logo

line

International Advisory Board on Pollution Control - St. Croix River
Responsibilities


The St. Croix River Basin

The St. Croix River runs along 185 km (115 miles) of the international boundary between Canada and the United States. This portion of the boundary lies between Maine and New Brunswick and includes the main stem of the river and its headwaters. The river basin covers an area of about 4,230 sq km (1,630 sq miles) making it the fourth largest river basin in New Brunswick and the seventh largest in Maine.

The St. Croix River has always played an important role in the development of this area because the economy is based largely on natural resources and tourism. The river is known for its fisheries and recreational resources as well as being a source of hydro-electric power and municipal and industrial water supply.

 What does the Advisory Board on Pollution Control - St. Croix River do?

The International Joint Commission was requested by the two Governments to maintain continuing surveillance over progress towards compliance with the water quality objectives and established the six member International Advisory Board on Pollution control - St. Croix River in 1962 for this purpose.

The main objective of the Advisory Board on Pollution control is to monitor the water quality and advise the Commission on the general state of health of the St. Croix River. In its annual reports to the Commission, the Board provides information on:

  • progress in pollution control particularly in the area of municipal sewage treatment and pulp mill operations.
  • progress in meeting water quality objectives established by the Commission for the river.
  • efforts to restore the salmon fishery to the river.
  • areas where water quality improvements are required in terms of the water quality needs of fish populations, recreational users, industry and local residents.

What has been accomplished and what remains to be done?

The water quality of the St. Croix River has improved dramatically in the past twenty years. Salmon have been reintroduced and other migratory fish such as alewives, eels and shad have returned. The river's water quality is improving and there is a growing number of recreational users. However more remains to be done for the river to reach its full potential and become a wholesome and valuable resource to be shared by all users in Maine and New Brunswick. While resource management is generally the responsibility of the state and provincial governments, the International Joint Commission, through its boards, continues to monitor water levels and flows, water quality, pollution abatement efforts and fishery restoration activities along the river in order to make recommendations to Governments on what needs to be done.

The Board and its Responsibilities :

In 1961 the Governments of Canada and the United States adopted water quality objectives recommended by the IJC for the St. Croix River and agreed to undertake pollution abatement measures to meet these objectives'. The Commission was instructed to monitor water quality through a technical advisory board and to investigate the possibility of restoring Atlantic salmon to the river. In 1962 the Commission established the International Advisory Board on Pollution Control - St. Croix River consisting of three Canadian and three U.S. members.

Since 1962 the Board has reported annually on the water quality of the river and on pollution abatement efforts of industries and municipalities along the river. By 1977 following the installation and improvement of a number of industrial and municipal pollution control systems along the river, water quality had improved significantly. Co-operative ,programs under the Maine Atlantic Sea Run Salmon Commission and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada to restore anadromous Atlantic salmon to the St. Croix River followed and it was not long before the first salmon runs, albeit modest, since the 1950's occurred.

The Board is continuing to look at other factors involved in inhibiting salmon restoration and at bacterial contamination that has resulted in the closing of a major part of the St. Croix estuary to commercial shellfishing. In 1992, the Board, in co- operation with the St. Croix Board of Control, took a lead role in convening two public meetings in the St. Croix River basin which ultimately led to a decision by the Commission to review the regulation of water levels and flows in the system.