Red River Basin Disaster Information Network
On-Line Workshop
February 24, 2000 -- 12:00 Noon CST

International Joint Commission
International Red River Basin Task Force's
Final Recommendations Report: Current Status

Bob Halliday
Task Force Member
President, R Halliday & Associates, Saskatoon, Canada

Online Transcript
Download Transcript (MS Word File)
Text Transcript
Slides: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14

Following the devastating floods of 1997 in the Red River basin, the governments of Canada and the United States asked the International Joint Commission (IJC) to investigate the causes and effects of flooding in the basin and to provide them with an interim report by the end of 1997. On December 31, 1997, the International Joint Commission reported to the governments of Canada and the United States on interim measures that should be undertaken to prepare for possible floods in the short-term.

The interim report cautioned against complacency, noted that major flooding could occur at any time, and made 40 recommendations regarding flood forecasting, monitoring improvements, emergency measures and planning, environmental concerns, and floodplain management including zoning, legislation, and enforcement.

In follow up, The IJC requested a report on governments’ actions in the areas covered by the 40 recommendations. The Task Force reported in July 1998 and updated a summary in April 1999, noting "The different jurisdictions report action on almost all of the areas where the IJC made recommendations."

The IJC Task Force will soon release its draft final report to the governments, including final recommendations. Task Force member Bob Halliday will join us February 24, 2000 to provide the current status of the report and the process expected from this point forward.

International Task Force Page
Interim Report: Red River Flooding Short-term Measures, December 1997
Government Follow-up on IJC Red River Flooding Interim Report Recommendations, April 1999

About Bob Halliday, Task Force Member and
President, R Halliday & Associates, Saskatoon, Canada

Bob Halliday is the former Director of Environment Canada's National Hydrology Research Institute and has also been Director, Inland Waters of Environment Canada's Western and Northern Region. He has served as co-chair of a number of International Joint Commission boards and Canada-USA arrangements.

Currently he is a member of the International Joint Commission's International Red River Basin Task Force. With Scott Jutila of the US army Corps of Engineers he co-chairs the Task Force's Modeling Sub-group.

A graduate in civil engineering from the University of British Columbia, he is a registered professional engineer in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.