IJC Commissioners in the Kootenay and St. Mary-Milk Rivers transboundary region in mid-July

July 10, 2014 

IJC Commissioners in the Kootenay and St. Mary-Milk Rivers transboundary region in mid-July

During the week of July 14-18, 2014 Commissioners of the International Joint Commission (IJC) will be making site visits of projects under IJC jurisdiction in the Kootenay and St. Mary-Milk Rivers transboundary region.  Commissioners will receive briefings from government officials in the region and will meet with members of the International Kootenay Lake Board of Control, and the Accredited Officers for the St. Mary and Milk Rivers. Commissioners will tour the diversion works that move water from the St. Mary River into the St. Mary canal and the siphons that carry that water across to the Milk River.  The IJC will also hold its early summer Executive meeting, traditionally held in Windsor, Ontario, in the western region. 

“It’s important for all Commissioners to gain firsthand knowledge of all watersheds where we have responsibilities under the Boundary Waters Treaty,” explained Commissioner Rich Moy, a freshwater ecologist, and life-long resident of Montana. 

The IJC is a six-member commission established by Canada and the United States under the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909 to help prevent and resolve disputes over the use of waters shared by the two countries. A dispute over water allocation in the St. Mary-Milk Rivers watershed was one of the issues that led to negotiation of the treaty. Under the treaty, the IJC is responsible for regulating structures that impact the flow or levels in the other country.  The IJC’s International Kootenay Lake Board of Control oversees the flow of water through the Corra Linn Dam at Granite, British Columbia, which was constructed after being approved by the IJC in 1938. Upon request of the Governments, the Commission also undertakes scientific studies and advises the governments on cross border water quality issues.
 

Contacts:

Nick Heisler                Ottawa                       613-992-8367             heislern@ottawa.ijc.org

Frank Bevacqua         Washington                 202-736-9024             bevacquaf@washington.ijc.org