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Columbia Basin Trust, Columbia River Case Study, (PDF) Rosenberg Forum on Water Policy, September 2004 Pre-Forum Draft Rosenberg Water Policy Forum September 3rd- 8th, 2004 Ankara Turkey COLUMBIA RIVER CASE STUDY Columbia Basin Trust Presentation Josh Smienk – Chair, Board of Directors - Columbia Basin Trust Kindy K. Gosal - Manager of Water Initiatives for the Columbia Basin Trust Page 1 of 3131 Rosenberg Forum on Water Policy, September 2004 Pre-Forum Draft EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The entire Columbia Basin (in Canada and the United States) is 671,000 square kilometres, approximately twice the size of Finland. It crosses one international boundary, and seven state boundaries. It contains an incredible range of ecosystems from interior rain forests to grasslands to deserts. These include a huge diversity of wildlife with over 700 hundred species of reptiles, birds, fish and mammals. Archaeology tells us that humans have inhabited the Columbia River Basin for more than 10,000 years. First Nations used the river system for hunting, gathering, transportation, and cultural purposes. These uses are still an important way of life for First Nations in the Columbia River Basin. With increased human habitation in the Basin, use of water has increased to include hydropower, industry, agriculture, domestic water supplies, and recreation. This has placed greater demand on the finite water resources of the Basin. There is also an increasing level of regulation on the Columbia River and its tributaries. The great variety of national, provincial, First Nations, and state jurisdictions increase the complexity of managing the system. The water resources of the Columbia Basin have been harnessed over the past few decades to meet the hydroelectric and water needs of the growing population and resultant economy of the Pacific Northwest. Over 450 dams have been constructed on the main stem and tributaries of the Columbia. Page 2 of 3131 Rosenberg Forum on Water Policy, September 2004 Pre-Forum Draft One major agreement dictates the management of the Columbia Water resources in Canada: the Columbia River Treaty. In 1964, Canada and the United States ratified the Columbia River Treaty. The purpose of the Columbia River Treaty is to coordinate flood control and optimize electrical energy production in the Columbia River Basin in the United States and Canada. Under the treaty, Canada agreed to build three storage dams - Duncan (1968), Keenleyside (1969), and Mica (1973)- in the Canadian Columbia Basin. The Pacific Northwest United States and British Columbia are dependent on the power and revenue generated from the hydroelectric system in the Columbia Basin. The Canadian Columbia Basin region provides 50 per cent of the total hydroelectric power produced in B.C. Power produced, as a result of the Canadian Columbia Basin hydroelectric infrastructure, provides low-cost electricity to all British Columbians and is a keystone to the provincial economy. In addition, the water stored in the Canadian system provides significant power generation to a number of U.S. hydroelectric facilities downstream on the Columbia River. However these benefits came at a cost that was born solely by the Canadian portion of the Columbia Basin. A large area of highly productive and fertile low elevation land was flooded. Communities were displaced and valuable fish and wildlife habitat and species lost. The communities that currently surround the reservoirs are continually impacted by rapidly fluctuating reservoir levels, and the local economy is hampered due to increased transportation costs and the lost opportunities for use of the areas that were flooded. Page 3 of 3131 Rosenberg Forum on Water Policy, September 2004 Pre-Forum Draft The Columbia Basin is now a very different place, with different societal values, from the time that the Columbia River Treaty was created. There are increased values and issues around the use of water and the management of the water resources of the region. The future of water management in the region will always be linked to hydropower production and the challenge is to recognize and manage for a variety of other interests. The Columbia River Treaty allows for a re-negotiation or termination of treaty provisions. The earliest this can be done is in 2024 if notice is given 10 years in advance (2014). The Columbia Basin Trust and other organizations are now working on trying to understand what may be in store for the Basin should the Columbia River Treaty be terminated or re-negotiated. What would a new treaty look like? What happens if we simply terminate the treaty? What implications does this have to the economy of the Pacific North West and British Columbia? How do we ensure that the process to re- negotiate or renew is inclusive of a wide variety of stakeholders, and inclusive of the current and future values that the people of this region have with respect to water? How do we ensure that the people most directly affected by these decisions have meaningful input and that the decisions are not made solely by lawyers, politicians and engineers in Ottawa and Washington? Page 4 of 3131 Rosenberg Forum on Water Policy, September 2004 Pre-Forum Draft ABOUT THE COLUMBIA BASIN TRUST Water issues are at the core of the Columbia Basin Trust's existence. The Columbia Basin Trust was created in recognition of the impacts associated with the management of water in this region. In the early 1990s, people of the Columbia Basin became aware that an opportunity for public involvement might present itself. The sale of the first 30 years of B.C.'s share of the downstream benefits, through the Columbia River Treaty, was about to expire. Residents of the region felt local people should be given more say in matters concerning environmental, economic, and social health. The Columbia Basin Trust was created in that spirit. Leaders from First Nations, local communities, and the Province of B.C. worked together on an agreement that recognized the impacts to this region as a result of the creation of the Columbia River Treaty Dams. In 1995, the Columbia Basin Trust was formed with a unique mandate to support the efforts of the people of the Basin to create a legacy of social, economic, and environmental well being and to achieve greater self-sufficiency for present and future generations in the region most affected by the Columbia River Treaty. The Columbia Basin Trust was endowed with $295 million from the Province of B.C. (approximately five per cent of the downstream benefits owned by the Province of B.C.). Page 5 of 3131 Rosenberg Forum on Water Policy, September 2004 Pre-Forum Draft During the creation of the Columbia Basin Trust, there was extensive public consultation with Basin residents that resulted in the creation of the Columbia Basin Trust Management Plan. This plan is the guiding document for the principles of investing the initial endowment and creation of programs to support the social, economic and environmental well being for the residents of the Canadian Columbia Basin. Using this plan as a guiding document, the Columbia Basin Trust, along with our power partner, Columbia Power Corporation, made investments into upgrading existing hydroelectric facilities on the Columbia River system, as well as building new generating stations on existing dams. Basin residents have identified a broad range of concerns regarding water quality and quantity, from both human use and natural ecosystem perspectives. Basin residents want to ensure their values and views are incorporated into any water initiatives in the Basin. Currently there is neither a comprehensive vision nor a strategic plan that incorporates a wide range of values regarding water issues in the Basin. The Columbia Basin Trust wants to involve Basin residents in building a network of organizations to address water issues in the Basin. In order to carry out this mandate, the Columbia Basin Trust has allocated staff and financial resources to its Water Initiatives Program, and is currently involved in a number of water education and planning initiatives across the Columbia Basin. Page 6 of 3131 Rosenberg Forum on Water Policy, September 2004 Pre-Forum Draft The Columbia Basin Trust recognizes that one of the most significant water issues in the Columbia Basin is the opportunity to renew, terminate, or re-negotiate the Columbia River Treaty. This process will commence in 2014. Part of the public consultation that was carried out with Basin residents in the creation of the Columbia Basin Trust clearly pointed out that one of the priorities of the organization should be to “prepare” the residents of the Columbia Basin for the potential renewal, or renegotiation of the Columbia River Treaty, when that opportunity arose. The Columbia Basin Trust is committed to ensuring that the values and views of Basin residents are a key part of the process from start to finish. As part of this commitment, the Columbia Basin Trust is working in partnership with a variety of community groups, local governments, first nations, provincial organizations and federal organizations to increase the understanding of water and water issues in the Columbia Basin and cooperatively work towards a common agreement for the future management of our shared water resources. Please see our website at www.cbt.org. Page 7 of 3131 Rosenberg Forum on Water Policy, September 2004 Pre-Forum Draft COLUMBIA RIVER TREATY – HISTORIC AND FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES 1. A hydrologic and geographic overview of the Columbia River Basin The Columbia River Basin is the fourth largest river basin in North America (only the Mississippi, Mackenzie and St. Lawrence River basins are larger). It encompasses an area of 671,000 sq km/268,000 sq miles, or about twice the area of Finland. It crosses one international boundary and 7 state boundaries (Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nevada, Utah). Page 8 of 3131 Rosenberg Forum on Water Policy, September 2004 Pre-Forum Draft Figure 1: Map of the Columbia River Basin Page 9 of 3131 Rosenberg Forum on Water Policy, September 2004 Pre-Forum Draft 85% of the Basin area is in the U.S.
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