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Lake Ontario Flood Threat Decreases

Published June 15, 2018 at 9:10 PM EDT

Flooding along Lake Ontario in May 2017 [Veronica Volk/WXXI News]

By Veronica Volk

It looks like Lake Ontario may have already reached its peak high for the season, which is good news for lakefront home owners and business owners.

This time last year, Lake Ontario was almost two feet higher than it is right now. That means a lot of properties along the shore, particularly in places like Sodus Point and Hamlin, were underwater, and had been for weeks.

This year, the levels are still higher than the long-term average, but nowhere near those record-breaking highs of 2017.

Arun Heer, the U.S. secretary for the International Lake Ontario - St. Lawrence River Board, expects this trend to continue if weather conditions cooperate.

"This month has been dry so far in terms of rainfall," Heer said. "So if we see dry or average rainfall patterns continue, we can expect to see the lake declining here in the short term."

Until then, Heer said, the board will continue letting water out of the lake at the maximum amount allowed under current regulations.