State of New York

Executive Chamber
Albany 12224

Andrew M. Cuomo
GOVERNOR

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June 13, 2017

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Honorable Gordon Walker, Q.C. Honorable Lana Pollack
Canadian Chair United States Chair

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International Joint Commission International Joint Commission
234 Laurier Avenue West 1717 H Street NW
22nd Floor Suite 801
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Ottawa, ON K1P 6K6 Washington, DC 20006
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Dear Chair Walker and Chair Pollack:

The International Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Board of Controls decision

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today to increase outflows from Lake Ontario by 200 cubic meters per second (cms) is
woefully inadequate and does not provide the necessary relief to New York State
homeowners, small businesses, and local governments that they deserve. I urge you to act
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quickly and decisively to assist New Yorks Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence River
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communities by significantly increasing outflows through the Moses-Saunders Dam and

auxiliary dam infrastructure.
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Since April of this year, New Yorkers have been experiencing the devastating
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impacts of historic high water levels on Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River.
Flooding continues to damage and threaten shoreline communities in Cayuga, Jefferson,
Monroe, Niagara, Orleans, Oswego, St. Lawrence and Wayne Counties. The situation in
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New York has been dire, and will continue to be, until water levels go down. Critical
infrastructure, including roadways and wastewater treatment systems, have been
inundated. Natural buffers, including lake-front parks and beaches, have been eroded.
Homes and businesses have been flooded, threatening livelihoods and the health of the
vital summer tourism economy.

It is far from adequate to simply increase flows by a modest 200 cms for a 72
hour periodand continue to prioritize shipping interests over New Yorks communities.
The Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909 did not authorize the IJC to favor shipping at the
expense of New Yorkers. The Treaty explicitly states that no use shall be permitted
which tends materially to conflict with or restrain any other use
 The hardworking New York families who live and work along the shoreline must
be priority number one. Our communities have suffered enough. I call upon the IJC to
continue to increase flows, even if it means that shipping must be halted temporarily. The
safety and security of New Yorkers requires no less.

Sincerely,

ANDREW M. CUOMO

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cc: Gail R. Faveri, Secretary, Canadian Section ILO-SLRB

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Arun K. Heer, Secretary, U.S. Section ILO-SLRB
Dr. Charles A. Lawson, Secretary, U.S. Section IJC
Camile Mageau, Secretary, Canadian Section IJC

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