Residents and some elected officials along the south shore of Lake Ontario are blaming a new management plan for their flooding issues, but as WXXI's Veronica Volk of Great Lakes today reports, experts refute that claim.
Plan 2014 is unpopular with some locals, because it lets the water levels get higher, more frequently, and potentially for longer periods of time, which could cause damage to lakefront property owners.
So it makes sense that flooded homeowners like Tom Piekunka in Sodus Point are blaming the change in regulation for the change in their environment.
"This is what they want. They want the higher water. We're just collateral damage."
The plan went into effect in January, and since then, Lake Ontario has hit a record high. But what exactly did Plan 2014 change, if anything?
Frank Sciremammano is a member of the board that oversees lake regulation. He's also an engineer, and an outspoken opponent of Plan 2014.
"We really can't point the finger at Plan 2014 yet."
So here's exactly what the plan changed: under Plan 2014, the board has to wait for the water to rise above a certain level, called a "trigger level" before they were allowed to let more water out of Lake Ontario. Under the previous plan, they had more flexibility to deviate from regulation.
But Sciremammano says, in this case, it would have made little difference.
"Now, we may have had a small window, beginning of April, to do something, but we would have been plus or minus an inch or two. Nothing significant."
So much rain fell in such a short time in April that Sciremammano says it would have been hard to prepare for it. But, he warns, the plan could bring more flooding later this year.
