Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909

E25315

The Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909 is a foundational agreement between the United States and Canada that established principles and mechanisms for preventing and resolving disputes over shared boundary waters.


Statements (51)
Predicate Object
instanceOf bilateral treaty
environmental agreement
international treaty
water treaty
appliesTo Canada–United States border
surface form: "United States–Canada border"

boundary waters between the United States and Canada
cameIntoForce 1910-05-05
countrySignatory Canada
United States of America
surface form: "United States"
creates International Joint Commission
dateSigned 1909-01-11
establishesBody International Joint Commission
establishesMechanism approval process for projects affecting boundary waters
joint reference of disputes to the International Joint Commission
geographicScope Great Lakes region
surface form: "Great Lakes basin"

St. Lawrence River system
other boundary waters along the United States–Canada border
governs apportionment of boundary waters between the United States and Canada
hasArticle Article I
Article II
Article III
Article IV
Article VII
hasFormalName Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909
surface form: "Treaty Between the United States and Great Britain Relating to Boundary Waters and Questions Arising Between the United States and Canada"
hasShortName Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909
surface form: "Boundary Waters Treaty"
influenced later United States–Canada environmental and water agreements
isFoundationFor International Joint Commission’s mandate
language English
legalStatus in force
locationSigned Washington, D.C.
principle equal and similar rights for use of boundary waters by both countries
no use of boundary waters shall cause injury to the other country
obligation to obtain approval for certain uses and diversions of boundary waters
purpose to prevent and resolve disputes over boundary waters between the United States and Canada
to provide principles for the use and management of shared boundary waters
region North America
regulates diversions of boundary waters
uses of boundary waters for irrigation
uses of boundary waters for navigation
uses of boundary waters for power generation
relatedTo Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement
United States–Canada environmental cooperation
signatoryParty Government of the Dominion of Canada
United States government
surface form: "Government of the United States of America"

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
subject boundary waters
international rivers
transboundary water management
water rights
yearCameIntoForce 1910
yearSigned 1909

Referenced by (10)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

International Joint Commission formedByTreaty Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909
Saint Lawrence River governedByTreaty Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909
Niagara River governingTreaty Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909
Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909 hasFormalName Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909
this entity surface form: "Treaty Between the United States and Great Britain Relating to Boundary Waters and Questions Arising Between the United States and Canada"
Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909 hasShortName Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909
this entity surface form: "Boundary Waters Treaty"
International Joint Commission legalBasis Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909
Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement relatedTo Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909
Sir Adam Beck Hydroelectric Generating Stations subjectOf Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909
this entity surface form: "Canada–United States Niagara River water diversion treaties"

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