Legislators Forum
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9TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL LEGISLATORS FORUM MANITOBA| MINNESOTA| NORTH DAKOTA| SOUTH DAKOTA GIMLI MANITOBA • JUNE 24-26 2009 FRONT ROW (left to right): Representative Val Rausch-SD, Representative Lois Delmore-ND, Ms. Mavis Taillieu-MB, Ms. Jennifer Howard-MB, Honourable RosannWowchuk-MB SECOND ROW: Representative Paul Dennert-SD, Senator Tom Hanson-SD, Senator Jim Peterson-SD, Senator Rich Wardner-ND, Mr. Ralph Eichler-MB THIRD ROW: Senator Rod Skoe-MN, Mr. Larry Maguire-MB, Representative Morrie Lanning-MN, Senator Gary Hanson-SD, Senator Arden Anderson-ND, Senator Dan Skogen-MN, Representative Dennis Johnson-ND FOURTH ROW: Senator Tom Fiebiger-ND, Senator Tom Saxhaug-MN, Mr. Greg Dewar-MB, Mr. Peter Bjornson-MB, Representative David Monson-ND LEGISLATORS FORUM STEERING COMMITTEE The Steering Committee, appointed to continue activity between annual meetings, is composed of legislators from each of the four jurisdictions. Members are: • Manitoba: Honourable Rosann Wowchuk and Ms. Mavis Taillieu • Minnesota: Senator Tom Saxhaug and Representative Morrie Lanning • North Dakota: Senator Tom Fischer and Representative Lois Delmore • South Dakota: Senator Gary Hanson and Representative Carol Pitts. 2009 LEGISLATORS FORUM ATTENDEES MANITOBA • Honourable Rosann Wowchuk • Ms. Mavis Taillieu • Mr. Larry Maguire • Mr. Rob Altemeyer Th e ninth annual meeting of the Legislators THE DELEGATES TO THE NINTH • Mr. Ralph Eichler Forum began with a reception at the Lakeview ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL • Ms. Jennifer Howard Resort in Gimli Manitoba on Wednesday, June LEGISLATORS FORUM GRATEFULLY • The Honourable Bill Blaikie 24, 2009. Th ere to greet delegates, presenters, ACKNOWLEDGE THE SUPPORT OF • Mr. Peter Bjornson spouses, and staff were co-hosts of this year’s THE FOLLOWING SPONSORS: • Mr. Greg Dewar meeting, Manitoba Deputy Premier Rosann • Manitoba Hydro Wowchuk and Ms. Mavis Taillieu. Th ey also • Manitoba Public Insurance MINNESOTA introduced Gimli Mayor, Her Worship Tammy • The Canadian Consulate General in • Representative Morrie Lanning Axelsson. Th e formal portion of the meeting Minneapolis • Senator Tom Saxhaug began on Th ursday, June 25. Following self- • Otter Tail Power Company • Representative Lyle Koenen introductions of delegates, each of the panelists • Xcel Energy • Representative Mary Ellen gave presentations and engaged in a question Otremba and answer period with the delegates. After LEGISLATORS FORUM FACILITATOR: • Senator Dan Skogen their sessions on Th ursday, delegates and Dick Gross presenters had the opportunity to board the Deputy Director and Legal Counsel • Senator Rod Skoe research vessel Namao, which demonstrated Th e Consensus Council, Inc. the kind of research the ship is doing on water 1003 E Interstate Ave, Suite 7 NORTH DAKOTA quality issues on Lake Winnipeg. Bismarck, North Dakota 58503 • Representative Lois Delmore Tel: 701-224-0588 • Senator Arden Anderson SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKERS INCLUDED: Fax: 701-224-0787 • Senator Tom Fiebiger • Martin Loken, Canadian Consul General Email: [email protected] • Representative Dennis Johnson in Minneapolis Website: www.agree.org • Representative David Monson • Mary Speer, US Consul, and Principal • Senator Rich Wardner Offi cer, Manitoba • Representative Tracy Boe • George Sinner, Former Governor of North • Representative Dennis Johnson Dakota, • Roger Moe, Former Minnesota Senate SOUTH DAKOTA Majority Leader • Senator Gary Hanson • Jim Eldridge, Special Advisor to the • Representative Paul Dennert Manitoba Government • Representative Val Rausch • Honourable Stan Strothers, Manitoba • Senator Tom Hanson Minister of Conservation • Senator Jim Peterson 9TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL LEGISLATORS FORUM GIMLI MANITOBA • JUNE 24-26 2009 Theme: Working Together to Make This Region Self-Suffi cient and a Model to the World of Clean and Abundant Water and Energy THURSDAY,T JUNE 25 back from the weight of glaciers over a 20,000- 1,700 homes. year period. Landowners want proof of these Floodway SSESSION 1: Th e Red River changes, so we need a massive expansion of expansion Basin:B Th e Big Picture and data sites. Dr. Th orliefson noted that the father was begun a Flood Update of Martin Loken, Canadian Consul General in in 2005 and Dr.D Rhonda McDougal Minneapolis, gave us the story of the Ice Age, consisted of (rhonda.mcdougal@gov. and that has helped in our understanding. We do widening, not mb.ca)m , Director, Manitoba not know what the impact of human activities deepening. It Water Stewardship, moderated the panel. has been and will be. Is Red River fl ooding increased the fl ow capacityi ffrom 11,700 700 to 44,000 000 simply natural or due to wetland drainage and cms. Because of that work, done without any Dr. Harvey Th orleifson ([email protected]), other human activities? Every century has seen major life disruptions, there was no signifi cant Director, Minnesota Geological Survey, gave its silt spikes. We know that fl ooding can be fl ooding of homes or other buildings and no the fi rst presentation on “Th e Red River Valley mitigated, but fl oods are natural events as well. loss of life during the 2009 fl ooding, and only 2 and the Lake Winnipeg Basin: Th e Regional and So, we all need to work together, with the best communities were evacuated. Long-term View.” He noted that the ultimate data possible, to optimize the quality of life for goal should be to optimize the quality of life all people in our jurisdictions. “Mitigation” shouts at us, and needs to be done in this region. Water issues impact all of us. In everywhere. All municipalities in Manitoba addition to aff ecting our health and wealth— Th e present Namao study, which deals with are required by law to have emergency plans, e.g., hydropower, agriculture, tourism — water Lake Winnipeg sediment cores, is one part of including fl ooding. Manitoba is the fi rst is also signifi cant to our heritage and essential the geosciences fl ood research program that jurisdiction in North America with separate for our security. Th ere are interconnections includes research on effl uvial processes, landscape statutory authority for the pre-disaster period. Its throughout the region, including between the modifi cation, uplift, climate, and stratography of Emergency Measures Act enables municipalities Mississippi River, the Red River, Lake Winnipeg alluvial and fl oodplain lake cores. Examination to issue an emergency prevention order to allow and Hudson Bay. We need to understand that of Lake Winnipeg cores and fl oodplain lake measures to be taken to prevent an emergency we are all interconnected and all have a role in cores lead to spinoff research that has provided from occurring or to reduce the impact of an the future of our water supply. information on 20th century change—for emergency. As a result, there were few calls for example, eutrophication of the Lake. assistance from communities along the Red Th ere are hydrological cycles, climate change during the 2009 fl ooding. Key elements, in and economic issues at play. While it is easier Don Brennan ([email protected]), addition to the fl oodway expansion, were the to study surface water on a map, now that the Executive Director, MB Emergency Measures purchase of additional equipment, planning Light Detection And Ranging (LIDAR) project Organization, gave a “Brief Summary of the exercises, communications and teamwork. in the Red River Valley has been completed, 2009 Spring Flood and Lessons Learned.” Manitoba has the support of all levels of groundwater research is more of a challenge, He said that the Red River Valley landscape government to combat fl oods. and we need to protect areas that recharge is the enemy, with its fl atness and lack of groundwater. We also need ongoing research, topographical features. Because the landscape Delegates commented and asked the panelists like that done by the Namao, or we are blind is so fl at, the Red River has actually expanded questions, and they responded (Th roughout to water quality issues. Th e Namao has added as far as 20 kilometers in Manitoba. Current this meeting summary, questions and comments to our geological database and continues to concerns began with the fl ooding in 1950, of delegates are italicized, and comments and add to our understanding of the chemistry of when 10,000 homes were fl ooded and 100,000 answers of presenters are in standard type.) people were evacuated. Th e water stayed at flood the water, its fl ow and its levels. Th rough such What is the best estimate of long-term fl ooding in observations, we can make predictions. level for 51 days, and damages were estimated at $125 million ($1 billion in today’s dollars). the Valley? We need to do better job of forecasting. It is By reviewing past fl oods, we can address future When the fl oodway needs to be used, it should critical to all phases of life and our economy fl ooding in many ways. We have learned to be fi ne, but there are some concerns for the areas to be able to forecast future scenarios. For coordinate what we can control of the Red and south of Winnipeg. No mater what we do, nature example, they have done some of that in the Assiniboine Rivers so that the fl oodwaters do can make it more complicated. Complacency is Fargo-Moorhead area, where 3D mapping of not meet at Th e Forks at the same time. the enemy. All communities need to be alert and the Buff alo aquifer has been used to protect revved up every spring. Th e past is prologue, and drinking water. In Minnesota, we are creating Th e fl oodway, which cost $63 million to build around Winnipeg, was built from 1962 to 1968. we can now recognize the past in greater detail. the County Geological Atlas Program, which We have aff ected many aspects of our landscape will also have impressive capabilities. An astronomical amount of work has been done since the 1997 fl ood, which nearly swamped to combat fl oods, but what impact will climate Obviously, we need enough water, and Winnipeg and cost an estimated $40 million change have on future fl oods and drought? We sometimes we have too little, other times too in damages.