Flooding study to host public meetings in Quebec, New York and Vermont
Date

The International  Lake Champlain-Richelieu River Study Board will hold public meetings in Quebec, New York and Vermont next week. The public is invited to hear about current work of the study, talk with technical experts, ask questions and share views. Register here. 

Information will be presented on impacts of past flooding, potential flood mitigation measures, and new forecasting models. A new fact sheet series and video animation of the Lake Champlain-Richelieu River basin will also be presented.

Quotes

Though no measure can completely eliminate flooding, it’s important to share the science with the public as the study group develops potential measures to reduce the impacts of flooding. We want people to understand the factors that are guiding our work at this point in the study, and to tell us their views. These meetings present a good opportunity for the public to be involved in issues that ultimately affect everyone in the basin. Jean-Francois Cantin, Canadian study co-chair.

A unique aspect of this study is that we are actively incorporating perspectives from the public and community leaders in both the US and Canada as we develop possible solutions to reduce the impacts of flooding in the basin. At the end of the day, recommendations that we know to be acceptable and desirable will have a greater chance of being implemented. The public has an important voice in this process. Keith Robinson, US study co-chair.

Quick Links

Public meetings will be held at the following locations:
 

Wednesday, Nov 7          Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec
                                          Corporation du Fort St-Jean (Salle Grand Fort)
                                          15, rue Jacques-Cartier Nord
                                           7 pm – 9 pm

Thursday, Nov 8             Whallonsburg, New York
                                          Grange Hall, 1610, Rte 22
                                          6 pm – 8 pm

Friday, Nov 9                  Burlington, Vermont
                                          DoubleTree by Hilton, 870 Williston Road
                                          6 pm – 8 pm


Background

The Study Board was appointed by the International Joint Commission in 2017to respond to a request of the US and Canadian governments to undertake the work outlined in the 2013 Plan of Study Option B, to more fully explore the causes, impacts, risks, and solutions to mitigate flooding in the Lake Champlain-Richelieu River basin. A final report is expected in 2021. 

The study’s main objectives are to:

  • Recommend measures that would mitigate flooding and its impacts across the basin.
  • Develop and recommend the implementation of a binational, real-time flood forecasting and flood inundation mapping system.
  • Determine public, community and stakeholder desirability of the proposed measures. 

In a separate project, the International Joint Commission is also examining nutrient loading and its impacts in Lake Champlain, Mississquoi Bay and Lake Memphremagog. To learn more about that reference study, visit ijc.org/lclm.

 

For more information, contact:

Frank Bevacqua                202-736-9024               bevacquaf@washington.ijc.org

Randi Morry                      613-947-1420                morryr@ottawa.ijc.org