Columbia River BasinTrans-boundary issues in the Pacific Northwest

Geographyhundreds of tributaries Drains >260,000 mi^2Flow= 78,500,000

acre-ft/yr2 nations

Canada (origin)US (85% area, 75%

runoff) 7 states( WA, OR, MT,

Id, UT, WY, NV)

Hydroelectric PotentialElevation change = 2,650 ft14 hydroelectric dams on main

stem: hundreds on tributariesIn the US

Federal: 8,664 megawatts-enough for 8 cities the size of Seattle(40%)

Non-federal: 5,368 megawatts, enough for 5 Seattles.

In Canada: 2,572 megawattsMost consumed within the

provinceSome sold to U.S. from B.C

Hydro

Political Issues1961 Columbia

River Treaty with Canada

Tribal Concerns

Balancing Energy and the Environment

Motivations for Treaty Insufficient Boundary Waters Treaty (1909)Dams in both countries provided power but

did not control flowA lack of storage facilities allowed floodingGrowing Populations requires more energyVanport flood (1948)

Second largest city200 ft Dike burstCity was Destroyed

Negotiations1940’s- studies for potential future joint

development of dams in the Columbia River basin began

1959-the governments issued a report that recommended an agreement

1964- Treaty was ratified and came into effect

Diefenbaker and Eisenhower

Treaty Provisions

United States Benefitsflood control: Canada required to provide 19.12 km³

of usable reservoir storage behind three large damsIncrease in power generation

Canadian BenefitsUpfront Payment of 50% of estimated prevented

flood damage costs through 2024($64.4 Million)“Canadian Entitlement”- 50% of downstream power

benefits(sold 1st 30 years (2003) for 254 million)

Bonneville Power Administration (US) and BC Hydro(Canada) created to implement treaty

Future RelationsSeptember 2024: pre-determined flood

control obligations expireSeptember 2014: First year either country

can change the agreementTerminate the treatyNegotiate new flood control obligations and

benefitsExtend the existing obligations and benefits

Both governments are currently reviewing the treaty

Tribal Relations

Treaty of Walla Walla (1855)- “The exclusive right of taking fish in all the streams where running through or bordering said reservations, is further secured to said confederated tribes and bands of Indians, as also the right of taking fish at all usual and accustomed places”

Both countries have pursued treaties with native populations to establish rights to land and resources

Worster v. Georgia(1832) “several Indian nations” have legal status as “political communities within which their authority is exclusive.”

Isaac Ingalls Stevens

Population DepletionHistorically 15 million Salmon

returned to the basin to spawn every year

Decreased as both nations began to build dams Physically Blocks PathIncreased TemperatureIncreased Nitrogen Levels

In modern times; less than 2 million, mostly from hatcheries

Many species are endangeredTribal Nations feel their rights are

ignored

ResponseFish laddersBypass systems1970-flew to snake R. Water filled elevators

Lethal injection of sea Lions (2007)

Studies on the impact of removing dams

Energy & EnvironmentMarmot Dam-2007 Portland

General Electric, OrSavage Rapids-2009 Bureau

of Reclamation, OrCondit-2011 Pacific Corp,

Wa

Other Tribal ConcernsThe Model Toxics Control Act (1996)

establishes cleanup levels for surface waters assumed a fish consumption rate of 54.1 grams/day

Tribes in the area eat about 389 grams/day.2008- Tribes campaign for their needs to be

reflected in cleanup legislation2010

175 grams/d Oregon Water quality standard583 grams/d consumption rate used for the

Rayonier Cleanup

Questions?How do you think the US and

Canada will handle the expiration of the C.R.T. in 2024?

What, if any environmental issues should be considered in the revised Columbia River treaty?

How well do you feel that Native American water issues have been managed in the Columbia River Basin? How do you think their needs

should be addressed in the future?