International Joint Commission In the Boundary Waters Treaty of
1909, the United States and Canada created the International
Joint Commission (IJC) to address disputes regarding the use and
quality of water on the international boundary. The IJC has six
members, three appointed by the President of the United States
with the advice and approval of the U.S. Senate, and three
appointed by the Governor in Council of Canada on the advice of
the Prime Minister. Under the treaty, the IJC has authority to
authorize international water uses, limit water levels and flows
in order to protect shoreline properties and approve
applications for dams or canals in one country that will affect
water levels, flows or water quality in the other country. The
specific water projects at issue at the time of the treaty were
on the Niagara River in New York, which would affect the level
of Lake Erie, and on the St. Mary’s and Milk rivers in Montana.
In the Columbia River Basin the IJC keeps an eye on the
operation of dams that affect