LAKE CHAMPLAIN-RICHELIEU RIVER FLOOD MITIGATION STUDY 2017/2021
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LAKE CHAMPLAIN- RICHELIEU RIVER FLOOD MITIGATION STUDY 2017/2021
The International Lake Champlain-Richelieu River Study Board (the Study Board), through scientific study and ongoing public consultation, will recommend to the International Joint Commission flood mitigation measures, as well as approaches for flood forecasting and preparedness.
STUDY’S MAIN OBJECTIVES /01 Develop and Recommend mea- Determine public, recommend the sures – structural community and implementation of a and non-structural - stakeholder desir- bi-national, real-time to mitigate flooding ability of the flood forecasting and the impact of proposed measures and flood inundation flooding throughout to mitigate flooding mapping system the basin. and the impact of to prepare for and flooding throughout mitigate the impacts the basin. of floods. Public and stakeholder engagement is an essential and ongoing component of the study, and includes both direct engagement by the Study Board and working with the Public Advisory Group. Science, outreach and public participation are expected to foster a shared understanding of the relationship between the various basin communities and their environment in the context of flooding. Rivers and lakes by their very nature flood and no measures can completely eliminate flooding. The study will recommend measures for reducing the impact of flooding. Potential measures could include structural modifications such as storm water retention, weirs and channel enhancements, as well as non-structural approaches, such as land use regulations and enhanced use of flood plains and wetlands.
STUDY’S WORK
PLAN
In 2016, the U.S. and Canadian governments requested that the
International Joint Commission (the Commission) conduct a study
into the causes, impacts, risks, and solutions to flooding in the
International Lake Champlain-Richelieu River (LCRR) basin. The
governments asked the Commission to build upon earlier work
performed by the Commission in 2015, and target its new efforts
on the activities outlined under Option B of the Commission’s 2013
Plan of Study (Plan of Study for the Identification of Measures to
Mitigate Flooding and the Impacts of Flooding of Lake Champlain
and Richelieu River), with a focus on:
Understanding the Advancing a bina- Understanding the
causes and impacts tional real-time flood impact of flood
of past floods; forecasting and management and
mapping system; mitigation measures
Examining best on ecosystems,
management prac- Identifying the most water use, and the
tices and adaptation promising non-struc- built environment
strategies in the tural and structural and agriculture (via
floodplain; mitigation measures; a visualization and
decision making
Understanding the tool).
social and political
perceptions of
proposed structural
and other mitigation
measures; andSTUDY’S WORK
PLAN /03
The Lake Champlain-Richelieu The development of new tools
River Study Board (the Study for forecasting Lake Champlain
Board) was appointed by the and Richelieu River water
Commission in 2017 to oversee levels is an important product
and manage the study and that will result from this study.
provide recommendations to the These new tools will be inte-
Commission by 2021. The Study grated binationally so they
Board is made up of an equal perform in a seamless manner.
number of members from the The tools will be used to forecast
U.S. and Canada. Several bina- future lake and river water levels,
tional study groups will carry out evaluate potential flood manage-
the technical, analytical, outreach ment and mitigation measures,
and information management and evaluate how varying water
tasks associated with this study. levels influence critical water
An independent review group uses and ecological resources.
will also be called upon as They will also be part of the
required. real-time flood forecasting
and flood inundation mapping
The Study will rely on strong system.
and on-going communications
and an effective public outreach The study will undertake
effort. Throughout the entire an analysis of various non-
study, resources will be devoted structural and structural flood
to sharing the work plans, new mitigation measures as well.
information and data, and A review will be performed of
possible ways to move forward, existing practices, methods and
with a wide range of interested structures, both locally in the
publics. LCRR basin as well as elsewhere
by consulting the existing liter-
ature. In addition, how effective
the most promising mitigationSTUDY’S WORK
PLAN
measures or structures would tors of society will be gathered
be in managing water levels will as part of the social, political and
be tested with the new hydraulic economic analysis.
and hydrologic tools being
developed, so actual responses Over the course of the study, the
to the lake and river can be de- Study Board will produce sev-
termined and evaluated. eral reports, products and tools
that will be made available for
The identification of important the benefit of basin communi-
physical, ecological and societal ties and stakeholders. In 2021,
resource indicators and their the Board will deliver its final
use in a decision support tool report to the Commission. In that
will ensure that the ecological report, a set of recommendations
and societal concerns are taken for structural and non-structural
into account when deciding flood mitigation measures will be
upon management options provided and prioritized.
for flooding.
Collectively these activities will
The study will place an emphasis lead to improved information,
on understanding social, polit- data and decision support tools
ical and economic drivers for in the LCRR basin with regard to
flood management, mitigation flooding so that managers can
and forecasting. An itemization make the best determinations of
of social, political and economic the appropriate actions to take.
views will be compiled so that
final options and solutions will
receive the broadest public ex-
posure and support for potential
implementation. Feedback and
input from frequent interactions
with the public and various sec-WHAT IS THE PUBLIC
ADVISORY GROUP? /05
The Commission is committed Advise the Study Board on
to engaging the public in the study public consultation, involvement
on an ongoing basis through the and information exchange;
Public Advisory Group (PAG).
Serve as a conduit for public
The PAG is binational and mem- input to the study process,
bers represent various areas of in- and for public dissemination of
terest and regions across the Lake study outcomes;
Champlain – Richelieu River basin.
PAG members are being given the Review and provide feedback
opportunity to provide advice on on Study Board approaches,
the Study Board’s public participa- reports, products, findings and
tion activities. More specifically, the conclusions as requested; and
PAG is being asked to:
Advise the Study Board on the
responsiveness of the study
process to public concerns.
As such, PAG members will be
asked to draw on their knowl-
edge, contacts and experience
to provide informed input to the
study.Contact / Canada
Maryse Sohier 418-648-3738
maryse.sohier2@canada.ca
Contact / United States
Robert Flynn 603-226-7824
rflynn@usgs.gov
International
Lake Champlain-
Richelieu River
Study Board
Groupe d’étude
international du lac
Champlain et de
la rivière RichelieuYou can also read
