International St. Mary and Milk Rivers Study Board Announces Public Town Hall Meetings

Date

 Correction: the location of the October 24 meeting was updated.


The International St. Mary and Milk Rivers Study Board will be holding two public town hall meetings in late October. All are welcome to attend.

The purpose of these meetings is to update the public on the study’s progress to date, as well as to solicit public feedback and answer questions.  The Study Board is very interested in hearing the perspectives of citizens around the basin and looks forward to conversing with a wide range of water users. Members of the Study’s Public Advisory Board will also be in attendance.  The public meetings will be held at the following locations:

  • October 24: 6:30pm-8pm MDT, Milk River Civic Centre, 321 3 Ave NE, Milk River, Alberta
  • October 25: 6:30pm-8pm MDT, Comfort Inn & Suites Gateway to Glacier National Park, 455 McKinley Ave., Shelby, Montana

The St. Mary and Milk Rivers study began in 2021 and is exploring options to improve access to the apportioned waters of the rivers in both countries. This is in recognition to the effects of climate change on the region and the challenges that have emerged in apportioning the waters of the two rivers since the IJC issued its initial Order more than 100 years ago in 1921.

The St. Mary and Milk Rivers are connected through the St. Mary Canal, which moves water from the dependable flow of the St. Mary River to the naturally ephemeral Milk River. These waters are split, or apportioned, between Canada and the United States under the provisions in the 1909 Boundary Waters Treaty and in the IJC’s 1921 Order. The water flow is measured at the border and the amount available to users in each country is calculated according to these guidelines by the federally appointed Accredited Officers.

Helpful Links:

Contacts:

Paul Allen           Canadian Section              Paul.Allen@IJC.org         (613) 222-1476

Edward Virden   US Section                        Edward.Virden@IJC.org  (202) 372-7990