The United States and Canada have taken steps to implement interim measures as they work towards modernizing the Columbia River Treaty regime. These actions aim to ensure continued stewardship of the Columbia River, as announced by President Biden in July when both nations reached an agreement in principle on key elements of a modernized treaty.
Recognizing that drafting and enforcing treaty amendments will require time, the two countries agreed to interim measures focusing on flood risk reduction, electrical power benefits sharing, and transmission rights transfer. Specifically:
- Starting August 1, there was a 37% decrease in the Canadian Entitlement.
- As of November 1, Canada's Powerex assumed responsibility for paying for 1,120 megawatts of transmission rights previously held by the United States' Bonneville Power Administration for delivering the Canadian Entitlement.
- Until 2027, Canada will provide 3.6 million acre-feet of water storage at Arrow Lakes reservoir for U.S. flood risk management upon election and compensation by the United States.
Additionally, plans are underway to store water in Canada to support salmon migration efforts in 2025.
These measures align with the goals outlined in July's Agreement in Principle: protecting vulnerable communities from flooding, advancing clean energy objectives, and enhancing the ecosystem that has supported Pacific Northwest inhabitants historically.
Meanwhile, negotiations continue between U.S. and Canadian teams on finalizing treaty amendment texts to make these interim measures more permanent. Once finalized, these amendments are expected to be presented to the U.S. Senate for advice and consent. The negotiation team is led by representatives from several U.S. agencies including Bonneville Power Administration; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Northwestern Division; Department of Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation; and Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The State Department acknowledges the participation and consultation support provided by U.S. tribes throughout these negotiations.
