Selinger goes to Washington: water the issue - Winnipeg Free Press

Selinger goes to Washington: water the issue - Winnipeg Free Press

U.S. and Canadian leaders say they made progress Monday in resolving a number of long-standing water policy differences between them, including on the thorny issue of the rising Devils Lake.

Premier Greg Selinger was in Washington Monday for meetings with U.S. federal and state officials. Canada’s ambassador to the U.S., Gary Doer, was also involved in the talks.

Canadian and American officials issued a joint communique late in the day saying that preventing a Devils Lake overflow through its natural outlet at Tolna Coulee was a top priority. Water quality there is at least 250 per cent worse than at East Devils Lake.

The U.S. Geological Service estimates there is a a one-in-20 chance of natural flooding through Tolna Coulee by 2013, and a one in 15 chance by 2015.

To prevent that worst-case scenario, Canadian and U.S. officials have agreed to transfer more water out of Devils Lake through controlled outlets.

"The parties agreed to expedite analysis of the effects of proposed outlet expansions on downstream water quality," the communique said.

Meanwhile, the two countries also discussed the potential for flooding along the Red River next spring. North Dakota and Manitoba agreed to share information and expertise in an effort to protect citizens on both sides of the border.

The two sides also made progress towards an integrated Red River basin nutrient-management strategy. They said they will identify measures to reduce nutrient loading in co-operation with neighbouring jurisdictions.