International Souris River Board Presentation to the Water Topics Overview Committee August 14, 2018 Minot, ND Outline 1. Basin Characteristic 2. International Souris River Board 3. International Souris River Study Board International Souris River Board 2 Souris River Basin International Souris River Board 3 International Souris River Board Administration Board Structure 9 Members for Canada - agency and public 9 Members for the United States - agency and public Hydrology Committee Flow Forecasting Liaison Committee Aquatic Ecosystem Health Committee Observer status for Interested Parties International Souris River Board 4 Membership Canada United States Manitoba Sustainable Development - North Dakota State Water Commission Quantity North Dakota Department of Health Manitoba Sustainable Development - North Dakota Game and Fish Quality Department Saskatchewan Water Security Agency - United States Army Corps of Engineers Quality United States Geological Survey Saskatchewan Water Security Agency - United States Fish and Wildlife Service Quantity Basin Representation Environment Canada – Quality and Quantity Ward County Commissioner Retired Federal Civil Servant Natural Resources Conservation Service Local Representative Basin Representation Upper Souris Watershed Association Assiniboine River Basin Initiative Reeve, Manitoba Canadian and United States Co-Secretaries International Souris River Board 5 International Souris River Board January 2007 Directive: 1. Oversee the implementation of compliance with the 2000 Interim Measures as Modified 1. Saskatchewan has the right to divert, store, and use waters that originate in Saskatchewan provided the annual flow of the Souris River at the Sherwood Crossing is not diminished by more than 50 percent. 2. North Dakota will deliver 20 cfs to Manitoba from June to October 2. Assist the Commission with the Joint Water Quality Monitoring Program 3. Perform an oversight function for flood operation 4. Maintain an awareness of existing and proposed developments 5. Report on aquatic ecosystem health issues in the watershed International Souris River Board 6 Board Priorities i. Review of the updated Operating Plan for flood and non-flood operations within the contest of the 1989 Agreement ii. Prepare 2018 ISRB Annual Report iii. Review of Water Quality Objectives and concerns iv. Prepare a Natural Flow Procedures manual v. Plan of Study engagement International Souris River Board 7 2017 IJC Directive to Establish the International Souris River Study Board “evaluate and make recommendations regarding the Operating Plan contained in Annex A of the 1989 International Agreement, and additional flood protection measures and beneficial water supply measures.” International Souris River Board 8 Membership Canada United States Dr. Alain Pietroniro Michael Bart Canadian Co-Chair, Environment Canada United States Co-Chair, United States Jeff Woodward Army Corps of Engineers Canadian Alternate Co-Chair, Environment Rebecca Seal-Soileau Canada United States Alternate Co-Chair, United John Fahlman States Army Corps of Engineers Saskatchewan Water Security Agency Tim Fay Mark Lee North Dakota State Water Commission- retired ND civil servant Manitoba Sustainable Development Megan Estep Debbie McMechan United States Fish and Wildlife Service- Public Member retired federal civil Servant Bruce Davison David O’Connell Environment Canada, Canadian Study Public Member Manager Gregg Wiche United States Geological Survey – retired civil servant, United States Study Manager International Souris River Study Board 9 IJC Plan of Studies When a board wants to address a large scale problem they develop a “Plan of Study” A bi-national task team is formed to create and execute the Plan of Study A Plan of Study is a proposal containing many individual projects and can be a mix of engineering, science, policy, or public consultation tasks Large input by local experts and the public The IJC approves the Plan of Study and asks to federal governments to fund the projects Federal Governments provide a reference and funding to the IJC to execute the Plan of Study 1000000 1500000 2000000 500000 (dam3) 0 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 International Souris River Board Board River Souris International 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 SOURIS RIVER NEAR SHERWOOD 1956 1957 Recorded Flow 1958 Flow Recorded 1931 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 Median 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 - 1978 2016 1979 1980 1981 1982 Average 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 11 Time Lines 2011 Flood on the Souris with devastating impacts in Canada and the United States. 2013 In response to the flood, a Plan of Study was formalized to address issues. There were three different options proposed. 2017 a reference from the International Joint Commission (IJC) was delivered choosing the full study option. This is $1.8M USD study to be completed by Feb, 2020. Note – between 2013 and 2017, a lot of work was completed by the US and Canada to the direct benefit of the study… International Souris River Board 12 International Souris River Work Plan The Overall Purpose of the Plan of Study is to make recommendations on improvements to the 1989 Agreement between Canada and the United States for Water Supply and Flood Control in the Souris River Basin. The Intent of the Study is to provide recommendations on mutually beneficial improvements to the Agreement. Once the study is completed, recommendations are provided to the IJC to work with governments to make any changes. International Souris River Board 13 IJC Reference The Reference sets the bounds of the Plan of Study Data Harmonization to support modelling and studies. Development of Water Supply Flows including historical, extreme and climate change. Evaluate Operational Scenarios through modelling. Study physical processes of flooding. Operating Plan Review (existing agreement) Recommend Changes to Operating Plans considering low flow, apportionment, water quality and ecosystem health. Evaluate infrastructure and Operating Alternatives re: flooding and water supply. Evaluate Additional Flood Protection Measures Assess Adaptation Strategies to address variability Facilitate Collaboration Anything else that is important. International Souris River Board 14 2013 Plan of Study (POS) Optimal Scope (4 groups, 17 Projects): 1. Operating Rules Review 2. Data Collection and Management 3. Hydrology & Hydraulics 4. Plan Formulation International Souris River Study Board 15 1. Operating Rules Review Review of Language in 1989 Annex A Core Group setup by the Souris River Board. Clarify language for ease of understanding Mostly completed. International Souris River Board 16 2. Data Collection and Management What data do we need to do look at the different operating scenarios that we need to consider? Summarize projects since 2013 Bathymetry and Lidar for Rafferty and Alameda Data Gap Analysis, Contract, Completion Review of Hydromet Network Completed and reviewed by various organizations (USGS,USACE, NOAH,WSA, ECCC) Data Collection for Prescriptive Modelling PRM model input for reservoir optimization International Souris River Board 17 3. Hydrology and Hydraulics These activities will setup the modelling platforms to be used to test the different operating scenarios. How do we get all of the data that is required to run the models required? Reconstructed Hydrology Recreates historical flows for years with and without reservoirs. Extends the time range and locations where flow information is available. International Souris River Board 18 3. Hydrology and Hydraulics (cont) Stochastic Hydrology USGS completed an advanced statistical hydrology study to develop flow scenarios to test reservoir operation options. 4. Plan Formulation After looking at all of the modelling, data and public input, how do we improve the agreement? Building a plan for reservoir and system operations through: Workshops Evaluating alternatives Dam Safety International Souris River Board 20 Questions and Comments International Souris River Board 21 Governance International Souris River Board 22 Plan of Study (POS) POS Related Activities: The Core Committee of the Operating Parties under the 1989 Agreement have drafted an updated operating plan within the context of the existing Agreement US Army Corp of Engineers with the Souris River Joint Water Resources Board are conducting a flood risk management feasibility study to improve flood resilience for the USA part of the basin. International Souris River Board 23 Water Quality 2016 Results: Total Phosphorus levels at Sherwood were the lowest that have been measured on many years. Iron levels are also lower. There continued to be exceedances of the water quality objectives for Total Phosphorus, Sodium, Total Dissolved Solids, Total Iron, and pH at both Sherwood and Westhope. Aquatic Ecosystem Health Committee supported the IJC in drafting the report on the review of water quality objectives. Waiting for response on the request to use E. coli in place of Fecal Coliform. Water quality conditions in 2017 are expected to be similar to that of 2016. The Board plans discussed the topics of blue green algae and aquatic invasive species at its June 2017 meeting International Souris River Board 24.