Notice2021-23146
Public Hearing on ISRSB's Report on Managing Water Supply and Flood Control in the Souris River Basin
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Published
October 25, 2021
Issuing agencies
State Department
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 203 (Monday, October 25, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 203 (Monday, October 25, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58979-58980]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-23146]
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DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice: 11569]
Public Hearing on ISRSB's Report on Managing Water Supply and
Flood Control in the Souris River Basin
ACTION: Notice of public hearing.
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The International Joint Commission (IJC) is inviting public comment
on recommendations made by the International Souris River Study Board
(ISRSB) in a report that reviews the 1989 International Agreement
between the Government of Canada and the Government of the United
States of America for Water Supply and Flood Control in the Souris
River Basin (the 1989 Agreement). Comments will be accepted at a public
hearing to be held virtually on November 3, 2021, and by mail, email
(<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#92f1fdfffffbe1e1fbfdfcd2aef3b2fae0f7f4af" http: ijc.org">ijc.org</a>">commission@<a href="http://ijc.org">ijc.org</a></a>) and online at <a href="http://ijc.org/en/srsb">ijc.org/en/srsb</a>-flood-drought until
November 15, 2021. The ISRSB's full report can be found on the Study
Board's website at <a href="http://ijc.org/en/srsb">ijc.org/en/srsb</a>.
Public Hearing on ISRSB's Report on Managing Water Supply and Flood
Control in the Souris River Basin
Date: November 3, 2021.
Time: 12-1:30 p.m. CDT (11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. MDT, 1:00-2:30 p.m.
EDT).
Location: Virtual, register online at <a href="http://ijc.org/en/srsb">ijc.org/en/srsb</a>-flood-
drought.
The International Souris River Study Board was established by the
IJC in 2017 to assist in responding to a reference by the governments
of Canada and the United States under Article IX of the Boundary Waters
Treaty of 1909. The reference was precipitated by an unprecedented 2011
flood in the Souris River basin. The basin is part of the Prairie
Pothole Region and stretches across Saskatchewan and Manitoba in Canada
and extends into North Dakota in the United States.
The governments asked the IJC to coordinate the full completion of
the 2013 IJC Plan of Study. As part of this, the IJC was asked to
evaluate and make recommendations regarding the Operating Plan
contained in Annex A to the 1989 Agreement. Among other items, the
agreement coordinates the operation of certain dams and reservoirs in
the basin.
IJC recommendations to the two federal governments under Article IX
of the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909 are not binding and not to be
considered decisions of the two federal governments.
The Study Board findings and recommendations cover five themes:
<bullet> Reviewing the performance of the operating plan in the 1989
Agreement
<bullet> Strengthening water supply and flood control benefits
<bullet> Improving data collection and management
<bullet> Addressing other water management challenges in the basin
<bullet> Building on the study's engagement and outreach, including
initiating a new approach to engaging with Indigenous peoples in both
countries
The public hearing and comment period concern potential
recommendations the IJC may make to the Governments of Canada and the
United States. The Study Board findings include that the 1989 Agreement
is functioning well and is effective at achieving its intended
objectives of flood protection and water supply benefits, and they
identify marginal or incremental benefits in five alternative measures
recommended for further investigation. The recommendations being
considered include the following:
1. Modify the Winter Drawdown Elevation Targets to build greater
flexibility into reservoir operations by varying reservoir elevation
targets according to antecedent moisture conditions in the basin;
2. Extend the Winter Drawdown Date from February 1 to March 1 to
provide additional river flow for improved environmental benefits
during February;
3. Lower the Spring Maximum Flow Limits to reduce flood peaks and
agricultural flood risk during small to moderate floods in riverine
reaches in North Dakota (i.e., floods under 57-85 m\3\/s or 2 000 to 3
000 ft\3\/s;
4. Establish a Summer Operating Plan to provide more guidance to
reservoir operators to better manage summer reservoir operations under
all conditions;
5. Shift the Apportionment rule calculations to a Water Year
(November to October) from the current Calendar
[[Page 58980]]
Year (January to December) to ensure flood protection releases in
November and December are credited toward apportionment.
The full Study Board report and recommendations can be found by
visiting <a href="http://ijc.org/en/srsb">ijc.org/en/srsb</a>.
Commissioners will be present to hear comments on the Study Board's
report recommendations at the above referenced virtual public hearing
on November 3, 2021. A public comment period on the ISRSB's report will
also be open through November 15, 2021. Public input is essential to
the Commission's consideration of a recommendation to the governments
of the United States and Canada.
The International Joint Commission was established under the
Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909 to help the United States and Canada
prevent and resolve disputes over the use of the waters the two
countries share. The Commission's responsibilities include
investigating and reporting on issues of concern when asked by the
governments of the two countries. For more information, visit the IJC
website at <a href="http://ijc.org">ijc.org</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christina Chiasson (Ottawa) (613) 293-
1031 at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f1929983988285989f90df9299989082829e9fb1cd90d199839497cc" http: ijc.org">ijc.org</a>">christina.chiasson@<a href="http://ijc.org">ijc.org</a></a> or Jeff Kart (Washington, DC) (989)
372-1229 at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#513b3437377f3a302325116d3071392334376c" http: ijc.org">ijc.org</a>">jeff.kart@<a href="http://ijc.org">ijc.org</a></a>
Susan E. Daniel,
Acting Secretary, U.S. Section, International Joint Commission,
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2021-23146 Filed 10-22-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-14-P
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