Resources
News by Sector
Economy
Collaboration builds stronger, flood-resilient Township of Langley
Government Operations
Collaboration builds stronger, flood-resilient Township of Langley
Multiculturalism
Premier’s statement on Vaisakhi
Services
Permanent repairs coming to the 112th Street crossing over Highway 99
Columbia River Treaty
Edition:
Columbia River Treaty Review
The Columbia River Treaty is a trans-boundary water management agreement between the United States and Canada. The Columbia River Treaty has no specified end date. Either Canada or the United States can terminate most of the agreement provisions as early as September 16, 2024, provided they give at least 10 years’ notice. Read more
Report on the Columbia River Treaty Review Technical Conference
Over 100 people attended the Columbia River Treaty Review Technical Conference held at the Castlegar Sandman Hotel on March 22. An additional 22 people registered to follow the conference via LiveStream.
After a busy day of presentations, break-out sessions and a panel, Basin residents expressed an appreciation for the “extremely useful and interesting day” as well as an appreciation for having the opportunity to ask technical questions of experts. The presentation by the U.S. Entity, the climate change session and the flood management session were singled out for notice by attendees. Read more
New Visualization Tool Available
If you are looking for a plain language, visual presentation of potential future operating alternatives and related trade-offs between key Basin interests, visit: http://blog.gov.bc.ca/columbiarivertreaty/scenarios-visualization
What is the Columbia River Treaty Sounding Board?
At the May and June 2012 public consultations in seven Columbia Basin communities, the Columbia River Treaty Review team asked Basin residents how they wanted to be consulted in the future. A majority of Basin residents told the Treaty Review team that they would like further community sessions, a large number were interested in having an in-depth conference, and some residents thought the Province should get input from a group of knowledgeable and committed Basin residents. The Treaty Review team listened and has now established a Sounding Board group. Read more
Question of the Month: Canadian and U.S. Entities Unveiled
Many people have asked us what the Columbia River Treaty Entities do. As you may know, under the Treaty the Entities are charged with the responsibility to implement the Treaty. Working cooperatively under the oversight of the Permanent Engineering Board, they are responsible for coordinated operational planning and daily operations of the reservoirs and hydroelectric facilities. The U.S. Entity is made up of two individuals, the Administrator of the Bonneville Power Administration and the Division Engineer, North Pacific Division of the US Army Corps of Engineers. Under the Treaty, the Canadian Entity is specified to be BC Hydro. Read more
Kootenay Koocanusa Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program
During our ongoing public consultations we clearly heard from Basin residents that there was a lack of environmental information and baseline data on the Koocanusa Reservoir. Basin residents expressed a strong desire for a Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program for the area, similar to the programs that exist for the other reservoirs in the Basin. The Columbia River Treaty Team participated in discussions between Columbia Basin Trust, the Ministry of Environment and BC Hydro to address this long-standing concern.
On April 11, 2013 Columbia Basin Trust announced the creation of the Kootenay-Koocanusa Fish and Wildlife Program, a new program to help protect and enhance fish, wildlife and habitats in and around Koocanusa Reservoir and its tributaries in the Kootenay River system. Read more
First Nations Consultation Update
The Province’s Columbia River Treaty Review team and federal government representatives continue to meet with Columbia Basin First Nations (the Ktunaxa Nation Council, Secwepemc Nation, and Okanagan Nation Alliance) to engage in discussions around the future of the Treaty. The parties are moving forward to complete interest scoping discussions and examine Treaty scenarios and alternatives and their potential impacts on First Nation interests.
Golden and Nelson Sessions Report Out
On March 20, at an evening community information session at the Golden Civic Centre, the Columbia River Treaty Review team met with 35-40 residents from Golden, Invermere and the surrounding area who came to get an update on the Treaty review timelines and to learn about the results of BC Hydro’s Treaty Review modelling studies. On March 21, the Columbia River Treaty Review team met with approximately 20 Basin residents from Nelson, Kaslo and the surrounding areas at the Prestige Lakeside Resort in Nelson. Read more
Update on the Treaty Review and How Basin Residents Can Provide Ongoing Input
The March 22, 2013 Columbia River Treaty Review Conference in Castlegar and a community workshop in Fauquier planned for June are expected to be the last major public engagement events. The next step will be to develop a public consultation report that summarizes the entire Columbia River Treaty Review public consultation process. The draft report will be posted on the website for public comment during June and July 2013 to ensure that Basin residents’ perspectives are accurately captured. The Treaty Review team will continue to solicit input from residents and community organizations on whether the Treaty should be continued, amended or terminated. Read more
U.S. Entity Hosts Columbia River Treaty Open Houses in April and May
The U.S. Entity (Bonneville Power Administration and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) will be hosting a series of open houses in April and May 2013 to educate U.S. residents about the Columbia River Treaty and to discuss future options for the Treaty and how these options could affect them. They will visit 14 communities in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana. Read more