EXCHANGING INFORMATION ACROSS BOUNDARIES: THE RICHELIEU-CHAMPLAIN EXPERIENCE

Abstract

An examination of some of the difficulties of providing adequate means of communication among the residents of a watershed where national, provincial, state and cultural differences impede an early exchange of ideas, plans, and policies affecting one another. This problem is examined in the light of the proposal to regulate the levels of Lake Champlain and the Richelieu River now before the IJC. The need for improvement in such situations will be examined also in the light of past experiences with compacts and conferences and treaties as well as some possible future alternatives that might help to reduce the current mode of "crisis planning". The New England River Basin Commission has recently completed a two-year study of the planning options for Lake Champlain as they relate to the U.S., N.Y. and Vermont. Unfortunately, Canada and Quebec have not been parties to this process.