The Board was established by the Commission in its 1952 order of approval. Its main duty is to ensure that outflows from Lake Ontario meet the requirements of the Commission’s order. The Board also develops regulation plans and conducts special studies as requested by the Commission. Outflows are set by the Board under the regulation plan.

The Board may deviate from plan flows under emergency conditions or winter operations. It may also use its limited discretionary authority when a change from plan flow can be made to provide benefits or relief to one or more interests without appreciably harming others, and without breaching the requirements of the order. The Board meets at least twice a year and provides semi-annual reports to the Commission. It holds meetings with the public annually.

Lake Ontario St. Lawrence River Regulation

Water empties from Lake Ontario into the St. Lawrence River and passes through the hydropower project near Cornwall, Ontario and Massena, New York. The International Joint Commission approved this project in 1952. During construction, the Commission amended its order of approval with the concurrence of the United States and Canadian Governments. The 1956 amendments added requirements to reduce the range of Lake Ontario water levels, and to provide dependable flow for hydropower, adequate navigation depths and protection for shoreline and other interests downstream in the Province of Quebec.

One requirement in the Commission’s order was to regulate Lake Ontario within a target range from 74.2 to 75.4 metres (243.3 to 247.3 feet) above sea level. The project must also be operated to provide no less protection for navigation and shoreline interests downstream than would exist without the project. Another provision, known as criterion (k), was included because water supplies would inevitably be more extreme at some time in the future than in the past (1860-1954).

When supplies exceed those of the past, shoreline property owners upstream and downstream are to be given all possible relief. When water supplies are less than those of the past, all possible relief is to be provided to navigation and power interests.