FINAL REPORT - International Joint Commission

ANNEX 3
Impacts were graphed in every reach and for every year and compared with impacts for that reach or year
under Plan 1958-DD. Overall comparisons of graphs and numbers overall and comparisons in segments
helped show why a change in input parameters was or was not improving matters.
Below Dam RB Damages
Figure B-34: Below versus above dam recreational boating willingness to pay damages
Figure B-34 above shows an x-y plot of above-dam versus below-dam damages for Plan Pure 21.38 20
75.37 1 1000 3 2. Each point represents a one-year average. The average annual above-dam damage for this
plan is $8.6 million, while the below-dam damage is $2.24 million ($3.28 std. dev.)
Several versions of RecBoat were able to achieve average benefits of several millions of dollars per year
over Plan 1958-DD, but always with far greater losses to hydropower, especially Hydro-Québec generation.
Losses to Hydro-Québec occurred in 90% of the years in the historical analysis, primarily because releases
were measured out to avoid pushing Lac St. Louis above 21 m (68.9 ft), and because releases were
reduced substantially in winter, when power generation is very valuable for heating.
212 Options for Managing Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence River Water Levels and Flows