File No. 711.4216L/89
The British Ambassador to the Secretary of State
Washington, December 27, 1915.
Sir: I duly referred to the Government of Canada your note of the 3d ultimo, No. 980, relative to the overflow of the Lake of the Woods and the reported replacing of certain logs in the dam at Kenora which had been previously removed. You were so good as to ask that steps might be taken to have the report investigated and that, if found to be true, such action might be taken as would ensure the future maintenance of the level of the lake “at its normal elevation.”
I have now received a reply from the Governor General of Canada pointing out that the question of the overflow of the Lake of the Woods is now in the hands of the International Joint Commission for investigation, and for the final determination of the regulated level to be maintained which will satisfy as far as possible navigation, power and land interests.
The level of the lake is partly maintained by a dam at the outlet near Kenora, and this dam has, so far, always been operated by the Ontario Government in the interests of navigation, great care being exercised at the same time not to affect other interests. Stop logs in the dam are placed or removed to keep the level of the lake within certain limits. What constitutes a “normal” or “desirable elevation “of the lake level to be maintained, in order best to serve all interests, is a difficult matter to determine. The information of the Canadian Department of Public Works in regard to this is to the effect that the engineers of the Joint Commission have not yet reached a conclusion on the point.
[Page 300]The Canadian Government hope that when the International Joint Commission give their decision, a joint international control of the level will be arranged which will be satisfactory to all concerned.
I have [etc.]