Transboundary river basins are typically characterized by differing interests between jurisdictions and sometimes by conflicting transboundary water demands. Infrastructure development and climate change can challenge the resilience of historical agreements that are often a product of their provenance. This session welcomes presentations that contribute to a better understanding of the nature of transboundary water challenges, and the changing dimensions of approaches towards regional and national cooperation. Presentations on successful water sharing management systems, new advances (technological, management, and policy) in transboundary waters cooperation, the role of indigenous and local communities in transboundary water governance, and implications of extreme events, such as flood and drought on transboundary water management are particularly welcomed. Similarly, assessment of future hydrological conditions and adaption strategies in a transboundary context, including resiliency of transboundary agreements under a changing environment, and advances in data, models and decision support tools are also of interest.

Oral sessions:

10:00 - 10:30:The role of science in inter-state water disputes: some recent experience from the International Court of Justice
Presenter(s): Howard Wheater

10:30 - 10:45: Transboundary climate action: the use of stable water isotope analysis and hydrological modelling to identify water loss dynamics within the Milk River watershed
Presenter(s): Mya Lyse, Research Assistant, University of Calgary, Mya Lyse, University of Calgary, Tricia Stadnyk, P.Eng., University of Calgary, Tegan Holmes, PhD, University of Calgary, Alain Pietroniro, P.Eng., University of Calgary and Dayal Wijayarathne, PhD, University of Calgary

10:45 - 11:00: Tracking changes in transboundary coal-waste transport; Load and concentration trends into Koocanusa Reservoir and long-range transport of Selenium between Canada and the USA
Presenter(s): Meryl Storb, Hydrologist, United States Geological Survey, Ashley M. Bussell - USGS, WY-MT Water Science Center, Travis S. Schmidt - USGS, WY-MT Water Science Center

11:00 - 11:15: Long-term trends in mountain groundwater in Canada and the United States
Presenter(s): Jenacy Samways, Dalhousie University, Dr. Jeffrey McKenzie, McGill University, Dr. Lauren Somers (Department of Civil and Resource Engineering, Dalhousie University

11:15 - 11:30: The International St. Mary and Milk Rivers Study
Presenter(s): Alain Pietroniro, professor, Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary