The area from Cornwall, above the dam, to Iroquois is experiencing its lowest level in a lifetime according to seniors, down likely almost four feet from the late December level. Once the Seaway was closed for the season, the water level was reduced to the point that large stretches of shallow nearshore habitat were exposed. Of course at this time there are no shorebirds and waterfowl are in low numbers here this winter. The effort is intended to gradually lower the level of Lake Ontario. That could bode well for places like Presqu'ile in the spring but time will tell how effective this is in the near term or if this is a multi-year exercise. The shipping season begins again in late March, around the time of the arrival of Snow and Canada Geese and the Seaway level must be returned to its previous state before that. Brian Morin