May 01, 2013 — The water levels in Lake Ontario have a significant impact on the economic and environmental viability of harbors in upstate New York and Canada. As a result, a proposed plan to change the management of those water levels has raised some concerns in waterfront communities.  Go to full article

Ottawa, ON, Mar 13, 2013 — It's been more than 50 years since Inundation Day -- July 1, 1958, when ten Ontario communities along the St. Lawrence were purposefully flooded and 6,500 people relocated so the St. Lawrence Seaway could come into being. This spring, an Ottawa photographer will be collecting stories about the so-called "sunken villages" - that handful of Canadian villages have been hidden under the St. Lawrence Seaway for over 50 years.

Todd Moe talks with Ottawa aerial photographer Louis Helbig about his "Sunken Villages" project of photos of the lost communities between Cornwall and Prescott, Ontario. For the last few years, Helbig has arranged exhibitions of his birds-eye-view of the underwater remnants of houses and streets. Now, he's looking for stories and family histories to accompany the photos.  Go to full article

Jan 31, 2012 — A new plan for controlling water levels in lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River is intended to restore diversity in shoreline plant and animal communities by permitting greater fluctuations.

The International Joint Commission, representing both the U.S. and Canada, released the regulatory plan yesterday.  Go to full article

Waddington, NY, Sep 23, 2011 — Many anglers consider carp the mucky, ugly bottom-feeders of the fish world in this country. But in Great Britain and Europe, carp are prized fighters and millions of anglers fish day and night to haul in a trophy catch. The World Carp Championship kicks off today on the St. Lawrence River near Waddington and runs through next week. Hundreds of anglers will compete from more than 20 countries. David Sommerstein spent time with a carp guide and a British angler to find out what carp fishing's all about. This story first aired in 2003.  Go to full article

Clayton, NY, Jul 19, 2011 — New York state is pushing forward with plans to implement tough new rules designed to keep ships on the St. Lawrence Seaway from bringing in invasive plants and animals. The regulations are set to go into effect in 2013.

Researchers say the Seaway has opened the door to dozens of foreign organisms that are wreaking havoc on native ecosystems.

But opponents of the rules, led by the Canadian government, say they're too strict and would stifle trade and commerce in the region. Brian Mann has our story.  Go to full article

Ogdensburg, NY, Jun 10, 2011 — As of noon today, the Privateer Lynx, a replica of a tallship that carried soldiers in the War of 1812, is docked on the St. Lawrence in Ogdensburg. From now until Sunday evening it will be open to the public, for tours and daily 2-hour sail-aways.

Michael Folsom is the event organizer for the Lynx's trip up the seaway. He knows what he's doing when it comes to the St. Lawrence. He also blogs about the seaway under the name "the shipwatcher." Nora Flaherty talked with Folsom about his fascination with the big ships of the river, and about the Lynx.  Go to full article

Clayton, NY, Aug 20, 2010 — A coalition is trying to stop a nuclear plant from shipping low-level radioactive waste to Sweden by way of the St. Lawrence Seaway. Bruce Power operates North America's largest nuclear power plant northwest of Toronto. The company says its plan is safe and good for the environment. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article

Montreal, QC, Jul 14, 2010 — Emergency response teams continue to clean up a fuel spill in a canal of the St. Lawrence River near Montreal. A Canadian ship leaked at least 50 tons of bunker fuel when it ran aground Monday night. Environment officials say they believe most of the oil has been contained. But it's unclear exactly how much leaked into the waterway. It's the second time in as many weeks a ship has run aground on the St. Lawrence Seaway. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article

Hammond, NY, Jul 07, 2010 — Coast Guard crews shifted ballast and cargo to re-float the Canadian freighter, Algobay, last night. The 740-foot long ship lost power Sunday morning and ran aground on Superior Shoal, near Chippewa Bay. That's not far downriver from where an oil tanker ran aground in 1976. The 1976 spill, known locally as the Slick of '76, remains one of the biggest inland oil spills in the country's history.

A spokeswoman for the St. Lawrence Seaway Authority said there was no threat of fuel leaks or other pollution from the Algobay. Martha Foley has more.  Go to full article

Massena, NY, Jun 11, 2010 — As the effects of the Gulf oil spill continue to grow, all was calm and sunny on the St. Lawrence River Wednesday. That was the setting for the St. Lawrence Seaway to test its spill response plans. The exercise raised two questions. Should some of the containment boom and manpower positioned along the St. Lawrence be used to help in the Gulf? And if the River were to be the site of a spill today, could America fight oil spills on two fronts? David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article