Public Comment Period on the International St. Mary and Milk Rivers Study Board Final Draft Report and Recommendations
The International St. Mary and Milk Rivers Study Board (Study Board)is inviting the public to review its final draft report and provide comments from July 30 through August 31, 2026.
The final draft report presents recommendations to improve how Canada and the United States share and manage the waters of the St. Mary and Milk Rivers while considering future climate conditions, aging infrastructure, agricultural needs, environmental sustainability, and the communities that depend on these shared waters.
Your feedback is an important part of the process. Comments received during this public comment period will help inform the Study Board's final report to the International Joint Commission (IJC).
Questions to Consider
- Do the Study Board's recommendations address the water management challenges that matter most to you or your community?
- What benefits, concerns, or unintended impacts do you think could result from implementing the Study Board's recommendations?
- Are there additional considerations, local knowledge, or recommendations that the Study Board should consider?
Public Comment Period
Opens: July 30, 2026
Closes: August 31, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. MDT
Read the Draft Report
📄 International St. Mary and Milk Rivers Study Board Final Draft Report (PDF)
Supplementary Document
📄The list of supplementary documents can be found here.
Public Meetings
The Study Board will also host in-person public meetings during the comment period where members of the public can learn more about the final draft report and ask questions.
The public meetings will be held at the following locations:
August 4, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. MDT – Best Western Plus Havre Inn & Suites, Havre, Montana (1425 2nd St NW, Havre, MT 59501)
August 5, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. MDT – Milk River Civic Centre, Milk River, Alberta (321 3 Ave NE, Milk River, AB T0K 1M0)
August 6, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. MDT – Excite Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta (101 Exhibition Wy S, Lethbridge, AB T1J 4R3)
The Study Board hosted a public webinar on July 22, 2026 to provide an update on the study’s progress: Watch the July 22 Public Webinar Recording
Methods to participate
How to submit your comments
- By email: Send your comments to: smmr@ijc.org.
- Online: Complete the online comment form below. You will need to create an account by selecting the "Register" link at the bottom of the page.
- By mail:
| Canadian address | US address |
|---|---|
| Attn: Comments - International St. Mary-Milk Rivers Study Board International Joint Commission Canadian Section 234 Laurier Avenue West, 22nd Floor Ottawa ON K1P 6K6 Canada | Attn: Comments - International St. Mary-Milk Rivers Study Board International Joint Commission U.S. Section 1717 H Street NW, Suite 835 Washington DC 20006 United States |
How your comments will be used
The Study Board will review and consider all comments received before providing their final report to the International Joint Commission in fall 2026.
Please note that submissions may become part of the public record. Before submitting your comments, please review the IJC's Privacy Policy pertaining to public submissions. Ensure that your name and contact information are included in your document. Anonymous submissions will not be accepted.
About the Study
The International St. Mary and Milk Rivers Study began in 2021 to examine options for improving how Canada and the United States share water under the 1909 Boundary Waters Treaty and the 1921 IJC Order.
Over five years, experts from both countries worked with Indigenous Nations, governments, stakeholders and members of the public to evaluate administrative and infrastructure options that improve water management while considering climate change, environmental sustainability, agriculture and community needs.
Learn more about the study:
- St. Mary and Milk Rivers Study Board - Website
- Newsletters
- How the St. Mary and Milk Rivers Study Moves Forward - Fact Sheet
- International St. Mary and Milk Rivers Study Board Recommendations - Fact Sheet
- The Study Board’s Directive
- An Overview of the Study
- The Accredited Officers of the St. Mary and Milk Rivers