Harmonizing Hydrographic Data Along the Canada–U.S. Border
December 2011
Managing water resources over the border between Canada and the United States has been an ongoing collaboration for over a century. The 6,000-km boundary bisects numerous major watersheds of concern for both the U.S. and Canada, including the Red, Mackenzie, Assiniboine, Qu’Appelle and Souris Rivers.
To get a full and accurate hydrographic picture, a seamless interpretation of the water flow data between the two countries is needed. Like the water being measured, the data does not stop at the border.
The need for a harmonized approach has led to a successful Canada–U.S. initiative for sharing geographical data that both countries will use to manage watershed issues.
Managing Shared Resources
For a long time, each country, province and state had developed its own suite of hydrographic datasets, using slightly different standards and interpretive rationales. In addition, existing national data sets pertaining to watersheds and hydrography were viewed only up to the geopolitical border of countries, states and provinces. Consequently, a new model was needed. One of the final pieces to help better coordinate the sharing of hydro information between the two countries was agreement on harmonized interpretation and standards.
In 2008, the Transboundary Hydrographic Data Harmonization Task Force was convened by the International Joint Council, a body responsible for issues management between Canada and the United States. The task force — comprising representatives from Natural Resources Canada, Environment Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency — had a simple goal: to develop a bi-national, coordinated approach to the harmonization and long-term stewardship of hydrographic datasets for drainage basins that straddle the Canada–U.S. border.
Cooperation, Coordination and Consensus
Working with their U.S. counterparts, representatives from Canada’s National Hydro Network (NHN) contributed data and expertise toward interpreting and standardizing hydro data that spans our common border.
With the help of specialized Geographic Information System (GIS) software, representatives from both countries were able to agree on a common language to negotiate, coordinate and document data interpretations.
The harmonization of data is expected to be completed in 2012. Once completed, the management of many water-related issues — including floods, drought, invasive fish species, pollution, and toxic spills — will benefit through improved data.
And the improved management will have wide practical results. “How our two countries manage their transboundary water basins affects the lives of people who live and work near these basins,” says Jean-Pierre Lemieux, NHN GeoBase Initiative Project Manager for NRCan. “Major industries including shipping, hydroelectric generation, fishing, forestry, agriculture and tourism depend on the health of these water resources and on the level and predictability of their flows.”
If you found this article interesting, you may want to read Canada-U.S. Transboundary Hydrographic Data Harmonization Efforts Gain Momentum.
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