"I had to put up a breakwall in 2017. It got knocked down. In 2019, I had to put it up again," Shea said.

The binational panel that governs Great Lakes issues has no revenue of its own. Its money comes from Washington and Ottawa.

Both the U.S. and Canada have laws protecting the IJC from being sued. The Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Alliance has called on President Trump to cancel a 1948 executive order by then-President Harry Truman that shields the IJC from litigation.

Reversing the executive order might not happen, so the group has an attorney working on suing the American and Canadian federal governments.

"We don't even have to sue the IJC. We can sue the U.S. and Canadian governments, who are responsible for the actions of the IJC," Shea said.

Rep. Chris Collins, R-Clarence, pushed for Trump to clean house on the IJC. Trump appointed three new members, including former Assemblywoman Jane L. Corwin of Clarence as the new U.S. chairwoman of the IJC.