Thousand Islands Area Residents Association

It is being reported today that the Canadian-US border closure has been extended another 30 days to September 21st, 2020.

Sadly, the summer and maybe even the year will be over before US travellers can come to Canada. Canada Border Services Agency has just announced that the border will still be closed to all but essential travel until August 21, and the closing may then be extended even longer. It has been a difficult summer. Friends on both sides of the border miss seeing each other, and American islanders miss being at their cottages some for the first time in years of annual visits. ... Our thanks to everyone, visitors and local residents alike, for continuing to keep us all safe here in the Thousand Islands. The Leeds, Grenville & Lanark Health Unit's Covid19 report for today, August 4, confirms no new lab-confirmed cases locally since July 11. Since July 7, the Health Unit has made masks mandatory inside public spaces until at least September 30. We’re grateful to everyone for being co-operative so that we can shop locally with confidence as this area gradually re-opens for business. At least we do not have to deal with the risk of flooding that we endured in 2017 and 2019. The IJC reports that the Lake Ontario water level on July 29, 2020, was 75.14m (246.52 ft) - roughly 2 feet lower than the same time last year. It’s gradually receding from the May 6, 2020 high of 75.39m (247.34 ft), but it’s still higher than the historical average for this week of 75m (246.06 ft). So please stay safe, look after each other, and we’ll all look forward to the day when we can meet again and look back together on this difficult time. Contact us at http://www.tiaraweb.org/ We'd love to hear from you. TIARA Board of Directors

Cautious re-opening starts in Ontario The Ontario government has just annouced that, on Saturday, May 16, "Marinas, boat clubs and public boat launches may open for recreational use" and "golf courses will be able to open, with clubhouses open only for washrooms and restaurants open only for take-out". But don't forget we still have to stay apart 2 metres, wash our hands, and wear masks if physical distancing isn't possible.... To read the whole Ontario press release, go to https://news.ontario.ca//ontario-announces-additional-work However, the Globe & Mail on May 13 reminded us, "The Canada-U.S. border is expected to stay closed to non-essential travel until June 12 to safeguard citizens in both countries from the spread of COVID-19, according to sources with knowledge of the bilateral talks."

IJC Webinar on Great Lakes high water levels at noon on Friday, May 8, 2020 The IJC - International Joint Commission is hosting a webinar about Great Lakes High Water Levels on Friday, May 8, 2020 at noon. To participate, go to www.ijc.org and click on the April 30 news release, which leads you to the registration page. The webinar will be co-hosted by the two IJC co-chairs, Dr. Pierre Béland (Canadian) and Jnae Corwin (American). Questions and Answers will follow the openi...ng presentation. The IJC is continuing to allow the ILOSLRB (International Lake Ontario St. Lawrence River Board) to let record amounts of water over the Moses-Saunders dam at Cornwall, thanks to a drier spring and lower inflows from the Ottawa River and the upper Great Lakes. The outflow released from June through December 2019 was the highest ever recorded for this seven-month period. It also helped that the Seaway agreed to delay its spring opening. For a few weeks in the spring, more water was allowed to flow out of the St. Lawrence without endangering any ships trying to navigate below the dam.The IJC reports that water levels throughout the Lake Ontario St. Lawrence River system are expected to peak in 2020 well below the record-highs of 2017 and 2019. However, it warns that there is still the risk of some flooding, depending on weather conditions. We’re just hoping that the spring continues to be relatively dry.