Staff
The newly-formed International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Board will hold its first public meeting Aug. 20 at Rainy River Community College in International Falls.
The IRLWWB is holding the meeting to inform the local community on the board’s new mandate.
It also will give an update on its water quantity and quality activities, as well as provide the opportunity for the public to meet board members and staff, ask questions, and express concerns.
To provide advice and insight to the board on issues related to its mandate, the IRLWWB now has both a community advisory group and an industry one.
The board will be seeking nominations for both groups at the open houses which will precede the public meetings.
The Aug. 20 event, which will be in the theatre at RRCC, will include an open house at 6:30 p.m., followed by the public meeting at 7:30.
A second open house and public meeting will be held the following afternoon (Aug. 21) in Kenora.
The International Joint Commission (IJC) formed the IRLWWB earlier this year to assist with binational co-ordination of water quality efforts for the entire boundary watershed and co-ordinate the management of the water levels and flows on both the Rainy River and Rainy Lake.
The new board combines the IJC’s former International Rainy River Water Pollution Board and the International Rainy Lake Board of Control.
The consolidation of the two boards in the watershed creates no additional regulatory authority but rather improves co-ordination among jurisdictions, which can help address algae blooms and other local concerns.
The new board is comprised of 20 members, consisting of an equal number of Canadian and Americans, of which 11 members are from federal, state, and provincial governments, three from tribes, First Nations, and Métis, and six from the public.
It is inclusive and brings experts to the table from communities throughout the Rainy River and Lake of the Woods watershed.
Consistent with the IJC’s International Watershed Initiative, the IRLWWB is adopting an integrated, ecosystem approach that recognizes the complex interrelationships between water quality or quantity concerns in the entire watershed.
The new board also is tasked with developing a water quality plan of study for Lake of the Woods to identify the scientific work needed to address transboundary water issues.
Priority issues to be examined include nutrient enrichment and harmful algal blooms, aquatic invasive species, climate change indicators and the development of adaptation measures, and contamination of ground and surface water.
Water levels and flows regulation is unchanged under the new watershed board.
The Rainy and Namakan Lake Water Levels Control Committee of the IRLWWB has the same composition as the previous International Rainy Lake Board of Control and retains authority to act independently.
