Reference on Transboundary Water Pollution in the Elk-Kootenai/y Watershed

On March 8, 2024, the Governments of Canada and the United States provided a Reference that incorporates a proposal developed in partnership with the Ktunaxa Nation to the International Joint Commission (IJC), under the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909, requesting the IJC undertake certain actions regarding the impact of transboundary water pollution in the Elk-Kootenai/y watershed.  

The actions outlined in the Reference will be conducted by two separate groups:  

1. A Governance Body composed of representatives from each of the six Governments named in the Proposal incorporated into the Reference, with the IJC serving as secretariat. 

2. An IJC Study Board composed of relevant subject matter experts and knowledge holders  

Both of these groups will include Indigenous knowledge holders and technical experts from around the watershed. 

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