Title Slide

HISTORICAL BACKGROUNDof

COLUMBIA RIVER TREATY

HISTORICAL BACKGROUNDof

COLUMBIA RIVER TREATY

Uses ofCOLUMBIA RIVER

in the 1800s

Fishing photo

FISHING

FISHING

Navigation photo

NAVIGATIONNAVIGATION

Later Uses of Columbia Later Uses of Columbia R.R.

FishingFishing NavigationNavigation IRRIGATION IRRIGATION

(1890)(1890)

Later Uses of Columbia Later Uses of Columbia R.R.

FishingFishing NavigationNavigation Irrigation (1890)Irrigation (1890) HYDROPOWER HYDROPOWER

(1900)(1900)

Later Uses of Columbia Later Uses of Columbia R.R.

FishingFishing NavigationNavigation Irrigation (1890)Irrigation (1890) Hydropower (1900)Hydropower (1900) FLOOD CONTROL FLOOD CONTROL

(1948)(1948)

Later Uses of Columbia Later Uses of Columbia R.R.

FishingFishing NavigationNavigation Irrigation (1890)Irrigation (1890) Hydropower (1900)Hydropower (1900) Flood Control (1948)Flood Control (1948) RECREATION (1950s)RECREATION (1950s)

PROJECT OWNERSPROJECT OWNERS U.S. GovernmentU.S. Government

Corps of EngineersCorps of Engineers

Bureau of ReclamationBureau of Reclamation Local Government AgenciesLocal Government Agencies Private Power CompaniesPrivate Power Companies Local Flood Control DistrictsLocal Flood Control Districts BC Hydro BC Hydro (Canada)(Canada)

3 Stages of 3 Stages of DevelopmentDevelopment

1.1. Run-of-River Dam StageRun-of-River Dam Stage

2.2. U.S. Storage Reservoir StageU.S. Storage Reservoir Stage

3.3. Columbia River Treaty StageColumbia River Treaty Stage

In 1927In 1927

The U.S. Congress The U.S. Congress directeddirected

the Corps of Engineersthe Corps of Engineers

to develop a planto develop a plan

for the Columbia Riverfor the Columbia River

Map of Columbia R

Purposes to bePurposes to beConsideredConsidered

HYDROELECTRIC HYDROELECTRIC POWERPOWER

Navigation Navigation IrrigationIrrigation Flood ControlFlood Control

Corps of Engineers Corps of Engineers 1932 Plan1932 Plan

Grand Coulee reservoirGrand Coulee reservoir 9 Run-of-river dams9 Run-of-river dams Navigation locks at 4 Navigation locks at 4

damsdams Flood control by leveesFlood control by levees

Levees to Prevent FloodingLevees to Prevent Flooding

Map of 1932 Plan

Two Projects Two Projects ConstructedConstructed

1934-401934-40

BONNEVILLE DAMBONNEVILLE DAM run-of-river dam with lockrun-of-river dam with lock power and navigationpower and navigationGRAND COULEE DAMGRAND COULEE DAM 6.3 km6.3 km33 (5.1 MAF) (5.1 MAF)

reservoirreservoir power and irrigationpower and irrigation

Map of 1932 Plan

Bonneville Photo

Bonneville Lock and Dam

Bonneville Lock and Dam

Columbia R profile

1937: Bonneville Power 1937: Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) Administration (BPA)

createdcreated To sell the power from U.S. To sell the power from U.S.

Government hydro projectsGovernment hydro projects

To build transmission linesTo build transmission lines

To dispatch power from To dispatch power from Government hydro projectsGovernment hydro projects

3 Stages of 3 Stages of DevelopmentDevelopment

1.1. Run-of-River Dam StageRun-of-River Dam Stage

2.2. U.S. Storage Reservoir U.S. Storage Reservoir StageStage

3.3. Columbia River Treaty StageColumbia River Treaty Stage

Columbia Riveris a “Snowmelt”

Stream

Columbia Riveris a “Snowmelt”

Stream

Maximum streamflow is in the spring and summer

Minimum streamflow in fall and winter

Maximum electric power demand is in winter

Maximum streamflow is in the spring and summer

Minimum streamflow in fall and winter

Maximum electric power demand is in winter

Reservoir storageReservoir storageis neededis needed

To develop the full To develop the full powerpower

of the Columbia River of the Columbia River hydroelectric projectshydroelectric projects

In 1943 Corps of EngineersIn 1943 Corps of Engineerswas directed to studywas directed to study

reservoir storagereservoir storagein Columbia River Basinin Columbia River Basin

Emphasis on Emphasis on storage for storage for hydroelectric powerhydroelectric power

Entire basin to be studiedEntire basin to be studied Complete the study by 1948Complete the study by 1948

Canada invited to Canada invited to participateparticipatein the studyin the study

Canada was Canada was

not able to participate not able to participate

at that timeat that time

U.S. developed a planU.S. developed a planwith storage reservoirswith storage reservoirs

in the U.S. onlyin the U.S. only

The two countries also agreed The two countries also agreed to study to study future opportunitiesfuture opportunities

for cooperative developmentfor cooperative development

of the Columbia River basinof the Columbia River basin

The 1943-1948 The 1943-1948 Corps of Engineers Columbia Corps of Engineers Columbia

R. Reservoir StudyR. Reservoir Study

Main objective was reservoir Main objective was reservoir storage for hydroelectric powerstorage for hydroelectric power

Flood control was not in Flood control was not in the original reservoir planthe original reservoir plan

Map of original 1948 plan

During the high water of May 1948 …

THELEVEESFAILED!

Causing terrible damage!

The Corps of EngineersThe Corps of Engineerswas directedwas directed

to reviseto revisetheir reservoir plantheir reservoir plan

TO INCLUDETO INCLUDEFLOOD CONTROLFLOOD CONTROL

Map of revised 1948 plan

Map of revised 1948 plan

In 1951 U.S. requested In 1951 U.S. requested permission from permission from

Canada Canada to build Libbyto build Libby

Canada did not object Canada did not object to U.S. building to U.S. building the Libby projectthe Libby project

Canada objected to Canada objected to the compensation the compensation offered offered for the land floodedfor the land flooded

U.S. offered to pay value U.S. offered to pay value of land floodedof land flooded

Canada preferred a Canada preferred a

share of the downstream share of the downstream benefitsbenefits

Because of Because of the disagreement,the disagreement,planning for Libby planning for Libby reservoir stoppedreservoir stopped

Other reservoirs Other reservoirs proposed in the Corps proposed in the Corps

1948 plan1948 planalso had problemsalso had problems

Map of results of 1948 plan

The required flood control The required flood control storage could not storage could not

be providedbe provided

23.4 km23.4 km33 (19.0 MAF)(19.0 MAF) required required

7.7 km7.7 km33 (6.2 MAF)(6.2 MAF) would would be availablebe available

Activities 1952-1957Activities 1952-1957

Canada studied possibleCanada studied possible projects in Columbia R. basin inprojects in Columbia R. basin in Canada (including diversions)Canada (including diversions) U.S. studied building reservoirU.S. studied building reservoir storage in U.S.storage in U.S. The two countries continued The two countries continued studying cooperative studying cooperative

developmentdevelopment of Columbia R.of Columbia R.

3 Stages of 3 Stages of DevelopmentDevelopment

1.1. Run-of-River Dam StageRun-of-River Dam Stage

2.2. U.S. Storage Reservoir StageU.S. Storage Reservoir Stage

3.3. Columbia River Treaty StageColumbia River Treaty Stage

1957-1959 Conclusions1957-1959 Conclusions

Studies by both countries Studies by both countries concluded that joint concluded that joint development was gooddevelopment was good

Canada concluded plans Canada concluded plans should be made for entire should be made for entire basin, not just Libbybasin, not just Libby

U.S. agreed and also agreed to U.S. agreed and also agreed to share downstream benefitsshare downstream benefits

Columbia River TreatyColumbia River TreatyNegotiated 1960-61Negotiated 1960-61

February 1960February 1960: U.S. and : U.S. and Canada began negotiations on Canada began negotiations on TreatyTreaty

January 1961January 1961: U.S. President : U.S. President Eisenhower and Canadian Prime Eisenhower and Canadian Prime Minister Diefenbaker signed the Minister Diefenbaker signed the Columbia River TreatyColumbia River Treaty

COLUMBIA RIVER TREATYCOLUMBIA RIVER TREATY

Canada built 19.1 kmCanada built 19.1 km33 (15.5 (15.5 MAF)MAF) of reservoir storage at of reservoir storage at MicaMica, , Arrow LakesArrow Lakes, and , and Duncan LakeDuncan Lake

U.S. built U.S. built LibbyLibby reservoir reservoir on Kootenai Riveron Kootenai River

Map of Treaty projects

COLUMBIA RIVER TREATYCOLUMBIA RIVER TREATY

Reservoir storage Reservoir storage regulated for regulated for powerpower and and flood controlflood control

U.S. operates downstream U.S. operates downstream projects to make best use of projects to make best use of storage regulationstorage regulation

The two countries share the The two countries share the downstream benefits equallydownstream benefits equally

Ratification of TreatyRatification of Treaty

U.S. Congress ratified U.S. Congress ratified Treaty in March, 1961Treaty in March, 1961

Canadian Parliament Canadian Parliament delayed ratification until delayed ratification until 19641964

Reasons for DelayReasons for Delay

Canada and British Columbia had to Canada and British Columbia had to agree onagree on

Who would build and operate the Who would build and operate the Treaty reservoirs Treaty reservoirs (BC Hydro)(BC Hydro)

How the Treaty reservoirs would How the Treaty reservoirs would be financed be financed (sell power to U.S.)(sell power to U.S.)

Reasons for DelayReasons for Delay

U.S. and Canada had to agree onU.S. and Canada had to agree on

Details for operating the Details for operating the Treaty ReservoirsTreaty Reservoirs

How Canadian share of power How Canadian share of power benefits would be sold in U.S.benefits would be sold in U.S.

1964 Ratification of 1964 Ratification of TreatyTreaty

1.1. Jan. 1964: Protocol on operation Jan. 1964: Protocol on operation of Treaty reservoirsof Treaty reservoirs

2.2. Jan. 1964: Agreement on sale of Jan. 1964: Agreement on sale of Canadian power benefits in U.S.Canadian power benefits in U.S.

3.3. May 1964: U.S. power companies May 1964: U.S. power companies purchased Canadian power purchased Canadian power benefitsbenefits

4.4. Sep. 1964: Pacific Northwest Sep. 1964: Pacific Northwest Coordination AgreementCoordination Agreement

5.5. Sep. 1964: Treaty became officialSep. 1964: Treaty became official

TREATY RESERVOIRSTREATY RESERVOIRS

Duncan LakeDuncan Lake 1.7 km1.7 km33 19671967

Arrow LakesArrow Lakes 8.8 km8.8 km33 19681968

MicaMica 8.6 km8.6 km33 19731973

LibbyLibby 6.1 km6.1 km33 19731973

Financing the Financing the Canadian ReservoirsCanadian Reservoirs

U.S. government paid U.S. government paid Canada for half of the Canada for half of the downstream flood control downstream flood control benefits for 60 yearsbenefits for 60 years

U.S. power companies U.S. power companies purchased the Canadian purchased the Canadian half of the power benefits half of the power benefits for 30 yearsfor 30 years

Closing slide

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