Lake Ontario Water Management Ecosystem Assessment
Author Information
Author(s): Mark B. Bain, Nuanchan Singkran, Katherine E. Mills
Primary Institution: Department of Natural Resources, Cornell University
Hypothesis
What are the impacts of different water level management plans on the environmental attributes of Lake Ontario?
Conclusion
The current water management plan is best for maintaining environmental resources, while a natural water regime plan often has adverse impacts.
Supporting Evidence
- About half the shoreline of Lake Ontario is potentially sensitive to water level change.
- The current water management plan may be best for maintaining environmental resources.
- Plans that balanced multiple objectives had fewer adverse impacts.
- A natural water regime plan often had adverse impacts on the environment.
- Different plans resulted in varied impacts on birds, fish, and plant groups.
Takeaway
This study looked at how different plans for managing water levels in Lake Ontario affect the environment. Some plans are better for nature than others.
Methodology
The study used established impact assessment tools and a matrix to compare the environmental impacts of seven water level management plans.
Potential Biases
The assessment may be influenced by the selection of environmental attributes and management options.
Limitations
No single method can perfectly assess ecosystem impacts, and the study may not cover all environmental attributes.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website