BISMARCK, N.D. – Gov. Doug Burgum has signed an executive order creating the Lower Pembina River Basin Advisory Board to address water management and flooding issues in the basin and resolve interjurisdictional conflicts with the Canadian province of Manitoba.
“Flooding in the Lower Pembina River Basin remains an ongoing concern for the citizens of northeastern North Dakota and southern Manitoba,” Burgum said. “As friendly neighbors, North Dakota and Manitoba mutually recognize and support the establishment of an interjurisdictional advisory board focused on reaching collaborative solutions to flood control.”
A Pembina River Basin Task Board met intermittently from 1960 to 2012 but has been inactive since then. The newly established Lower Pembina River Basin Advisory Board will have 12 voting members, with the governor and premier of Manitoba each appointing six members. The North Dakota members will consist of a Governor’s Office representative; the State Engineer or designee; a water resources engineer licensed and in good standing in North Dakota; a representative from the Pembina County Water Resource Board; a member of the Pembina County Board of Commissioners; and the United States’ acting co-chair of the International Red River Board.
Non-voting members by the governor and premier may include state or provincial officials responsible for water management, fish and wildlife management, environmental quality, and representatives of First Nations or Native American tribal organizations.
The board will meet at least twice per year and submit annual reports to the governor and premier.