International Souris-Red Rivers Engineering Board

RESPONSIBILITIES

The International Souris-Red Rivers Engineering Board was established by the Commission in January 1948 in response to a Reference from Governments requesting the Commission to report on the use and apportionment of the waters within the Souris-Red Rivers basin and to develop. plans of mutual advantage for these waters. A final comprehensive report under this Reference as a whole was never submitted. However, over the years, the Board has been involved in numerous issues including Red River flooding and dyking problems- water supplies and storage possibilities on the Souris and Pembina Rivers; apportionment of the waters of the Souris River basin; Poplar River apportionment; Garrison Diversion; the proposed Burlington dam, etc. The Board consists bf six members - three from the U.S. and three from Canada and submits written reports biannually to the Commission.

Recently the Board's role has been to monitor and keep the Commission informed of developments within the Souris-Red basin.

Following is the official directive for the board:

REFERENCE FOR THE
INTERNATIONAL SOURIS-RED RIVERS ENGINEERING BOARD

At the request of the Governments of Canada and the United States to investigate and make recommendations regarding present and future water requirements, including apportionment, conservation and utilization of waters of common interest, the International Joint Commission (IJC) appointed the International Souris-Red Rivers Engineering Board on April 7, 1948 to:

1. To investigate and report on the water requirements arising out of the existing dams and other works or projects located in the waters which are of common interest along, across, or in the vicinity of the international boundary from the eastern boundary of the Milk River drainage on the west up to and including the drainage basin of the Red River of the North on the east.
   
2. To report whether, in the judgement of the Commission, further uses of these waters within their respective boundaries by Canada and the United States would be practicable in the public interest from the points of view of the two Governments.
   
3. Having regard to the reports made under paragraphs 1 and 2, and for those streams where in the judgement of the International Joint Commission apportionment of the waters is advisable, to make advisory recommendations concerning the apportionment which should made between Canada and the United States of such of the waters under reference as cross the international boundary, and with respect to each such crossing of the international boundary.
   
4. To conduct necessary investigations and to prepare a comprehensive plan or plans of mutual advantage to the two countries for the conservation, control, and utilization of the waters under reference in accordance with the recommendation apportionment thereof.
   

The International Souris-Red Rivers Engineering Board (ISRREB) is composed of three members from each country that serve as professionals rather than as representatives of their respective agencies when considering references made to the Board.

Revised August 20, 1997
Maintained by Jim Houston, houstonj@ottawa.ijc.org
Re-posted December 18, 2000 by G.L.R.O., commission@windsor.ijc.org