Columbia River Treaty Overview
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Columbia wetlands near Harrogate AN OVERVIEW: COLUMBIA RIVER TREATY What is the Columbia The CRT has no specific end date, If the CRT is not terminated or and most of its provisions will modified, most of its provisions River Treaty? continue indefinitely without action would continue, with the exception by the United States or Canada. The of the “Assured Annual Flood The Columbia River Treaty (CRT) is CRT does, however, have a minimum Control” provisions which are an international agreement between length of 60 years. Thus beginning scheduled to expire in 2024 (unless Canada and the United States for the in September 2024, either nation re-negotiated) and transition joint development, regulation and can terminate most provisions of the automatically to a different type of management of the Columbia River Treaty with at least 10 years’ written flood control referred to as “Called- in order to coordinate flood control notice (i.e., starting as early as 2014). Upon” flood control operations. and optimize hydroelectric energy production on both sides of the The CRT can be modified at any time border. The CRT was ratified in 1964. by mutual agreement of both nations. Why Was the Key Provisions of the by the Province. Canada sold the first 30 years of its Canadian Entitlement to CRT Signed? Columbia River Treaty a consortium of utilities in the U.S. for $254 million US. That agreement expired Canada and the U.S. were facing two DOWNSTREAM POWER BENEFITS in phases and the Province of BC now major challenges in the Columbia River Power that can be generated in the receives the Canadian Entitlement. worth Basin (Basin) after WWII. In addition to U.S. portion of the Basin as a result of approximately $120 million US annually. an increasing population, the “untamed” the additional water storage provided Columbia River was causing periodic by three dams in Canada through the WHO IMPLEMENTS THE CRT? and sometimes devastating flooding. CRT is referred to as downstream power Entities from both countries were Simultaneously, an upswing in the benefits. The downstream power benefits appointed to implement the CRT on economy increased the need for energy are a modeled calculation in megawatts behalf of their governments. The U.S. sources. of electricity. The CRT requires that these entities are the Bonneville Power In order to meet these challenges, the downstream power benefits be shared Administration and the U.S. Army two countries ratified the CRT in 1964. equally between both countries. Corps of Engineers. The Province of BC Under the CRT, Canada agreed to build designated BC Hydro as the Canadian The downstream power benefits from three storage dams in Canada: entity. the operation of Libby Dam are allocated 1967: Duncan Dam (Duncan Reservoir); differently. They accrue to the country in 2024: EITHER COUNTRY which the benefits occur: Canada keeps MAY TERMINATE 1968: Hugh Keenleyside Dam (Arrow the power benefits derived in Canada and The CRT has no official expiry date, Lakes Reservoir) the U.S. keeps the power benefits derived but has a minimum length of 60 years, in the U.S. 1973: Mica Dam (Kinbasket Reservoir) which is met in September 2024. It is possible that one or both countries may THE CANADIAN ENTITLEMENT 1975: The CRT also allowed the U.S. wish to renegotiate parts or all of the to build Libby Dam in Montana, Canada’s share of the downstream CRT, or terminate it entirely. If neither which created a reservoir, power benefits is called the Canadian country terminates it, the current CRT will Koocanusa, that extends 67 Entitlement. It is calculated as half of continue indefinitely, with the exception kilometres into Canada. the forecast additional hydroelectric of the Assured Annual Flood Control Operations at Libby are under energy generated by power plants on provisions which expire in 2024. By the jurisdiction of the U.S. the Columbia River in the U.S. that mutual agreement, parts or all of the CRT entities. result directly from the operation of CRT could potentially be renegotiated at any dams in Canada. Under the Canada-BC time. Agreement, these benefits are owned Columbia River Treaty Timeline Disastrous floods on the Columbia River kill 41 in the U.S., destroy a Both countries community of 18,000 south of the finalize water storage border and leave thousands homeless. site selection and The CRT is Trail, BC, is heavily flooded, and homes continue negotiating ratified at the Mica Dam is and properties are damaged. the CRT. Peace Arch. completed. 1944 1948 1960 1961 1963 1964 1967 1968 1973 Canada and the Canada and The Canada-BC Duncan Dam Hugh Keenleyside Libby Dam is U.S. begin studies in the U.S. sign Agreement is is completed. Dam is completed. completed. the Basin to address the CRT. signed. flood control and growing power demands. FLOOD CONTROL provision expires automatically in U.S. to request On Call Flood Control, 2024 even if the CRT continues. it must first make effective use of its The CRT prescribes two primary types of own reservoir storage space, flows flood control provisions. 2. On Call Flood Control must exceed target levels at the Dalles On Call Flood Control is designed to Dam in the lower Columbia River 1. Assured Annual Flood Control be used during periods of very high near Portland and Canada must be Under the CRT, Canada agreed to inflows. The U.S. can request that compensated for operational costs. provide 8.45 million acre feet of Canada provide On Call storage in The On Call Flood Control provision assured annual water draft at the addition to the Assured Annual Flood remains in effect as long as the three Canadian CRT reservoirs for Control provision. This means Canada CRT dams exist, even if the CRT is flood control purposes. This would would provide additional storage at terminated. After 2024, the On Call continue for 60 years in exchange for Canadian reservoirs over and above Flood Control provision will be referred a one-time payment of $64.4 million what the CRT prescribes for Assured to as Called Upon Flood Control. US. This Assured Annual Flood Control Annual Flood Control. In order for the Canadian entity: Government of BC recommendations on the Columbia any discussions on the future of the Treaty with Canada River Treaty and the United States. Visit http://engage.gov.bc.ca/ columbiarivertreaty/bc-decision/ to review this decision. In November 2011, the Province initiated a Columbia River Treaty Review (Treaty Review) process to evaluate future decision options, including possible continuation, amendment or termination of the Treaty. After a two US entity: year Treaty Review consisting of extensive consultation Regional recommendation for the furture of the with the public, local government officials, First Nations Columbia River Treaty after 2024 on a government-to-government basis, and hydro facility operators, and completing a series of technical Review the US entity report here: studies, the Government of British Columbia made the decision to continue the Columbia River Treaty and seek www.bpa.gov/Projects/Initiatives/Pages/Columbia-River- improvements within its existing framework. The decision Treaty.aspx includes 14 principles that will guide British Columbia in www.engage.gov.bc.ca/columbiarivertreaty/bc-decision/ Basin residents Local governments The Canadian in Canada come in Canada create and U.S. entities together to seek the Canadian begin to review US and Canadian The Assured Annual recognition for Columbia River the CRT to Entities entered Flood Control impacts of the CRT. Treaty Committee. explore its future. into negotiations provision ends. 1990s 1992 1995 2003 2010 2013 2018 2024 Columbia Basin The first 30 years Government of British Trust is created. of the Canadian Columbia released their Entitlement expire decision to continue the and full entitlement Columbia River Treaty and returns to BC. seek improvements within its existing framework. What Can I Do? • Learn more about the history of the CRT and build your understanding and awareness of how your community and region was affected by the CRT. • Prepare to engage in positive and productive dialogue on the future of the CRT. • Learn more at ourtrust.org/crt. • Participate in the Province’s CRT engagement process Columbia Wetlands Roles and Responsibilities The Columbia River Treaty (CRT) was the concurrence of the Province prior Columbia Basin Trust agreed to by the Province of BC and the to issuing any notice of termination. The Trust’s primary role in regards to the Canadian and U.S. federal governments. It does not specify exact roles for the CRT is to act as an information resource Both federal governments, as well as the federal government around termination for Basin residents, First Nations and local Province, have specific roles under the and renegotiation, but any substantive governments. The Trust is also working CRT. changes to the CRT will require federal with provincial and federal government government involvement. agencies to provide advice on meaningful United States consultation processes with Basin Under the U.S. constitution, only Province of BC residents and local governments on any the President can make decisions on The Canada-BC Agreement transferred process to amend, renew or terminate the international treaties, based on the advice the rights and obligations under the CRT. and consent of the Senate. CRT to the Province. Any substantive The Trust is not a decision-maker changes to the CRT will require provincial with regards to the CRT and we are Canada government involvement. The 1963 Canada-BC Agreement not advocating for any specific future The Province has committed to undertake transferred the rights and obligations outcomes, other than to ensure Basin consultations with affected stakeholders under the CRT to the Province of BC.