Canada and the United States have made progress in modernizing the Columbia River Treaty (CRT) by reaching an agreement in principle (AIP).
This means negotiation teams will have a clear roadmap moving forward in drafting a new treaty.
The B.C. government will also take part, by engaging with Columbia River Basin residents to get feedback on the AIP.
“Modernizing the Columbia River Treaty is a once-in-a-generation chance to look beyond the original treaty’s goals of power generation and flood-risk management,” said Katrine Conroy, B.C. Minister Responsible for the CRT.
“As a lifelong basin resident, I’m proud to say this agreement-in-principle is a key step forward towards a modernized treaty that achieves those goals, reflecting the voices of basin communities and Indigenous Nations.”
B.C. officials said the CRT plays an important role in reducing flood damage and providing hydroelectric energy for Canadians and Americans.
The AIP ensures the new treaty will have some level of pre-planned flood control and cooperation on hydropower along the Columbia River.
Negotiators also agreed to new provisions including increased flexibility for how B.C. operates its treaty dams, ecosystem health, restoring salmon populations, Indigenous cultural values, adaptive management and collaborative engagement on Libby Dam operations.
B.C. officials said the new provisions reflect input from Columbia Basin residents, local governments and Indigenous Nations.
“We said all along that we would not agree to an updated treaty unless it led to improvements in the B.C. basin and reduced impacts to the region’s ecosystems and communities,” said Conroy.
“Canada, B.C. and the Ktunaxa, Secwépemc, and Syilx Okanagan Nations have worked hard together over the past six years to ensure our negotiations with the U.S. uphold that principle.”
The AIP and progress on the CRT has integrated input from residents and local governments through feedback and collaboration since 2012.
B.C. officials said the province and Canada have been working with Ktunaxa, Secwépemc and Syilx Okanagan Nations to determine their priorities at the negotiating table.
“The Ktunaxa Nation recognizes this important milestone on reaching an agreement-in-principle concerning a modernized Columbia River Treaty,” said Kathryn Teneese, Ktunaxa Nation Council Chair.
“While we continue with our sacred duty to protect ?a-kxam̓is q̓api qapsin (all living things), we look forward to continuing to work with Canada, B.C. and our Indigenous Nations partners towards a renewed Columbia River Treaty in which Ktunaxa title, rights and interests are addressed.”
Consultation with Indigenous nations led to the inclusion of ecosystem health, preservation of cultural values and salmon restoration in the AIP.
B.C. officials said the agreement supports the sharing of benefits between countries.
“It enables B.C. to continue receiving a share of the additional hydroelectric power potential in the U.S. as a result of how B.C. operates its treaty dams, and includes newly negotiated access to U.S. transmission infrastructure,” said the B.C. government.
It also includes provisions for annual payments from the U.S. for a reduced volume of reservoir space for flood-risk management, irrigation, navigation, recreation and fish-population enhancements in the U.S. portion of the Columbia Basin.
More details about the AIP and future engagement opportunities will come in the weeks ahead.
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