Commission Designates International Red River Board as Watershed Board

The International Joint Commission (IJC) is pleased to announce that the International Red River Board has been officially designated as an international watershed board. The Board is now recognized as the International Red River Watershed Board (IRRWB).

The IJC’s international watershed boards are established by the IJC to monitor water quality, water quantity and aquatic health using an integrative, ecosystem approach. The Red River Board was designated as an  “international pilot watershed board” in 2005 under the IJC’s International Watersheds Initiative (IWI).

With the addition of the International Red River Watershed Board, there are now three IJC international watershed boards including the International St. Croix River Watershed Board and the International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Board.

Designating the Red River Board as a watershed board has been a Commission priority for several years. The board meets the criteria defining watershed boards, including  finding local solutions to watershed issues.

“We are proud to announce the International Red River Watershed Board and look forward to its members continuing their excellent work finding collaborative solutions to basin issues,” said IJC US Co-Chair Jane Corwin.

“Watershed boards reflect the fact that water quality and quantity problems in a basin don’t stop at the international border; they require an integrated approach if they are to be resolved. The International Red River Watershed Board is well-positioned to do just that” said IJC Canadian Co-Chair Pierre Béland.

The newly designated IRRWB will pick up activities right where the former pilot watershed board left off including duties monitoring water quality at the international crossing, reporting and advising on flood mitigation activities, and investigating ecosystem and aquatic habitat issues.

The IJC was established by the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909 to help the governments of Canada and the United States prevent and resolve disputes over use of the waters shared by the two countries.

For additional information contact:

Kevin Bunch, US Section Office                           Kevin.Bunch@ijc.org                  202-632-2014

Sarah Lobrichon, Canadian Section Office          Sarah.Lobrichon@ijc.org            613-992-5368