Drastically Low Water Levels Unacceptable

Remember last year when there was a flood warning for the Lake Nipissing watershed. Phil Hall,
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources lands and water specialist, said in the Nugget, “if a biologist is
asked, they say the higher the water the better, having high water provides the potential for a good
walleye spawn.” This year queries to the MNR about the drastically low water level (when the line is
serviceable) are answered with this is just a normal thing and the spawning walleye will adapt.

This is not a natural thing. Dams have been left open. Up stream, Lake Temagami is 2 or 3 feet
below normal. Why would dams be left open when there is no snow in the bush to melt? Was there some
bureaucratic decision made to drain the North to try and bring up the great lakes water levels? Sounds like
another decision made by bureaucrats putting the interests of the south ahead of the interest of the North.
As for the walleye the biologists are being politically correct but the consensus seems to be that
the walleye spawning will suffer significantly. We live in a technological age where there is no excuse for
not having the information to more accurately regulate water levels. Our walleye resource is far to
valuable to be subjected to this incompetence.

Gaye Smith
Former Chairman Temagami Stewardship Council
519-353-7275