REGULATION OF GREAT LAKES WATER LEVELS APPENDIX G REGULATORY WORKS REPORT TO THE INTERNATIONAL JOINT COMMSISSION BY THE INTERNATIONAL GREAT LAKES LEVELS BOARD (UNDER THE REFERENCE OF OCTOBER 7,1964) SY NOPS IS The Regulatory Works Appendixdescribes the engineering works that would benecessary to accomplish further regulation of thelevels and flows of the GreatLakes, as describedin the report on Regulationof Great Lakes Water Levels,dated December 7, 1973. Regulationof any lake generally requires two basic facilities: first, one or more controlstructures capable of reducing the outflow, especially when low lakelevels occur, and second,dredging of its outletriver so that greaterflows can be released at times when highlake levels occur. Thi.s appendixdescribes the existing facilities in theoutlet rivers of Lake Superiorand Lake Ontarioand discusses the problems to be faced in providing new facilities, particularlyin the outlet rivers of the presently unregu- lated LakesMichigan, Huron and Erie. It alsodescribes the site investiga- tionscarried out, the design criteria andmethods used, and the environmental factorsconsidered in preparing preliminary designs and cost estimates ofthe worksnecessary for the various selected regulation plans considered in the Board'sstudy. For all theselected plans it was foundthat the existing works in the St. Marys Riverhave adequate capacity and sufficient remaining life so that nomajor engineering work will benecessary. However,improved regulation of Lake Superiorwould be possible if the gates of the compensating works at SaultSte. Marie couldbe operated, when necessary,to vary the flow during winter. Normally, ice conditions restrict operationsduring December through April. The appendixdescribes a series of practical tests conducted at the SaultSte. Marie worksduring the four winters 1968-69 to 1971-72.These tests demonstratedthe feasibility of winter operationsand provided costs andother data. The averageannual costs of improved regulation of Lake Superior, as provided by Plan SO-901, is $70,000. Plansinvolving the regulation of Lakes Michigan-Huronwould require works inthe St. Clair-Detroit Rivers system. Due toextensive shoreline developmentalong and the requirements of navigationthrough this 89-mile system, it would benecessary to undertake considerable dredging and to con- struct a series of at least ninecontrol structures in order to regulate the outflowof Lakes Michigan-Huron and to maintain the hydraulic profile of the rivers. The averageannual costs of suchworks is shown tobe in the $18-21 millionrange, depending on theplan considered, which far exceeds the esti- matedeconomic benefits. Furthermore there would beunacceptable environ- mentalconsequences particularly in the Lake St. Clair area. The Board'sthree alternative approaches to theregulation of Lake Erie, representedby selected plans SEO-33, SEO-9CIl and SEO-42P, wouldrequire differentregulatory works in the Niagara River. It is shown thatthe least expensive is SEO-901 at anaverage annual cost of $99,000; that SEO-42P, at $380,000, is the most attractive alternative!;and that the average annual costof Niagara River works for plan SEO-33, $8million, produces a benefit- cost ratio less thanunity. i No designsor cost estimates are given for new or improvedworks in the St. Lawrence River,the outlet of Lake Ontario,since all the selected plans would use the existingworks. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS OUTLINE Page Section 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Generai 01 b 1.2 Purpose G-1 1.3 Scope 01 1.4 Study Organization 6-2 1.5 PriorStudies 6-3 Section 2 ST. MARYS RIVER SYSTEM 2.1 Description of the System G-4 2.1.1General 04 2.1.2 ExistingRegulatory Structure 07 2.1.3Power Facilities andFlows 6-12 2.1.4 NavigationFacilities andFlows 013 2.1.5 Bridges,Ferries, Wharves andOther Facilities 014 2.1.6 Ice Problems 014 2.1.7 CurrentPlan of Regulation G-15 2.2 Assumptions 017 2.3 Methodology 6-17 2.3.1 Plans of Regulation(Superior'Ontario) 6-18 2.3.2 Winter Flow Tests G-18 2.3.3 Alternate Methods of Gate and Gain Heating 0-30 2.3.4 Alternate Method of Winter -Operation 0-34 2.3.5 Recommended Facilitiesfor Winter Operations 6-37 2.3.6 Costs of Increasingthe Storage Capacity of 039 Lake Superior 2.4 Data 6-40 2.4.1 Basic Data G-40 2.4.2 Derived Data 0-41 Section 3 ST.CLAIR-DETROIT RIVER SYSTEM 3.1 Description of the System 042 3.1.1 General 6-42 3.1.2 St. Clair River 6-42 3.1.3 Lake St. Clair 642 iii TABLE OF CONTENTS (cont'd) Page D etroit River 3.1.4 Detroit G-45 N avigation Channels3.1.5 Navigation G-45 3.1.6Navigation Recreational G-45 3.1.7Compensating Existing Works G-49 3.1.8 Pollution andEnvironmental Consideration ' G-49 3 .1.9 Bridges,3.1.9 FerriesOtherFacilitiesand G-49 3.1.10 I.ce Problems G-51 3.2 Assumptions G-51 3.3 Methodology G-52 3.3.1. Objectives G-53 3.3.2 Outline ofProcedures G-53 3.3.3 Determination of DesignConditions of G-54 RegulatedLevels and Flows 3.3.4 Determinationof Channel Design Limits G-55 3.3.5 PreliminaryChannel Design Procedure G-59 3.3.6 Development of MathematicalModels for G-59 ChannelDesigns 3.3.7 Use of MathematicalModels G-59 3.3.8 St. clairRiver Mathematical Model G-59 3.3.9 DetroitRiver Mathematical Model G-60 3.3.10 Applicationof Mathematical Model in G-60 ChannelDesign, Channel Capacity Increase 3.3.11 Channel.izationRequirements G-68 3.3.12 Channel.Capacity Increase Cost Curves G-77 3.3.13 Application of Mathematical Model in Channel G-77 Design,Channel Capacity Decrease 3.3.14 HydraulicDesign Characteristics G-77 3.3.15 ConceptualDesigns and Cost Estimates of G-81 RegulatoryStructures 3.3.16 Development of CostCurves for Channel Capacity 6-94 Decreases 3.3.17 Use of Cost Curves G-108 3.4 ChannelDesign Costand Estimates Selectedfor G-108 Regulation Plans 3.4.1 Lake St. Clair Critical DesignElevation 0108 3.5 Basic Data G-109 Section 4 NIAGARA RIVER SYSTEM 4.1 Description of theSystem G-111 4.1.1 General 6.111 4.1.2 ExistingRegulatory Works 0114 4.1.3 Power Facilities and Flows G-115 4.1.4 NavigationFacilities and Flows G-117 iv TABLE OF CONTENTS (cont 'dl Page 4.1.5Bridges, Ferries, Docksand Other Facilities G-118 4.1.6 Ice Problems 6-119 4.1 .7 ShortPeriod Water LevelsFluctuations G-119 4.2 Assumptions 6-119 4.3 Methodology - Total Regulation 0120 4.3.1 SteadyState Mathematical Model 6120 4.3.2 UnsteadyState Mathematical Model G-125 4.3.3Design and Cost Estimates 6127 4 04 Methodology - Partial Regulation 0144 4.5 Data G-156 4.5.1 Basic Data G-156 4.5.2 Derived Data 6160 Section 5 ST. LAWRENCE RIVER SYSTEM D escrip tion of the 5.1of Description 6-161 System 5.1.1 General G-161 5.1.2 ExistingRegulatory and Power Facilities 6-164 N avig ation Facilities5.1.3 Navigation G-166 5.1.4 Bridges, Wharves, Ferries and OtherFacilities 6-167 5.1.5 Ice Problems G-168 C urrent Operating Plan5.1.6 Operating Current G-170 5.2 Assumptions G-170 Sect ion 6 COST EVALUATION OFSELECTED REGULATION PLANS 6.1 Introduction 0-172 6.2Plan Regulation SO-901 G-17 2 6.2.1Modifications Existingto Regulatory Works G-172 6.2.2 Capacity of ExistingChannels and Regulatory 0173 Facilities 6.2.3Costs Summary and 6-173 R egu lation Plan 6.3 Regulation SMHO-11 6173 6.3.1 LakesMichigan-Huron6.3.1 Regulatory Works 6175 6.3.2 CostsSummary and G-17 7 V TMLE OF CONTENTS (cont'd) Page 6.4 RegulationPlan SEO-901 G-177 6.4.1Lake Erie Regulatory Works G-177 6.4.2 Summary andCosts G-179 6.5Regulation Plan SEO-33 6180 6.5.1Lake Erie Regulatory Works G-180 6.5.2 Summary and Costs G-184 6.6Regulation Plan SEO-42-P G-184 6.6.1Lake Erie Regulatory Works G-186 6.6.2 Summary and Costs G-186 6.7Regulation Plan SMHEO-38 g1188 6.7.1Lakes Michigan-Huron Regulatory Works G-188 6.7.2Lake Erie Regulatory Works G-190 6.7.3 Summary andCosts G-193 vi LIST OF TABLES Page G-1 PrincipalDimensions of NavigationLocks at Sault Ste. Marie 6-13 G-2 AverageAnnual Costs of Winter Operations of the I ControlStructure at Sault Ste. Marie Utilizing St ream Heating Facilities G-2 8 G-3 Lake SuperiorRegulatory Works - Summary of Cost Estimates for Alternate Gate Heating Methods G-3 3 G-4 AverageAnnual Costs of Winter Operation of the ControlStructure At Sault Ste. Marie (Recommended Method,Using ElectricalEquipment) 6-38 G-5 St. Clair - DetroitRiver System - Highway Bridges, Tunnelsand Ferries G-50 G-6 ExistingHydro-Electric Power Development - Niagara River G-116 G-7 Designof Niagara River Regulatory Works - Results of Stability Analysis 6-135 G-8 Designof Niagara River Regulatory Works - Details of CellularCofferdams G-135 G-9 Designof Niagara River Regulatory Works Unit Component Costsof Structure 6-135 010 Designof Niagara River Regulatory Works - Equipment Costsfor Channel Excavation 6-139 G-11 Design of NiagaraRiver Regulatory Works - Estimated Costs of ShoreProtective Works 6-143 G-12 Partial Regulation ofLake Erie .- Determinationof ChannelCapacity Increase forVarying Size of Squaw IslandDiversion Channel G-15 7 G-13 Summary of CostsEstimates - Black Rock Canal-Squaw IslandDiversion Schemes G-157 G-14 Summary of Regulatory Works Requirements 6-174 G-15Summary ofEstimated Costs of Modifications to LakeSuperior Compensating Works for Plan SO-901 6-174 vii LIST OF TABLES (cont'd) Page G-16 Summary of Critical ChannelCapacity Increase Design Conditions - LakesMichigan-Huron Regulatory Works Plan SMHO-11 G-176 6-17 Summary of CriticalChannel Capacity Decrease Design Conditions - LakesMichigan-Huron Regulatory Works Plan SMHO-11 G-17 6 G-18 Summary ofEstimated Costs of Lakes Michigan-Huron Regulatory Works Requiredfor Plan SMHO-11 G-178 G-19 Summary ofEstimated Costs of Regulatory Works Requiredfor