Petition Against Plan 2014

We, the undersigned are opposed to Plan 2014 currently being promoted by the International Joint Commission for the following summary reasons:

 As communicated by the IJC, the principal purpose for the proposed implementation of Plan BV7, now promoted as Plan 2014 is to restore / improve the quality of the wetlands. There has been no update of any data since the last reported data of the Lake Ontario- St. Lawrence River (LOSLR) Study (2000-2006). 

The IJC has stated that the damages and benefits for the proposed BV7, now "Plan 2014"  are based upon the results of the LOSLR Study, completed in 2006.  However, the IJC has not addressed the significant and serious deficiencies in the analyses and conclusions of that Study.

 1.     Data used is still old, outdated and inaccurate:

On September 15, 2004, at a public meeting of the LOSL PIAG (Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Study - Public Interest Advisory Group) held in North Rose, NY, 1 1/2 years before the end of the LOSL study, the chief contractor for the Coastal Technical Working Group was advised that property values, as indicated by increased tax assessments, had risen.   Since this was a critical feature for the development of Coastal Damages, this contractor should have revisited the data before critical decision-making based on his information.  Since the original LOSL Study, the Town of Greece, NY has reassessed its shoreline properties two more times and at no time has any assessment values decreased in value.

The cost for shoreline protection has been documented to have been 2 to 3 times undervalued in 2005. In today’s dollars it is much more.

2.     Damages:

There is still a large disproportionate loss concentrated on the south shore.  The total annual damages for coastal and recreational boating are disproportionally centered on the five south-shore counties, with the majority in Monroe County.

 3.     Spring Storm/Flooding Risk: As seen below on the chart, the risk for levels above 247 during the spring storm period of March thru May has increased substantially.

Impacts on public infrastructure, sewers and septic systems in particular, are not taken into consideration. During high water levels (247’ and above), sewer systems from the Niagara River to Greece, through Sodus Point and up to Watertown will be flooded and cease functioning - - a health and environmental issue of major proportions.

Plan BV7, modified to 2014 is apparently based on the LOSLR Study plan B+ originally presented in 2006. However, plan 2014 increases damages to Lake Ontario coastal communities while decreasing them to other interests when compared to plan B+.

 Plan B+ was rejected by the IJC in 2007 due to the high damages that would have resulted from its implementation and the lack of resources for mitigation and compensation for these damages.