Columbia River and Tributaries
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CII--L--·----.--- REVIEW REPORT ON COLUMBIA RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES APPENDIX A COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN IN CANADA Prepared by SEATTLE DISTRICT, CORPS OF ENGINEERS October 1, 1948 347 CONTENTS Chapter I-Introduction: Page Scope of report --------------..---....--------- . 3.51 Treaties ---------351 Acknowledgments- --------------353 Chapter II-General Data: Geography and locations ------- ------- 354 General topography-.------------------------354 Streams ------------------357 Clark Fork-Pend Oreille River ..-.------------------ 357 Kootenay River---.- - ----------------------- 359 Columbia River -------------------- 363 Kettle River ---.- ------.. -----.. ----- ..- 365 Okanagan River-, --------------- 365 Geology-------------- 368 Soils and cover-----------------. 369 Climate------------------370 General -------------370 Records ----------------------------- 371 Storms --- -------------- 373 Hydrology ------------------- . ..... -373 General.-------------.------ .--. 373 Records ---.--------.----.........--.....------ - 374 Surface-water supply -.-----------------.-------------... 374 Ground-water supply -.--, -------- -----, - -377 Flood history and character---,------ ----------,. -377 Water rights ..-.--------------...............---.378.. .. Chapter III-Economic development: Population ----379 Resources and industries----------------381 Agriculture ------ ----..-.- --- .-------- 381 Forestry-,- -------------383 Minerals and miring, 384 Manufacturing 388 Power - ---------------- .---.------. 389 Recreation, fish and wildlife ---------------------------- 390 Transportation and commerce---.------------..-- 390 Railroads ----------------- .--------- ----- 391 Highways ...-....---------- --.--., 392 Airways ------ --------------------------------- 392 Navigation ------..-------- .- .----- --- -- .----- .- 392 Chapter IV-Problems: General ----- -----------.--- -------...--- - 393 Flood control ------ ------------------. 393 Fish conservation--------------- 394 Stream pollution -------------------------- .----- .- ..-- 394 Irrigation ------,,--..-----......... .394 Power development -----------------------..- 394 Chapter V-Potential development: Existing storage-------------------------------------- 395 Potential storage ----------------------^----------- ------ 395 Columbia .-----,--,--.------River, main stem---------------------396 Kootenay River ------------------------------- --- 397 Clark Fork-Pend Oreille River---------------397 Kettle River---------- ------------------------------- 397 Similkameen River-------------------398 Effects in the United States---------- 400 --------------402 Conclusion..----------..- -------------------- 402 Summary-. 349 350 COLUMBIA RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES TABLES No. Title Page 1. Lakes of the Columbia River Basin in Canada ........----------... 357 2. Tributary rivers and watershed areas of the upper Columbia River..- 358 3. Stream data --------------------------------..- ....366 4. Stream slopes and elevations -------------3------------...--. 367 5. Relative.humidity data. ----------------------- 371 6. Summary of climatological data------............................ 372 7 Mean monthltl, nd annual precipitation and temperature data--... 373 8. Summary of stream-flow data .---------.---.--- .-...--.-A --.. 375 9. Mean monthly stream-flow data ------- -- ------- 376 10. Population and activities of the principal cities of Columbia Basin in British Columbia -----.---.....---- - 380 11 TIimber out--by species in British Columbia---------.-------------- 384 12 Tiilber outt-by land status, Nelson and K(amlooos districts..,..- ._ 384 13 Value of gold, silver, copper, lead, and zinc produced by divisions in British Columbia ------ ......- 385 14 Quantity and value of minerals produced in British Columbia- -..- 386 15. Mineral production in basin -----------------.. 386 16. Returns to mining investors------ ..-.......... .. 387 17 IIEmployees a1nd costs of mining industry, British Columbia ..-._--_.-- 387 18. Data on manufacturing establishment s --------------------------. 389 19. Water-power development -----------_---.----..---.........----..-- ......_--___- ..----.389 20. Potential storage sites in Canada ----.------------------ .- .._-.399 21. Effects of various combinations of storage on dependable flow: A. At Grand Coulee D)amI----------.....- ---------------- 400 B. At McNary Dam --...----- -----------... -- . ..--_ . 400 PLATF` (After p. 403) No. Title 1. Basin map. 2. Profile. 3. Isohyetal map. 4-5. Kootenay Rtiver hydrograph at Glade, British Columbia. 6-7. Columbia River hydrograph at Birchbank, British Columbia. 8. Runoff map. 9. Stream-flow characteristics. 10, Stream-flow hydrographs and storage yield curves. APPENDIX A-COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN IN CANADA CHAPTER I--INTRODUCTION. SCOPE OF REPORT 1, No report of a comprehensive nature on the development of the water resources of the Columbia River Basin in the United States would be complete without consideration being given to the large portion of the drainage area of the river in Canada and the large runoff from that area. Consideration also should be given to the economic development in the Canadian portion of the basin, particu- larly in those areas near the international boundary wherein problems may arise from' developments near the boundary. Because of the importance of these considerations, the presentation in some detail of certain data in a separate appendix was believed necessary for the following reasons: (a), The geography, topography, and climate are important factors in estimating the probable runoff in the various international streams and their tributaries. (b) The location, annual and seasonal runoff, and general character of the more important streams are likewise important in estimating the quantity and character of their probable runoff. (c) A knowledge of the economic development of this portion of Columbia River Basin is of prime importance to any long-range planning program involving the exploitation of its water resources in either country. Presentation of these data is believed conservative. (d) The discussion at this time of existing and potential storage in Canada is undertaken only because some estimate as to its probable quantity, location, and rate of discharge is necessary in the considera- tion of long-range plans for developments downstream. No attempt has been made to evaluate the benefits that would accrue either directly or indirectly to Canada from development of storage in that country. While these would be real and of great magnitude, their realization and proper evaluation is dependent upon many factors, the determi- nation of which is a prerogative of Canada and beyond the scope of this report. Similarly, the brief discussion of some of the existing problems in Canada is undertaken not to point out their obvious existence and importance but rather to mention only those of mutual interest where united action of both countries might provide their best and most satisfactory solution. TREATIES 2. "The international problems of water use within the Columbia River Basin are subject to the provisions of two treaties between the Government of the United States and that of Great Britain on behalf of Canada which date from 1846 and 1909." 1 I Preliminary Report to the International Joint Commission by the International Columbia River Engi. neering Board, Oct. 1, 194, par. 1-02, p. 1. 351 352 COLUMBIA RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES The Treaty of Washington, 1846, defines the boundary between the two countries west of the Rocky Mountains and provides navigational privileges to all British subjects on the Columbia and the great northern branch of the Columbia River from the forty-ninth parallel to the ocean, on the same footing as citizens of the United States. 3. The International Joint Commission was created by the treaty of January 11, 1909, between the United States and Great Britain. Under article 3 of this treaty, both parties agree to the establishment and maintenance of this Commission, to be composed. of six commis- sioners; three commissions from the United States, appointed by the President; and three on the part of the United Kingdom, appointed by His Majesty on the recommendation of the Governor in Council of the Dominion of Canada. This Commission has authority to deal with a wide variety of situations that may arise between the nationals or the Governments themselves. 4. First, it becomes a final court for settlement of all questions involving use or diversion of boundary waters, of rivers flowing from boundary waters or of rivers flowing across the boundary as defined in the treaty and agreed upon in articles 3 and 4-all according to certain procedures as set up in article 8 thereof. 5. Second, the Commission acts as an administrative body, under article 6 of the treaty, responsible for the measurement and division of the waters of two minor international streams, the St. Mary and Milk Rivers, between the farmers of Alberta and Montana. 6. Third, the Commission may function as an investigatory body for other classes of cases not specifically covered by articles 3 or 4, such as water-pollution problems, damage from smelter fumes, the St. Lawrence deep waterway, or any other questions or matters of difference arising between them along the common frontier. This function of the Commission is outlined in article 9 of the treaty, under which it is authorized to examine into and report upon the facts and circumstances involved, making its report and recommendations back to the two Govibrnments, thus ending its responsibility