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IJC keeps Lake Ontario outflows high to ease flooding

By Veronica Volk

Published June 8, 2017 at 10:56 PM EDT

Signage at Durand Eastman Beach to tell people swimming is off limits

Lake Ontario is currently more than two and a half feet above average for this time of year, and communities around the lake are still experiencing extreme flooding and erosion. People in communities like Sodus Point in New York are still unable to return to their homes, and beaches like Durand Beach in Rochester New York are nearly completely disappeared and closed until further notice.In response to this flooding, the International Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Board has decided to keep outflows high.Currently, water is flowing out of the lake via the Moses-Saunders Power Dam at 10,200 cubic meters per second, which is higher than average for this time of year.According to a press release, the board decided to keep outflows high because water levels down stream on the St. Lawrence, near Montreal, have remained stable. Copyright 2017 Great Lakes Today. To see more, visit Great Lakes Today.