IJC to Hold Public Meetings on Osoyoos Watershed Board Feasibility Study

The International Joint Commission (IJC) has established a working group to assess whether an IJC international watershed board could be beneficial for the region. The working group will be holding public listening sessions in the basin on the following dates: 

A third, virtual, listening session will be held on Wednesday July 15 from 4:00 to 6:00 pm PT for those who are unable to attend the in-person meetings. You can register for the virtual event here. 

During the listening sessions, the working group will provide an overview of the study being conducted and will solicit input from participants on the watershed board approach and whether there are issues they feel could be addressed by a watershed board.  

Background 

The working group is reviewing current water management efforts in the Osoyoos Lake region and conducting engagement activities to assess whether a new international watershed board would be beneficial for the region. The working group is composed of local representatives, and government officials. Through conversations with organizations and people in the basin, the study will determine what benefits a new watershed board could provide and make recommendations on what a potential watershed board in the Osoyoos Lake region could look like and the issues it could help address.  

IJC international watershed boards have been established elsewhere along the Canadian-U.S. border as a mechanism to resolve current and emerging transboundary water issues. They are grounded in the belief that local communities, given appropriate assistance, are best placed to achieve solutions. Watershed boards take a holistic approach, recognizing that ecosystems function as whole entities and should be managed as such. Applying a watershed lens considers water quality, water quantity and aquatic ecosystem health and how they interact and impact one another. This more holistic approach ensures broad engagement and solutions that are tailored to meet local needs, while also making the best use of existing resources to reduce duplication. Watershed boards typically include local membership and Indigenous participation in addition to government agency representatives and technical experts. 

Next Steps 

Following engagements over the coming months, the working group will release a draft report of their findings in fall 2026 and will deliver a final report and recommendations to the IJC in Spring 2027. 

This effort is separate from the regular work of the International Osoyoos Lake Board of Control which oversees the operation of Zosel Dam to regulate lake levels.  

More details about the feasibility study can be found in the following  fact sheet.  

Contacts: 

Yon Trimble, Public Affairs Officer, US Section