August 05, 2005
Canada and the United States will co-operate on the design and
construction of an advanced filtration and/or disinfection system at the outlet
at Devils Lake, N.D.
“This is a positive announcement,” Premier Gary Doer said. “We are pleased the two countries will work
together to build an advanced filtration system that will be based on the
results of scientific testing that is now underway.”
Today’s announcement follows North Dakota’s agreement to build an
interim, 18-foot deep gravel filter before the outlet from Devils Lake begins
operating. That barrier is now in place
and will address the release of up to two inches of water from Devils Lake
during the coming year. In the meantime,
officials will continue to test the water and determine the appropriate design and
composition of a permanent filter.
The main elements agreed upon today include:
(1)
The
United States and Canada will design and construct a more advanced filtration
system and/or disinfection system for the outlet based on the results of the
ongoing monitoring and risk assessment.
(2)
Should
the biological survey on Devils Lake demonstrate the presence of harmful biota
such as parasites or pathogens, immediate measures would be undertaken to
prevent the spread of any aquatic nuisance species.
(3)
A downstream
water-monitoring program will be established through the International Joint
Commission’s Red River Board. The IJC board
will also develop a basin-wide early-detection and management plan for invasive
species. The board includes
representatives from the federal governments of the U.S. and Canada as well as Minnesota,
Manitoba and North Dakota.
(4)
To
address concerns raised by Canada, Manitoba and Minnesota with respect to an
inlet being built from the Missouri River to Devils Lake to help stabilize lake
levels, North Dakota affirms it does not have such a current intention, plan or
prospective proposal to construct such an inlet and the U.S. federal government
affirms that it is prohibited by federal law from expending funds towards the
construction of such an inlet.
The negotiations leading to the agreement were co-ordinated by the
United States Council on Environmental Quality and involved the federal
governments of Canada and the United States as well as the governments of
Minnesota, Manitoba and North Dakota.
It is expected that both the interim gravel filter and the permanent
filter will improve Devils Lake water quality generally, including reducing the
level of nitrogen and phosphorus entering the Red River system. Devils Lake, although originally part of the
Hudson Bay drainage system, contains no natural outlets or inlets and has been
isolated from the basin for about 1,000 years.
As a result, the water quality is different from the downstream waters
of the Sheyenne River, Red River and Lake Winnipeg.
Manitoba has also feared the Devils Lake outlet would be the first
phase of a larger project to stabilize lake levels by building an inlet from
the Missouri River. This would result in
an unprecedented inter-basin transfer of water and the potential movement of
harmful biota from the Missouri to the Hudson River basin.
Doer said Manitoba is sympathetic to the plight of North Dakotans who
have been affected by flooding. As part
of today’s agreement, Manitoba committed to expedite the installation of
culverts in a road along the international border to relieve flooding in North
Dakota. This will assist in resolving
another long-standing water dispute between Manitoba and North Dakota.
The premier said Manitoba will continue to work to ensure the integrity
of the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909 is upheld.
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