The United States and Canada conducted the 16th round of Columbia River Treaty regime negotiations from March 22-23 in Washington, D.C. As President Biden and Prime Minister Trudeau affirmed on March 24, “the Columbia River is a vital shared resource that underpins many lives and industries on both sides of the border and the watershed requires our attention and prompt coordination." In this latest negotiating session, the two delegations discussed managing flood risks after the Treaty regime changes in September 2024, strengthening cooperation to support aquatic life and the biodiversity of the Columbia River Basin, ongoing salmon reintroduction studies, and the interface between hydropower operations and Canada’s desire for greater flexibility in Treaty dam operations.
The U.S. Department of State leads a negotiating team consisting of representatives from the Bonneville Power Administration, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Northwestern Division, the U.S. Department of the Interior, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The U.S. delegation also included expert-advisors from the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, and the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho.
On April 19, the U.S. Government will hold a virtual listening session to engage the public about treaty regime modernization. Register for this listening session on April 19, from 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. (PST).
Direct questions regarding this event to Columbiarivertreaty@state.gov.
The next negotiation session will be May 16-17 in British Columbia, Canada.
Source: Office of the Spokesperson