In 2016, as a result of catastrophic flooding along Lake Champlain and the Richelieu River during the spring of 2011, the governments of Canada and the United States instructed the International Joint Commission (IJC) to fully explore the causes, impacts, risks and solutions to flooding in the Lake Champlain-Richelieu River basin.
The IJC established a board to oversee the study and to provide recommendations. The IJC also established a public advisory group to assist the study board with engaging the public over the course of the study. Extension Associate Professor Kris Stepenuck is the U.S. co-chair of the public advisory group.
Two public meetings were held on February 8, 2022, in the morning and in the evening. During the meetings, recommendations were shared including work by Community Development and Applied Economics Professor Chris Koliba, CDAE Master’s Candidate Emma Spett, and others from UVM.
Both meetings had live translation services available so that attendees could listen and participate in both English and French.