WELCOME

IJC Strengthens Local Capacity in Watersheds

Through its International Watersheds Initiative (IWI), the IJC and its IWI Boards continue to build local capacity to solve transboundary environmental issues at the watershed level. IWI projects have included modeling water flows, preparing for floods, surveying health issues, managing fishery issues and reaching out to stakeholders. The Transboundary Data Harmonization Task Force is working to produce consistent geospatial datasets and maps for use by planners, managers and citizens in watersheds along the boundary.

Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Working Group

The Working Group is developing a potential new approach for managing water levels and flows in the Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River system. The group includes senior representatives from Canada, the United States, Quebec, Ontario, New York and the IJC. After the group provides its advice to the IJC, the IJC will seek public comment and the concurrence of the two federal governments on any proposal it makes to change the management of levels and flows.

Alewives and the St. Croix River

The International St. Croix River Watershed Boardcontinues discussions with interested parties on the proposed restoration of the sea run (anadromous) alewife, a fish species native to the St. Croix River. Updated information on this issue, including the summer 2010 public comment process, can be found on the Board's webpage.

Public Consultations on St. Clair River Report

In response to comments from the public on the report, IJC has expanded the scope of the study to include an investigation of how raising the water-level regimes on Lakes Michigan and Huron by different amounts would affect interests on the Great Lakes system from Lake Superior to the St. Lawrence River. The Commission has agreed with the Study Board that it also review mitigative options based on potential climate change impacts.

Visit our 2009 Biennial Meeting website and view the 2007‑2009 Great Lakes Work Group reports

Visit our Boundary Waters Treaty Centennial Website.

MISSION STATEMENT

The International Joint Commission prevents and resolves disputes between the United States of America and Canada under the 1909 Boundary Waters Treaty and pursues the common good of both countries as an independent and objective advisor to the two governments.

In particular, the Commission rules upon applications for approval of projects affecting boundary or transboundary waters and may regulate the operation of these projects; it assists the two countries in the protection of the transboundary environment, including the implementation of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement and the improvement of transboundary air quality; and it alerts the governments to emerging issues along the boundary that may give rise to bilateral disputes.

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