For several years, our Foundation has been working to have the Governments of Canada and the United States bring in the International Joint Commission (IJC) to provide international coordination for Lake of the Woods water quality research, pollution monitoring, and development of management / remedial plans and recommendations for this boundary water lake.  On June 17, 2010, the Governments of the United States and Canada acted jointly to bring in the IJC to study and make recommendations about the future bi-national management of our lake and its watershed. 

About the IJC Reference

On June 17, under Article 4 of the Boundary Waters Treaty, the Governments of the United States and Canada brought in the IJC by way of letters of “Reference” to study and make recommendations, as the first step on the way to international coordination of pollution monitoring and management for Lake of the Woods water quality.  The key elements of the Reference are that the IJC is directed to:

• Examine and make recommendations on bi-national management of the international waters of the Lake of the Woods and Rainy River system and the IJC’s potential role in this management.
• Recommend potential structures and mechanism needed.
• Identify priority issues and activities to be addressed through these structures or mechanisms.
• Conduct this in line with the IJC’s existing International Watershed Initiative, the aim of which is to facilitate watershed-level solutions with enhanced local participation, capacity and coordination, and taking an integrated ecosystem approach.
• Ensure that its recommendations respect existing treaties, orders, and jurisdictional authorities already in place in the region.

About the Task Force

The IJC has created a six member bi-national task force (“International Lake of the Wood and Rainy River Watershed Task Force”) to conduct this study and coordinate its investigations with federal governments, relevant provinces, First Nations, tribes, and states as well as the wider body of stakeholders and the public.  The Task Force is to finish its work and report to the IJC its findings and recommendations by July 15, 2011.  The IJC will review the Task Force report and submit the IJC's recommendations to the Governments of Canada and the USA by December 17, 2011.  The members of the Task Force are: