State Sen. Patty Ritchie says she’s encouraged by the progress of the International Joint Commission on a long-delayed plan for maintaining water levels in the St. Lawrence River and the Eastern Lake Ontario Basin.

“The new plan appears to have gained the support of communities and interested groups from Buffalo and Rochester, as well as St. Lawrence River groups that traditionally have had conflicting goals,” said Senator Ritchie, in a letter she sent Friday to Lana Pollack IJC’s US Chair.

“But I still have concerns that representatives of our ports in Oswego and Ogdensburg may not be aware of the specifics of how the plan would impact their operations.”

Ritchie offered to broker a meeting between the Commission, other interested parties and port officials to gain their input, and insure that the final plan meets the needs both of protecting shipping interests, as well as recreational and environmental needs.

“After more than a decade of trying to develop a plan that takes into consideration the needs of shoreline property owners, boaters, commercial shippers and the environment, it’s my understanding that the IJC has developed a new compromise water regulatory plan that appears to have gained widespread support from a large number of groups that have a stake in the future of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River,” said Ritchie in her letter to Pollack.

“At a recent meeting of the newly formed International Border Caucus that I formed with Ontario Sen. Robert Runciman, we both agreed that it is important to both our nations that we find an acceptable alternative to the current plan developed in the 1950s – and that we implement that plan quickly,” the letter continues.

“I comment you and your staff for the leadership you have shown in working with a wide variety of stakeholders to develop what appears to be an acceptable compromise plan that will address many of the historic problems caused by the existing plan developed in the 1950s,” the letter says.

The letter adds, “I am also advised that the new plan protects the interests of our important Lake Ontario, St. Lawrence River and Seaway shipping industry, but have some concerns that representatives of our ports in Oswego and Ogdensburg my not be aware of the specifics of how the plan would impact their operations.”