International Watersheds Initiative Projects

International Joint Commission boards in watersheds along the US-Canada border carry out IWI projects to promote communication, conduct scientific studies and contribute to the resolution of watershed issues. Projects are developed by a board and reviewed by Commission staff. All projects are consistent with the board’s mandate and meet the objectives of the IWI.

Osoyoos Lake Water Science Forum 2021

Year
2021
Project Description

The Osoyoos Lake Water Science Forum provides an opportunity for residents of the Okanogan/Okanagan watershed to learn about water management, climate change and the ecology of Osoyoos Lake and the broader Okanagan/Okanogan transboundary watershed.

Kootenay Lake Visualization Tool

Year
2020
Project Description
The International Kootenay Lake Board of Control (IKLBC) requires a user-friendly interactive visualization tool to help communicate to the public and stakeholders the drivers and seasonality of Kootenay Lake water levels, the constraints of the International Joint Commission (IJC) 1938 Order of Approval rule curve, along with other overlapping demands.

Monitoring of Lake Ontario coastal wetland habitat in support of adaptive management - 2020

Year
2020
Project Description

This project will result in detailed vegetation community data referenced to elevation and seasonal water levels in 16 Lake Ontario coastal wetlands.

Osoyoos Lake Climate Change Vulnerability: Phase 2 – Merging Similkameen/Okanagan Basin Hydrologic Models

Year
2020
Project Description
The Osoyoos Lake Board of Control (IOLBC) is developing a multi-year, multi-phase project to analyze the vulnerability of Osoyoos Lake and the relevant IJC Orders of Approval to a projected shift in the climate and hydrology of the Okanagan/Okanogan (Canadian and American spellings, respectively) and Similkameen basins.

Supporting Alewife Restoration in the St. Croix River Watershed - Anadromous Fish Counts at Milltoen Dam, Map and Document Library, and Youth Engagement Program - 2020

Year
2020
Project Description
This project has 3 aspects: 2020 Fish Counts at Millltown; Map and Document Library; Youth Engagement Program.

Understanding Water Quality Stresses and Recent Trends in the St. Croix River Watershed

Year
2020
Project Description

The project would be a 4-year study to better understand stressors affecting water quality within the St. Croix River, and to undertake enhanced water quality monitoring in the river with a particular focus on understanding nutrient concentrations and distribution in the watershed.

AIS Risk Assessment for Rainy – Lake of the Woods Watershed: Phase I, Coarse Filter

Year
2019
Project Description
The Rainy-Lake of the Woods Basin is a popular tourist destination, close to several large water systems, and there is a lack of consistent aquatic invasive species (AIS) prevention efforts across jurisdictions, which leaves it vulnerable to introduction of non-native aquatic biota and range spread of those already introduced.

Development of Lake Ontario – St. Lawrence River ecosystem performance indicator monitoring strategy to support long-term adaptive management

Year
2019
Project Description

The Great Lakes – St. Lawrence River Adaptive Management Committee is continuing in the development of its long-term strategy to ensure a full review of the regulation plans in the 15 year review period specified in the updated Orders of Approval.

Drought Risk Analysis of Stochastically Generated Streamflow for the Red River Basin

Year
2019
Project Description

The Red River is susceptible to periods of dry conditions that have the potential to adversely impact ecological conditions and water supply.

Engaging Lake Ontario and upper St. Lawrence River Municipalities in the Province of Ontario to Document High Water Impacts in support of GLAMs Expedited Plan 2014 Review

Year
2019
Project Description

The project aims to obtain information about impacts of high water levels and flows along the Canadian shore of Lake Ontario and the upper St. Lawrence River upstream of the Moses-Saunders dam at Cornwall, ON.