What is the Relationship Between the Non-Treaty Storage Agreement (NTSA) and the Columbia River Treaty

The Non-Treaty Storage Agreement (NTSA) is a water regulation agreement between BC Hydro and the Bonneville Power Administration that governs the use of 5 million acre-feet of Kinbasket Reservoir storage not already covered by the Columbia River Treaty. Non-Treaty Storage Agreement operations impact discharges from the Kinbasket, Revelstoke, and Arrow reservoirs as well as downstream U.S. hydroelectric projects.

BC Hydro is the Canadian Entity under the Columbia River Treaty (Treaty), and Bonneville Power Administration is one of the two federal agencies (along with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) that comprise the U.S. Entity under the Treaty. Both entities are responsible for implementing reservoir operations that comply with the Columbia River Treaty.

The Non-Treaty Storage Agreement is distinct from the Columbia River Treaty. The Columbia River Treaty is an international agreement between the United States and Canada for the primary purpose of flood control and power production, whereas the Non-Treaty Storage Agreement is a commercial agreement between BC Hydro and Bonneville Power Administration . The Columbia River Treaty provides the overall operating framework for Canadian Treaty reservoirs, whereas Non-Treaty Storage Agreement operations allow (typically) smaller adjustments to Columbia River Treaty operations. Non-Treaty Storage Agreement operations cannot diminish benefits to either country under the Columbia River Treaty.

Background
Under the terms of the Columbia River Treaty, B.C. was required to build three dams, Duncan, Arrow (Keenleyside) and Mica, to provide 15.5 million acre-feet of storage capacity in the three reservoirs. B.C. constructed Mica Dam with an additional 5 million acre-feet of live storage capacity beyond that required under the terms of the Columbia River Treaty. This additional reservoir storage cannot be fully utilized without agreement from the U.S. Entity as doing so could conflict with reservoir discharge requirements under the Columbia River Treaty.

Bonneville Power Administration and BC Hydro reached a temporary agreement in 1983 covering operations of some of this additional Kinbasket storage. When the terms of the temporary agreement expired, a longer-term Non-Treaty Storage Agreement was signed in 1984 and then expanded in 1990. Under the 1984 agreement, BC Hydro and Bonneville Power Administration agreed to share the operations of 2 million acre-feet of storage. The 1990 agreement covered the full 5 million acre-feet of storage – this agreement expired in 2011. The most recent Non-Treaty Storage Agreement also governs the full 5 million acre-feet, was signed in April 2012 and will expire in September 2024.

Non-Treaty Storage Agreement (NTSA) In Relation to the Columbia River Water Use Plan
BC Hydro committed to ensuring the Non-Treaty Storage Agreement is in alignment with the Columbia River Water Use Plan (WUP) . Signed in 2004, the Columbia River Water Use Plan defines how BC Hydro operates its facilities in relation to all known water use interests on the Columbia River. These sometimes competing water uses include fish, wildlife, ecosystems, archaeological sites, power generation, and flood control.

For additional information:
Final Agreement between BC Hydro and Bonneville Power Administration

BC Hydro Non-Treaty Storage Agreement Website (April 2012)