Eleventh Round Columbia River Treaty: Parties Discussed Ecosystem Priorities, Flood Control, Operations Flexibility

Canada and the United States met on December 9 to advance talks on the modernization of the Columbia River Treaty. During this round, the United States and Canada discussed ecosystem priorities, post-2024 flood risk management, and Canada’s desire for more operational flexibility.

On behalf of Canada, Canadian Columbia Basin Indigenous Nations made a presentation to the United States about ongoing ecosystem studies and analysis, as did United States federal agencies and tribal advisors, similarly presenting to Canada. British Columbia led a discussion about increasing flexibility in the Treaty.

This session expanded the conversation around each country’s key interests, building on proposals for a modernized agreement that were presented by Canada and the U.S. during the two rounds of talks in 2020.

The next round of negotiations will take place on Monday, January 10, 2022.

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 the U.S. Department of Energy and expert-advisors from the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

The next round of negotiations will take place January 10, 2022, via videoconference.  For more information on the Treaty, please visit: www.state.gov/columbia-river-treaty.

For background see:

— CBB, Dec. 2, 2021, U.S., CANADA TO HOLD ELEVENTH ROUND OF COLUMBIA RIVER TREATY NEGOTIATIONS NEXT WEEK

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