Following a second major flooding event in three years, state Sen. Patty Ritchie and Assemblyman Mark Walczyk are calling on shoreline property owners, small business owners and other stakeholders to join them in calling for Plan 2014 to be suspended.

Ritchie, a Republican from Heuvelton whose district includes Ogdensburg, Oswegatchie, Waddington, Lisbon, Louisville, Morristown, and Hammond, and Walczyk, a Watertown Republican who represents the Assembly’s “River District,” are asking constituents to sign an online petition asking that Plan 2014, an attempt by the International Joint Commission to better control water flows through Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River, to halt until problems resulting from record high water can be addressed.

“Across our region, thousands of people are dealing with record high water that is destroying homes, crippling small businesses and severely damaging shoreline infrastructure,” said Sen. Ritchie.

“I understand the need to balance the competing interests when it comes to regulating water levels; however the current plan is having a disproportionate impact on property owners and shoreline business owners,” she said. “I think it’s important the International Joint Commission suspend the plan, hear the voices of those impacted and take a serious look at how changes can be made that would prevent any further devastation.”

"It's high time we stand arm and arm and demand the IJC halts and reevaluates Plan 2014," said Assemblyman Walczyk. "I am proud to support Senator Ritchie's efforts and encourage everyone affected by the high water to sign our petition."

The International Joint Commission—the body tasked with regulating the water levels of the Great Lakes between the United States and Canada— has already announced plans to call a special meeting to discuss suspending Plan 2014 and going back to the previous water management plan, Plan 1958D. And they said that they would discuss with stakeholders plans to change existing water flow parameters.

“While I am pleased to hear the Board now plans on increasing water flow beyond what the current plan calls for, unfortunately, significant damage has already taken place,” Ritchie said. “There needs to be a water regulation plan in place that accounts for changing weather patterns and allows the Board to adapt accordingly.”

To sign the petition to suspend Plan 2014, visit Ritchie's web site at https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/patty-ritchie.