Boundary Waters Treaty

Overview

The Boundary Waters Treaty governs the sharing of waters of international streams between Canada and the United States and established an International Joint Commission (IJC) to monitor compliance and resolve disputes.

The 1921 Order of the IJC set the St. Mary River at the international boundary, and the Milk River at the eastern crossing of the international boundary as the points where apportionment occurs.   It also outlined the roles for Accredited Officers (AOs) for the St. Mary and Milk Rivers.  One officer is appointed by each of Canada and the U.S. to measure and apportion the water.

The AOs calculate the natural flow volumes, and the apportioned shares for each country, twice per month.  The AOs signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) in 2001; it is a mutually beneficial agreement allowing each country to use more of its allotted share during seasonal low flow periods.

Infographic

The following infographic explains the apportionment procedures, including the LOI.

• St. Mary and Milk River basins: Canadian and American entitlements

History of the 1921 Order

In April, 2003, the Governor of Montana asked the IJC to review the 1921 Order. The IJC held four public information sessions in 2004, to gather information on the sharing of the Milk and St. Mary Rivers.

Later that year, the commission established the International St. Mary/ Milk Rivers Administrative Measures Task Force, with four members each from Canada and the United States.

The task force released a draft report in April 2006 for public comment, available on the commission's website.

To view a summary of Alberta's perspective on the task force report, and the Government of Alberta's formal submission to the task force, see the following:

• Alberta's Perspective on the IJC Task Force Report
• Alberta's Comments on the International St. Mary-Milk Rivers Report

Background

• Text, History and Geography of the 1909 Boundary Waters Treaty and the 1921 Order of the International Joint Commission
• Sharing the Waters: Alberta's perspective on the 1909 Boundary Waters Treaty

The Government of Alberta (August 2004) submission to the IJC consisted of an overall submission as well as submissions from Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (now Alberta Agriculture and Forestry) and Alberta Environment (now Alberta Environment and Parks).

• Alberta's Submission to the International Joint Commission
• Irrigation Development in Alberta
• Water Management Operations

Contact

Connect with the Transboundary Waters Secretariat:
Email: [email protected]