Fisheries

Working cooperatively with agencies and local interests, the Commission delivers the St. Croix's native Atlantic salmon restoration program. Over 300,000 young native salmon have been reared and stocked into the river in recent years. These are now returning as adults to give the St. Croix the second largest salmon run in Maine and one of the better secondary river runs in New Brunswick.

The Commission operates a research trap to monitor anadromous fish passage into the St. Croix River. It has also assessed over 50 miles (90km) of fish habitat, conducted season-long angling surveys on two major lakes and assisted agencies with smallmouth bass studies.

Water

The Commission has carried out extensive baseline water quality tests on 15 of the St. Croix watershed's largest lakes and has led water studies and clean-up efforts to re-open nearly 1200 acres of tidal shoreland to traditional clam digging.

The Commission involves local residents in river cleanups and in volunteer water monitoring and encourages individual action with publications on septic system maintenance and shoreland management. In 1998 it co-hosted a workshop that brought together scientists and local interests to address the St. Croix's international water quality and management issues.

Resource Management

The Commission worked closely with the New Brunswick government to develop Canada's first shoreland zoning program for a river system, on the St. Croix, and continues to work with public and private interests on both sides of the waterway to protect special natural shorelands and to plan for wise growth.

It has sponsored a shoreland practices workshop for loggers, provided resource information to residents and supported recent studies on a new species of dragonfly unique to the St. Croix.

Recreation

The Commission supports traditional backcountry recreation in the upper St. Croix watershed by maintaining remote campsites and portages and by participating in longterm planning for recreational facilities and management. Here and elsewhere it has helped to address water access needs, promote safe boating and encourage catch-and-release fishing.

Heritage

The Commission has played a vital role in establishing and supporting an international committee to plan the 400th anniversary of the first French settlement in North America, at St. Croix Island in 1604. The island is an international historic site.

The Commission supports activities promoting the St. Croix's identity as a designated Canadian Heritage River and a Maine/New Brunswick international heritage waterway. It does this in part through a heritage brochure, a St. Croix Heritage Honor Roll and sponsorship of events such as a log drivers' heritage evening.

Economic Development

The Commission has worked closely with community, business and government interests to address international issues that arise from new transboundary bridges and transmission lines, and to assure boundary dam safety. It also assists in development planning within the waterway corridor.

A Commission-led study of heritage-oriented small business opportunities identified 84 new businesses that could be developed in St. Croix communities; some of these are now being pursued.

These are only some of the St. Croix International Waterway Commission's involvements. The Commission's on-going role is to facilitate and catalyze cooperation in all aspects of the St. Croix's use, so that present users and future generations can continue to enjoy the benefits of this special boundary waterway.