you’re going to get flooded. I feel terrible for some of the people, but people have to accept responsibility for the choices made.

I’m not historical expert, but my understanding is that water management on the St. Lawrence Seaway (along with the interconnected Great Lakes) is primarily focused on commercial activity. It’s not managed to protect people’s waterfront property. The Seaway was expanded in 1960 to accomodate large salties. If it were left to its natural flow there’s no way we’d see the kind of commercial traffic (and economic activity) that the current Seaway allows.

Double-edged sword...

Some trivia Mike. The IJC was organized in 1909 to oversee the shared water resources between Canada and the US. Due to the protests of the railroads fearing shipping would cut into their profits the US decided not to pursue creating a navigable St. Lawrence. In 1954 President Eisenhower finally got the project going and the seaway was built. Billions of dollars in international trade began transiting the seaway thanks in part to the Welland Canal. Of course this also spelled the death of commercial use of the Erie Canal. A few houses lost are no match monetarily to the cost of goods transiting the seaway. It is with wonder that I see ships from all over the world passing through our corner of the world.

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by 30yearslater

Some trivia Mike. The IJC was organized in 1909 to oversee the shared water resources between Canada and the US. Due to the protests of the railroads fearing shipping would cut into their profits the US decided not to pursue creating a navigable St. Lawrence. In 1954 President Eisenhower finally got the project going and the seaway was built. Billions of dollars in international trade began transiting the seaway thanks in part to the Welland Canal. Of course this also spelled the death of commercial use of the Erie Canal. A few houses lost are no match monetarily to the cost of goods transiting the seaway. It is with wonder that I see ships from all over the world passing through our corner of the world.

Interesting history. Thanks. Always the case that the vested interests stymie new developments which will gore their ox, but lead to a better world for most. We see it now with the fossil fuel industry and their approach to “alternate energy” and climate change.

My father told stories of how he worked as a labourer during the construction of the modern Seaway in the 1950s. He was part of destruction and burning crews that were moving whole Canadian villages and towns up hill and away from the soon-to-be flooded areas. As a teenager we used to spend summers camping along the St. Lawrence shores near Morrisburg, ON. I’d paddle out to the islands and easily find remains of these old, deserted villages. Erie...

[30yearslater]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

Interesting history. Thanks. Always the case that the vested interests stymie new developments which will gore their ox, but lead to a better world for most. We see it now with the fossil fuel industry and their approach to “alternate energy” and climate change.

My father told stories of how he worked as a labourer during the construction of the modern Seaway in the 1950s. He was part of destruction and burning crews that were moving whole Canadian villages and towns up hill and away from the soon-to-be flooded areas. As a teenager we used to spend summers camping along the St. Lawrence shores near Morrisburg, ON. I’d paddle out to the islands and easily find remains of these old, deserted villages. Erie...

What a fantastic family history. Here is a link about how long it took and some of the impediments to its' creation: Seaway System - The Seaway - 300 Years of History This was epic on scale with the Suez Canal or Panama Canal. My wife and I spent our honeymoon exploring the seaway from Montreal to Rochester.

[Tetepare]

Sitting in Istanbul but reading home news- reported 4.5" rise to Lake Ontario since Monday!! Holy cow. I so much wanted to buy a home on sodus but I'm afraid of flooding. So I bought on a sand hilltop. If my basement gets wet we all have a biblical problem.

[30yearslater]

Originally Posted by Tetepare

Sitting in Istanbul but reading home news- reported 4.5" rise to Lake Ontario since Monday!! Holy cow. I so much wanted to buy a home on sodus but I'm afraid of flooding. So I bought on a sand hilltop. If my basement gets wet we all have a biblical problem.

Almost 9" of rain through April. Most rain since 1873. If my son "Noah" develops a real love for sailing and collecting animals, along with your wet basement it is assuredly a biblical issue.

[hamburking]

Wandered down to Portsmouth Olympic Harbour (Kingston) to have a look. The water has overflowed the basin!

[Lake-Effect]

Originally Posted by hamburking

Wandered down to Portsmouth Olympic Harbour (Kingston) to have a look. The water has overflowed the basin!

I strolled down to our club (LSYC) late this afternoon. The club's ramp which normally leads DOWN to our docks is now almost level.

Our club is all floating docks and the lake would have to rise at least another meter to start damaging property close to us, so we're going to be ok. Our thoughts go out to any lower-lying areas and the poor buggers downstream of us.

[Boulter]

Originally Posted by Boulter

Really hard to get any work done this spring, it, it never stops raining.

I lied. It has stopped raining ... The last 36 hours has been mostly snow.

7 day forecast is for another rotten week, but the 14 day forecast looks more promising.

Boulter

[GordMay]

Safety advocates are attributing a high number of drownings in 2016 to warm weather and high water levels.
➥ 2016 spike in Great Lakes drownings linked to warm weather - Thunder Bay - CBC News

[30yearslater]

Originally Posted by GordMay

Safety advocates are attributing a high number of drownings in 2016 to warm weather and high water levels.
➥ 2016 spike in Great Lakes drownings linked to warm weather - Thunder Bay - CBC News

I don't think we need to worry about warm weather at the moment Gord. Frost warnings in effect. That along with the water temps around 40F should keep most folks out.

I lied. It has stopped raining ... The last 36 hours has been mostly snow.

7 day forecast is for another rotten week, but the 14 day forecast looks more promising.

There is some kind of yellow orb in the sky today. We are wondering what it is and what it wants.

[Cu Mor Glas]

Originally Posted by hamburking

Wandered down to Portsmouth Olympic Harbour (Kingston) to have a look. The water has overflowed the basin!

Gas dock at lake breeze was above water Wednesday. Not today. Wilson harbour from last Sunday. And if it keeps on rainin the levee's not going to break, but I might not need the travelift.. ..

[MarkusK]

Originally Posted by 30yearslater

It looks like more rain, snow and north winds for tonight and tomorrow. The whiners over here have enlisted the aid of a few assembly members and at least one US Representative. They are crying to release more water at Moses Saunders. The F@#$ them along the St. Lawrence attitude is getting as pervasive as zebra mussels. Well boo hoo hoo is my attitude. Boneheads built these palaces on the lake even though erosion has been an issue for as long as I can remember. I helped a friend sandbag his cousin's house in 72 during Hurricane Agnes and realized they had built their house on a damn sandbar. Building on the shores of the Great Lakes makes as much sense as building on the Barrier Islands off the Carolina Coasts. Damn towns and counties were all too happy to issue building permits along the shore to enhance tax revenue without regard to the erosion issues. If the politicos had any guts they would condemn the properties using eminent domain and turn the lakeshore into a public area similar to what Canada and the Upper Lakes have already done. The real joke is pouncing on Plan 2014 as the cause. Ha. Wouldn't have a thing to do with record rainfall in the Great Lakes Basin. Every stream, creek and river is roaring at this point all headed into Ontario. Opening the drain on a bathtub while filling it with a firehose wouldn't change a thing.

Speaking about sandbars, there is a coastal community south of Virginia Beach called Sandbridge (on the northern end of the Outer Banks). It's a beautiful spot but would you build a house in an area where they carry out sand replenishment efforts to restore the beach? Apparently people do and we are not talking about little shacks...these are multi-million dollar homes!

[Tetepare]

Well, .gov reports Lake Ontario to have risen A FOOT in the past two weeks!

I'm surprised our friends up in the Montreal area haven't posted anything, because Montreal really got clobbered. It doesn't make the news in USA somehow, but go ahead and google montreal flood and it's shocking.

Water is exiting Lake Ontario at half the rate of input, meaning the water level is still going to rise.

The dock power at my marina is off, since the power lines are now under water. Two boats have been launched, and the marina doesn't want to launch boats. Power or no power, I will be in before 01 June.

This would be a rare opportunity for those with a 6' draft to get into Fisherman's Cove on PEP or cut between Newark and Eagle islands on Sodus- achievements to amaze the younger generation.