Great Lakes: Massive water crisis looming
Cornwall Standard-Freeholder / Greg Peerenboom / 11 March 2010
Barring a huge worldwide reduction in fossil fuel use, global warming could pose massive environmental challenges on the St. Lawrence River ecosystem within 50 years or less.
The river could drop one metre as the Great Lakes basin receives less precipitation--one of the expected fallouts from climate change, said Jeff Ridal, executive director of St. Lawrence River Institute of Environmental Sciences.
Ridal pinpointed the local effects in response to a 75-minute speech by internationally-recognized political commentator, Gwynne Dyer, at Aultsville Theatre, Wednesday.
Dyer presented a multitude of "frightening scenarios" which could occur in the next 20-25 years and he did not spare Canada.
He said our country could be confronted with a "desperate" United States if the lower states -- vulnerable to severe droughts --run short of water.
"Should we make a (water-supply) deal on our terms before (the U.S. is forced to divert Great Lakes water unilaterally)?" Dyer said.
"Should we be willing to share?"
Great Lakes diversion would "exacerbate" the slipping shore-l ines of the river, which is expected under hotter temperatures, Ridal said.
As a result, hydroelectric generation at the Moses-Saunders Dam and the amount of wetlands would decrease. Considerable amounts of money would also be needed to dredge channels, to ensure shipping -- a more carbon friendly transportation alternative -- remains viable.
Current Canada-U. S. agreements ensure a relatively stable water level and Canadians have little enthusiasm to sell water to the U.S. But in a dryer and hotter world, there will be pressure on every country to come to grips with the consequences, Dyer said.
