November/December 1997
|
|
November/December 1997 |
by Frank Bevacqua
The International Joint Commission (IJC) and its newly formed International Red River Basin Task Force held a series of meetings with municipal leaders in the Red River basin from September 29-October 2, 1997 to learn more about the impact of this year's flooding and to help frame the broader issues for IJC's investigation. During the tour, the IJC also met with Manitoba Premier Gary Filmon, North Dakota Governor Edward Schafer, U.S. Senator Kent Conrad and the Red River Basin Board.
In the meetings, managers and elected officials voiced concerns and suggestions on a variety of issues including water retention in the basin, new diversions around settled areas and agricultural drainage. There seemed to be general agreement on the need for better communication and coordination throughout the basin.
In June, the governments of the United States and Canada asked the IJC to report on the causes and effects of damaging floods in the Red River basin, and to recommend ways to reduce and prevent harm from future flooding.
The IJC was asked to examine a full range of management options, including structural measures, such as building design and construction, basin storage and ring dykes, and nonstructural measures, such as floodplain management, flood forecasting and emergency preparedness and response, and to identify opportunities for improvement in preparedness and response that could be addressed. The governments also asked the IJC to look into how the two countries could better cooperate to address flooding in the Red River basin.
The governments requested an interim report by the end of 1997, identifying measures that could be implemented in the near term, and a final report by the end of 1998. In order to better respond to the broad scope of the request, the IJC appointed an International Red River Basin Task Force with members from a variety of backgrounds in public policy and water resources management (see table).
A variety of initiatives related to flood preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation are currently underway on both sides of the border. The IJC intends to draw on these activities, experiences and lessons learned from the 1997 flood to provide recommendations for improved cross-border cooperation in preparation and response to future floods.
The IJC intends to hold meetings with the general public in the basin in early 1998 and to hold public hearings before the end of its investigation. The text of the terms of reference from governments, along with other information, can be found on the IJC's website at www.ijc.org(.)
Sommaire
La Commission mixte internationale (CMI) et le nouveau Groupe de travail international sur le bassin-versant de la rivière Rouge qui en est issu viennent de tenir une série de réunions avec les dirigeants municipaux du bassin-versant de la Rouge. Ces réunions, qui ont eu lieu entre le 29 septembre et le 2 octobre derniers, visaient à mieux connaître l'impact des inondations de cette année et à faciliter l'établissement d'un cadre pour les grandes questions sur lesquelles doit enquêter la CMI. Durant les réunions, les cadres et les élus ont exprimé des préoccupations et des suggestions sur une variété de sujets, dont la rétention de l'eau dans le bassin-versant, les nouveaux ouvrages de dérivation autour des zones urbanisées et le drainage des terres agricoles. Il semblait y avoir consensus quant à la nécessité d'une meilleure communication et d'une meilleure coordination dans l'ensemble du bassin-versant.
| Mr. Bruce Rawson, Co-director Consultant Ottawa, Ontario | Mr. Donald W. Herndon, Co-director Director of Programs Management Mississippi Valley Division/Mississippi River Commission U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Vicksburg, Mississippi |
| Mr. Dwight A. Williamson Manager, Water Quality Management Section Manitoba Environment Winnipeg, Manitoba | Mr. David A. Sprynczynatyk North Dakota State Engineer North Dakota State Water Commission Bismarck, North Dakota |
| Dr. Slobodan P. Simonovic Director and Professor Natural Resources Institute University of Manitoba Winnipeg, Manitoba | Mr. Kent Lokkesmoe Director, Division of Waters Minnesota Department of Natural Resources St. Paul, Minnesota |
| Mr. Robert A. Halliday Director, National Hydrology Research Institute Environment Canada Saskatoon, Saskatchewan | Dr. Jay A. Leitch Distinguished Professor of Agricultural Economics North Dakota State University Fargo, North Dakota |
| Mr. Larry James Whitney Manager, Water Planning and Development Manitoba Department of Natural Resources Winnipeg, Manitoba | Mr. Richard W. Krimm Senior Policy Advisor Mitigation Directorate Federal Emergency Management Agency Washington, D.C. |
Revised: 24 December 1997
Maintained by Kevin McGunagle,
mcgunaglek@ijc.wincom.net