Reps. Katko, Collins Highlight Dangerously High Lake Levels to Trump Administration, Call for Withdrawal from Plan 2014

WASHINGTON, April 25 -- Rep. John Katko, R-N.Y., issued the following news release:

Amid dangerous flooding in shoreline communities along Lake Ontario, U.S. Reps. John Katko (NY-24) and Chris Collins (NY-27) this week highlighted to President Donald Trump the already devastating impact of the International Joint Commission (IJC) Plan 2014 on communities in Central and Western New York.

Plan 2014 was pushed through by the Obama Administration in December 2016 after years of stagnancy. In a letter sent this week, Reps. Katko and Collins outlined to President Trump the critical situation along the southern shoreline of Lake Ontario and urged the President to both withdraw from Plan 2014 and fill the vacancy left on the IJC by the resignation of Dereth Glance last year.

"With unprecedented increases in water levels along the southern shore of Lake Ontario, homeowners in Sodus Point are currently facing an incredibly dire and costly situation. I spent time in Sodus Point last week with Mayor Chris Tertinek, and there is no question that the heightened water levels have already caused property damage and shoreline erosion," said Rep. John Katko. "With the implementation of Plan 2014, we will continue to see magnified, drastic changes in water levels and property owners in shoreline communities across Wayne County will be left with no guaranteed compensation. Together with Rep. Collins, I've fought against Plan 2014 from the start and this week we've urged the administration to permanently withdraw from Plan 2014 to avoid further damage."

"Plan 2014 has been an utter disaster for Lake Ontario taxpayers and communities since it was approved in the final minutes of the Obama Administration," said Congressman Chris Collins. "Both the property damage and overflow of debris into Lake Ontario that I inspected today could have been avoided. I will continue working with Congressman Katko and the Trump Administration to reform the IJC and repeal Plan 2014 as soon as possible."

Together, Reps. Katko and Collins have consistently raised concerns over the IJC's Plan 2014 with officials at all levels of government.