U.S. and Canadian officials are addressing long-standing concerns about water contamination in the Kootenai River raised by Native American tribes and environmental groups in Idaho. The International Joint Commission (IJC), which oversees the 1909 Boundary Waters Treaty, is accepting public comments until August 27. The commission is collecting information on mining-related pollution and ecosystem health in the river system.
IJC public comment period and transboundary water obligations
The Boundary Waters Treaty requires that neither country pollute transboundary waters to a degree that harms the health and property of the other. Under the treaty framework, the IJC is gathering data intended to clarify how contaminants affect the shared waterway. Officials are focusing on both pollution sources and ecosystem conditions.
For more than a century, British Columbia’s Elk Valley has hosted major coal mining activities with economic impacts in the region. The Idaho Conservation League has raised concerns about mineral discharge from these operations entering the Elk River. The Elk River flows into the Kootenai River, affecting areas in both Montana and Idaho.
Selenium levels and potential downstream effects
A central concern involves high levels of selenium in the basin’s waters. Selenium is described as a threat to fish populations that the Kootenai Tribe has worked to restore. Reporting cited by Idaho Capital Sun links selenium pollution from British Columbia to impacts on aquatic life.
According to a U.S. Geological Survey report referenced in the coverage, the selenium issue may extend beyond the Kootenai River. The report describes potential harm further downstream in the Columbia River and in Washington state. The IJC’s data collection is intended to help characterize these contaminant effects.
Study board timeline and governance for an action plan
Jennifer Ekstrom, North Idaho director for the Idaho Conservation League, said she is optimistic about the IJC’s involvement. The league has advocated for addressing this pollution issue since 2019. Ekstrom emphasized that coal mining pollution should be properly managed and that U.S. waters should be protected.
In March, both governments asked the IJC to establish a study board to collect data on watershed pollution and its effects on people and wildlife. The board is expected to deliver an interim report within a year and a final report with recommendations by 2026. A separate governance body will review the data and develop an action plan, with representatives from British Columbia, Idaho, Montana, and the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, along with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.
Teck Resources sale of Elk Valley operations raises concerns
Ekstrom also raised concerns about a recent sale of Teck Resources’ coal operations in Elk Valley to Glencore. She cited Glencore’s environmental record, including a contaminated Superfund site at its aluminum smelter in Montana. The Idaho Conservation League is seeking assurances that water pollution will be addressed effectively over the long term.
The public comment process is part of the initial steps associated with the IJC’s work on contamination concerns affecting the Kootenai River and surrounding ecosystems.