The International Joint Commission (IJC) became a household name for property owners, recreational boaters, commercial shippers, hydroelectric producers and environmentalists in the spring of 2017 when the waters of Lake Ontario started to rise, forming a perfect storm.

The newly adopted Plan 2014, with all of its controversies, faced its first test mere months after going into effect.

The hotly debated 37-page policy consists of mathematical formulas, water level chart after water level chart and scientific explanations.

But what does it mean for Lake Ontario homeowners? What, if any, impact did it have on flooding? Why does the IJC say despite 2017, it’s the best solution? And what can lakeside homeowners do to protect themselves in the future?

1. What is Plan 2014?

Plan 2014 is a joint agreement between the United States and Canada in the waterway management of Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence River. American and Canadian IJC commissioners, who are in charge of the plan, work by consensus to find solutions for issues facing both countries.

But for the first time, Plan 2014 took into account the impact of dam management on the ecological and environmental changes of Lake Ontario.

So there are really three stakeholders: Americans, Canadians and Mother Nature. (There are also economic considerations, but we’ll get to that in a bit.)

2. Did Plan 2014 negatively impact flooding in 2017?

By the policies laid out by Plan 2014, the IJC guided outflow – the amount of water allowed to go from Lake Ontario to the St. Lawrence River – at its proper level. But, American communities around Lake Ontario saw record rainfall – and the lake saw water levels unseen since records started 1900.

The water levels hit an all-time high in May, and despite releasing the maximum amount of water from the lake allowed under the plan, levels remained high.

The maximum limit for outflow also takes into consideration what it takes to maintain safe velocities for ships to navigate the St. Lawrence River.

So, by the constraints of Plan 2014, the IJC couldn’t go any higher. But, even if Plan 2014 didn’t exist, and Lake Ontario homeowners saw outflows at rates they wanted, that may have had a drastic impact on local economies throughout North America who rely on a safe and stable seaway shipping route.

3. What other considerations did the IJC have to make?

Besides keeping shipping routes safe, but at the same time minimizing the impact of record water levels on Lake Ontario homes and businesses, commissioners were eying another dam with record water levels.

The Carillon Dam on the Ottawa River hit its all-time maximum, which caused flooding in early May of towns along the Ottawa River and the Montreal area.

The IJC, commissioners argue, had to consider that releasing more water from Lake Ontario earlier in May would’ve caused even more catastrophic flooding near one of the continent’s largest cities.

4. Why does the IJC stick by Plan 2014?

It comes down to research and decades of historical data. The IJC took information dating back to 1900, determined what maximum water level the lake had reached in history and what impact that had on the St. Lawrence River to try to reach harmony with its balancing act between river and lake water levels. Plan 2014 takes all that research into consideration when the IJC makes its recommendations on outflows from the dam.

5. What can home and business owners do?

The impact of high water levels weren’t just felt on the marinas, homes on islands in the lake, but also by homeowners with properties at higher elevations, who saw a buffer between their homes inch closer to the water as erosion took hold.

So what can homeowners do the next time Mother Nature rears its wet spring head?

For one, continue to discuss the issue with their elected officials, who have argued from Albany to D.C. for changes that distributes damages more equitably.

Without drastic changes to Plan 2014, home and business owners along the shoreline are looking to make structural changes: building break walls, raising roads, placing boulders at the shore to protect against erosion.

Besides that, hold onto hope that Mother Nature won’t batter the region like that again.