ACTION REQUEST .

LETTERS NEEDED ON GARRISON DIVERSION

The Garrison water diversion project in central and eastern North Dakota has been temporarily halted thrOugh court action initiated by the National Audubon Society. The federal court ruled that the U.S. government cannot proceed with construction until Congress re—authorizes the plan.

About $157 million has been spent on the project since 1965. The McClusky Canal, which is designed to link the Missouri River and the Hudson Bay watersheds, has been constructed. The next major proposal, to build the Lonetree Dam and Reservoir, is before the U.S. government. Construction of this part of the project would complete the connection to Manitoba waters.

The Canadian Nature Federation is asking interested individuals and its affiliated groups to make Garrison a public issue before Congress considers reauthorization. A massive water diversion project, like Garrison, should be of concern to all Canadian conservationists. The alteration of watersheds formed at the time of glaciation could have considerable impact on domestic fisheries and wildlife pm conservation. Halting Garrison would be an important precedent for stopping other transborder water diversion or pollution schemes.

1. Write to the governments of Manitoba and Canada.

While American officials have said that no part of the Garrison Diversion to which Canada objects will be constructed, the project is designed so that it must be

completed before functioning properly. Ugre the Canadian governments to demand

a blueprint of the project before bilateral talks proceed any further. Approval by ‘ Canada or Manitoba of staged development will permit the U.S. to nibble away to the point of irreversibility.

Addresses: Honourable Sterling Lyon (copies to) Honourable John Roberts Premier of Manitoba Minister of Environment Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 0V8 . Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H3

and -Honourable Mark MacGuigan Minister of External Affairs Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0G2

Right Honourable Pierre Trudeau Prime Minister of Canada Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A2

2. Contact U.S. Congressmen with whom you may be familiar. Points to consider:

The Garrison project is designed to irrigate 250,000 acres of North Dakota agricultural land by drawing water from the Missouri River via a complex system

of canals, pumps and reservoirs. Waste water will enter Manitoba lakes through the Red and Souris River systems. By linking these separate drainage systems, "rough" fish species, parasites and fish borne diseases could enter Canadian waters. Additionally, waste waters will contain nitrates and phosphates from agricultural runoff. Completion of the Garrison diversion would breach the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909. '

Addresses: Honourable Silvio Conte Honourable Mark Hatfield U.S. House of Representatives U.S. Senate Washington, D.C. 20515 U.S.A. Washington, D.C. 20510 U.S.A.

3. Send copies of your correspondence to major U.S. newspapers or express your concerns through letters to the editor. Suggestions:

The Washington Post > The New York Times ‘ llSO-lSth Street N.W. 229 West 43rd Street Washington, D.C. 20071 U.S.A. New York, N.Y. 10036 U.S.A.

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