NEWS RELEASES

August 5, 2005 (11:45 p.m. EDT)

No. 142

JOINT CANADA-U.S. DECLARATION ON THE

DEVILS LAKE DIVERSION PROJECT

Today, the Government of Canada and the Government of the United States of America issued the attached statement on the Devils Lake Diversion Project.

JOINT PRESS STATEMENT ON DEVILS LAKE FLOODING AND ECOLOGICAL PROTECTION BY THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA, NORTH DAKOTA, MINNESOTA AND MANITOBA

The United States and Canada today announced that important progress has been made toward addressing flooding in Devils Lake while protecting aquatic resources throughout the Red River Basin. Consistent with the history of cooperation under the Canada-U.S. Boundary Waters Treaty, the mutually accepted approach is the product of extensive cross-border consultation and cooperation by North Dakota, Minnesota and Manitoba over several months.

The proposed approach provides for a layered system of environmental safeguards at the Devils Lake outlet and a cooperative approach to monitoring throughout the Red River Basin.

Since 1993, Devils Lake has rapidly risen, growing from 70 square miles to more than 200 square miles and flooding communities, schools and farms. To help control flooding, North Dakota will soon complete construction of an outlet to carry some of this water from Devils Lake to the Sheyenne River.

In response to concerns raised by Canada, Manitoba and Minnesota about the potential for deterioration of water quality and other environmental effects, government experts consulted extensively and worked in close cooperation over the last several months to:

•         evaluate water quality safeguards and the permit limits for the project;

•         share and review prior scientific work studying the potential for “aquatic nuisance species,” such as invasive fish or plants, and parasites;

•         jointly conduct a rapid bio-assessment of the Lake by 20 biologists from the U.S. and Canada to enhance our collective understanding of Lake organisms; and

•         develop shared strategies to protect the broader Red River Basin from future risk of aquatic nuisance species that might pose a significant risk to the Basin.

Based on this review and the arrangements outlined below, the participants have a higher level of confidence that the outlet can be operated in a manner that will not pose an unreasonable risk to the other parts of the Basin.

To protect against the ongoing risks of any aquatic nuisance species entering the Basin through Devils Lake or through other parts of the watershed, the participants have agreed upon the following layered approach involving both mitigation measures and joint monitoring. Specifically:

•         North Dakota will put in place a rock and gravel intermediate filter before opening the outlet, to prevent the release of macroscopic aquatic nuisance species from Devils Lake;

•         the United States and Canada will cooperate in the design and construction of a more advanced filtration and/or disinfection system for the Devils Lake outlet, taking into account the results of ongoing monitoring and risk assessment;

•         the participants will work with the International Red River Board, of the International Joint Commission, to develop and implement a shared risk management strategy for the greater Red River Basin, involving an early detection and monitoring system for water quality and aquatic nuisance species throughout the Basin;

•         the participants will take immediate measures to prevent the spread of any aquatic nuisance species that pose significant risk to the Basin, should any be identified;

•         the Province of Manitoba will complete tasks associated with mitigating the impacts of the Pembina Border Dike no later than August 31, 2005; and

•         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 US federal government affirms that it is prohibited by federal law from expending funds towards the construction of such an inlet.

“This arrangement both reaffirms our mutual cooperation under the Boundary Waters Treaty and deals with our environmental concerns,” said Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew. “I am particularly pleased that we were able to work in close cooperation with the Government of Manitoba to address the concerns of Manitobans.”

U.S. Ambassador David Wilkins also expressed his support for the cooperative approach. “This is a triumph for diplomacy. It is a wonderful example of how our two countries can work together for the benefit of our shared environment and our shared resources.”

“The layered system of safeguards will provide a level of protection that is essential,” said Environment Minister Stéphane Dion. “The approach also reaffirms our mutual interest to work together to address our shared environmental interests.”

“This approach represents an important and positive achievement for all the parties,” said North Dakota Governor John Hoeven. “The outlet will be an important step forward in providing relief for the thousands of North Dakotans who have faced hardship due to the historic flooding levels of Devils Lake.”

“This is positive,” said Manitoba Premier Gary Doer. “We are pleased our two countries could come to a common approach to take mitigation measures to protect Manitoba’s resources.

“The benefit of this approach is that we will be working together to manage the entire Red River Basin,” Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty. “We will all benefit from this increased level of protection for our aquatic resources.”

“This arrangement demonstrates that with collaboration of all levels of government in both Canada and the United States, we can reach a consensus,” said Reg Alcock, Federal Minister responsible for Manitoba. “We are protecting Manitoba’s waterways while providing flood relief to our neighbours in North Dakota.”

As the parties work to conclude the analysis of the rapid bio-assessment testing, a number of intermediate measures are being put in place, including a mesh screen and a rock and gravel filter. These measures, combined with the rapid bio-assessment testing, provide a higher level of confidence that the necessary precautions have been put in place. The parties are working to finalize this arrangement prior to the completion of the testing phase of the operation.

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For further information, media representatives may contact:

André Lamarre

Director of Communications

Office of the Minister of the Environment

Office:(819) 953-8239

Cell: (613) 725-4968

Sébastien Bois

Senior Media Relations Advisor

Environment Canada

(819) 953-4016

http://www.ec.gc.ca

Media Relations Office

Foreign Affairs Canada

(613) 995-1874

http://www.international.gc.ca

Jasmine J. Panthaky

Deputy Spokesperson

Canadian Embassy

Washington, DC  

(202) 448-6339

Lise Jolicoeur

Press Secretary

Office of the Honourable Reg Alcock

Tel.: (613) 944-6512

Fax: (613) 992-3787

Cell: (613) 282-9744