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Slaughter: Don't blame the IJC for the flooding

Rep. Louise Slaughter speaks at her office in the Federal Building downtown
Alex Crichton
Rep. Louise Slaughter speaks at her office in the Federal Building downtown

Blame Mother Nature, not Plan 2014, for the flooding on the shores of Lake Ontario.

That's according to Congresswoman Louise Slaughter, who says this year we've had rains of 'biblical proportions."

"Frankly the idea that what the IJC planned in 2014 had to do with this is absolutely not possible.  It did not even go into effect until January, and I'd be very much surprised if it's had any effect on anything," she said.

Many town and county officials are blaming Plan 2014 for the flooding, something the IJC refutes.

Slaughter said the intent of the plan was to restore some of the habitats in the lakes, such as at Braddock Bay.

She adds the flooding is not just here, it's all over the nation.

Slaughter says her office has been in touch constantly with the governor's office, and the supervisors of the towns impacted by the flooding.

She told reporters who gathered at her Rochester office today that Plan 2014 can't prevent flooding in the future, either.

"It's the greatest amount of rainfall have probably ever had in a stated amount of time, and heavy snow pack melt. And with the 'drain lake' it comes down here.  And the IJC can't control that rain, and I can't control that rain, and you guys can't control that rain."

Slaughter is a member of the Great Lakes Task Force.