As Lake Ontario water levels continue rising this spring, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says it is actively coordinating with state and local officials to help shoreline communities prepare for potential flooding and erosion.
The Buffalo District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released new details Friday outlining how the agency supports local emergency management efforts during high-water events across the Great Lakes region.
While local governments and emergency responders remain the primary agencies responsible for flood response, federal officials say the Corps provides engineering expertise, forecasting support, water management analysis and emergency supplies when requested by state leaders.
The Buffalo District said its emergency management team is currently monitoring water levels on Lake Ontario and maintaining communication with New York emergency management officials as spring rain and snowmelt continue feeding the watershed.
“We want to make it as straightforward as possible for local, county, Tribal and state leaders to understand and request support from the Corps of Engineers,” Buffalo District Emergency Manager Phil Stitzinger said. “Our team stands ready to assist and to protect communities.”
According to the Corps, available resources include stockpiled sandbags in New York and Ohio, technical assistance for flood barrier construction, and mapping support to help communities identify areas vulnerable to rising water.
Federal officials stressed that water levels on Lake Ontario are primarily driven by large-scale natural conditions including rainfall, snowmelt, evaporation and inflow from Lake Erie. Officials said weather systems can raise lake levels by feet, while human-controlled outflows generally influence levels by only inches.
The agency’s water management team works closely with the International Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Board under the international regulation framework known as Plan 2014. That coordination includes managing water releases through the Moses-Saunders Dam along the St. Lawrence River.
“While we are seeing significant water entering the basin from snowmelt and rain, our team is analyzing data daily,” said Buffalo District civil engineer Armaghan Abed-Elmdoust. “Our role is to accurately implement the international plan of regulation.”
Officials said the Corps also regularly coordinates with commercial shipping and hydropower stakeholders while adjusting outflows to balance impacts throughout the broader Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River system.
Lt. Col. Robert Burnham, commander of the Buffalo District, said shoreline protection efforts require coordination across multiple agencies and levels of government.
“Protecting our shoreline communities is a team effort, and we’re always ready to answer the call of our local, state and international partners,” Burnham said.
The Corps encouraged residents along Lake Ontario to monitor local forecasts and rely on local emergency officials for updated guidance as spring conditions continue evolving.
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