Columbia River Treaty Review Photo courtesy of C. Morita Photo courtesy of PictureBC

Help inform the future of the Columbia River Treaty gov.bc.ca/columbiarivertreaty

Columbia River Treaty Highlights Photo courtesy of BC Hydro

❚❚ The Columbia River Treaty is a ❚❚ Either Canada or the U.S. can ❚❚ Canada’s half share of the additional trans-boundary water management unilaterally terminate most of the power that could be generated in the agreement between the United provisions of the Columbia River United States as a result of the dams, States and Canada signed in 1961 Treaty anytime after September 16, the downstream power benefits, and ratified in 1964. 2024, providing at least ten years’ is called the Canadian Entitlement. ❚❚ The Columbia River is approximately notice is given. The latest date Under the 1963 Canada-British 2000 kilometres long and is the to provide termination notice for Columbia Agreement, these benefits largest North American river September 2024 is September 2014. are owned by the Province of British emptying into the Pacific Ocean. ❚❚ The Canada-British Columbia Columbia. ❚❚ It begins in British Columbia at Agreement (1963) transferred most ❚❚ The Canadian Entitlement continues Columbia Lake and winds through Columbia River Treaty benefits, rights as long as the Columbia River Treaty British Columbia and Washington and obligations to British Columbia, is in place. If the Columbia River before emptying into the Pacific requiring Canada to obtain B.C.’s Treaty is terminated, the Canadian Ocean, near Portland, Oregon. agreement before amending or Entitlement ends. The Kootenay River is the major terminating the Treaty. ❚❚ The Columbia River Treaty also uppermost tributary of the Columbia ❚❚ Under the Columbia River Treaty, provided for the construction of the River and joins the Columbia River at Canada (British Columbia) agreed Libby dam (1973) in Montana and the Castlegar, British Columbia. to build three dams [Duncan (1967), resulting reservoir, Lake Koocanusa, ❚❚ The Treaty grew out of two major Arrow/Hugh Keenleyside (1968) and stretches back 68 kilometres into challenges: devastating flooding Mica (1973)], and in return received British Columbia. to areas close to Columbia River in benefits based on the additional ❚❚ The Libby dam regulates water both Canada and the United States flood control and power generation flow on the Kootenay River. The and the need for more electricity to potential. British Columbia received obligation to regulate water flow support a growing economy and an upfront one-time payment of on the Kootenay River continues population in the Pacific Northwest. $64 million for 60 years of assured indefinitely, even if the Columbia flood control. ❚❚ The purpose of the Columbia River Treaty is terminated. ❚ River Treaty is to optimize flood ❚ Regardless of termination, Assured ❚❚ Starting in the early 1990s, other management and power generation. Annual Flood Control expires agreements under the Columbia River This requires coordinated operations automatically in 2024 and converts Treaty have been put in place to serve of reservoirs and water flows for the on 16 September 2024 to a Called additional values such as managing Columbia River and Kootenay River Upon operation of Canadian water flow for fish and for recreation. on both sides of the border. storage space as may be needed by the United States for flood risk management. “Called Upon” flood control continues for as long as the dams that provide it are in place, even if the Columbia River Treaty is terminated.