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# Columbia River Treaty

The United States and Canada began negotiations to modernize the Columbia River Treaty regime in **May 2018**.  As of January 2023, the two countries have held fifteen rounds of negotiations, working together to develop a modernized treaty regime that serves the people of the Columbia River Basin on both sides of the border, including members of several Tribal and Indigenous Nations. 

The Columbia River’s drainage basin is roughly the size of Texas and includes parts of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, and British Columbia. The Treaty’s hydropower operations and management of flood risk provide substantial benefits to millions of people on both sides of the border.  Treaty regime operations have also yielded environmental benefits in the Columbia River Basin.   

## History and Background

Signed in 1961, the Columbia River Treaty calls for two “entities” to be designated to implement the Treaty — a U.S. Entity and a Canadian Entity. The U.S. Entity, designated by the President , consists of the Administrator (Chairman) of the Bonneville Power Administration and the Northwestern Division Engineer (member) of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers . The Canadian Entity, appointed by the Canadian Federal Cabinet, is the British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (B.C. Hydro ).

The year 2024 is a significant date for the Treaty, as the current flood risk management provisions change to a less-defined approach.

The U.S. Entity forwarded its recommendation  concerning the future of the Columbia River Treaty with Canada to the U.S. Department of State on December 13, 2013. Known as the “Regional Recommendation,” the U.S. Entity developed this recommendation in collaboration and consultation with the region through an extensive, multi-year Columbia River Treaty Review. The U.S. entity reached this important milestone thanks to the constructive involvement of the region’s states, federally recognized tribes, and hundreds of stakeholders. With the conclusion of the Regional Recommendation process, the U.S. government conducted a review concerning the post-2024 future of the Treaty. (See also the cover letter  sent to the U.S. Department of State regarding the Regional Recommendation.)

## Pressing Forward

The U.S. Department of State is leading the U.S. team in negotiations with Canada to modernize the Treaty regime. Our key objectives include continued, careful management of flood risk; ensuring a reliable and economical power supply; and improving the ecosystem in a modernized Treaty regime. 

Our discussions with Canada are focused on water flowing across the border, namely from the Canadian Treaty projects—Keenleyside (also known as Arrow), Duncan and Mica dams—and from Libby Dam in the United States. These projects together are collectively known as the “Treaty Projects.” 

## Public Inquiries

Should you wish to submit feedback on the Treaty modernization effort and receive announcements regarding upcoming town halls, please send us an email at ColumbiaRiverTreaty@state.gov.

## Columbia River Treaty Listening Sessions

August 23, 2023

May 31, 2023

April 19, 2023

## Press Inquiries

For requests for interviews or on-the-record comments, please email WHAPress@state.gov.

## Remarks and Background Material

            -  April 19, 2023  							Chief Negotiator Jill Smail’s Remarks at the Virtual Columbia River Treaty Listening Session													 
            -  September 6, 2018  							Chief Negotiator Jill Smail's Remarks at the 2nd Columbia River Treaty Town Hall													 
            -  September 6, 2018  							The Columbia River Treaty: Past, Present, and Future													 

## Press Releases

            -  August 14, 2023  							18th Round of Negotiations to Modernize the Columbia River Treaty Regime and Announcement of Public Virtual Listening Session													 
            -  May 19, 2023  							Virtual Listening Session following the 17th Round of Negotiations to Modernize the Columbia River Treaty Regime													 
            -  March 27, 2023  							Virtual Listening Session following the 16th Round of Negotiations to Modernize the Columbia River Treaty Regime													 
            -  January 27, 2023  							Conclusion of Round 15 of Negotiations to Modernize the Columbia River Treaty Regime													 
            -  October 6, 2022  							Conclusion of Round 14 of Negotiations to Modernize the Columbia River Treaty Regime													 
            -  August 15, 2022  							Conclusion of Round 13 of Columbia River Treaty Negotiations													 
            -  December 13, 2021  							Conclusion of the Eleventh Round of the Columbia River Treaty Negotiations													 
            -  November 29, 2021  							Eleventh Round of the Columbia River Treaty Negotiations													 
            -  June 30, 2020  							Conclusion of the Tenth Round of the Columbia River Treaty Negotiations													 
            -  March 21, 2020  							Conclusion of the Ninth Round of the Columbia River Treaty Negotiations													 
            -  November 22, 2019  							Town Hall to Discuss Modernization of the Columbia River Treaty Regime													 
            -  November 13, 2019  							Postponement of the Ninth Round of Negotiations to Modernize the Columbia River Treaty Regime													 
            -  September 12, 2019  							Conclusion of the Eighth Round of Negotiations to Modernize the Columbia River Treaty Regime													 
            -  July 3, 2019  							Town Hall To Discuss Modernization of the Columbia River Treaty Regime													 
            -  June 24, 2019  							Conclusion of the Seventh Round of Negotiations to Modernize the Columbia River Treaty Regime													 
            -  April 12, 2019  							04/12/19 Conclusion of the Sixth Round of Negotiations To Modernize the Columbia River Treaty Regime													 
            -  March 1, 2019  							03/01/19 Conclusion of the Fifth Round of Negotiations To Modernize the Columbia River Treaty Regime													 
            -  February 27, 2019  							02/27/19 Town Hall To Discuss Modernization of the Columbia River Treaty Regime													 
            -  December 14, 2018  							12/14/18 Conclusion of the Fourth Round of Negotiations To Modernize the Columbia River Treaty Regime													 
            -  October 19, 2018  							10/19/18 Conclusion of the Third Round of Negotiations To Modernize the Columbia River Treaty Regime													 
            -  August 17, 2018  							08/17/18 Conclusion of the Second Round of Negotiations To Modernize the Columbia River Treaty Regime													 
            -  July 18, 2018  							07/18/18 Town Hall To Discuss Modernization of the Columbia River Treaty Regime													 
            -  May 30, 2018  							05/30/18 On the Opening of Negotiations To Modernize the Columbia River Treaty Regime													 
            -  May 22, 2018  							05/22/18 Launching Negotiations to Modernize the Columbia River Treaty Regime													 
            -  April 23, 2018  							04/23/18 Acting Assistant Secretary Palmieri To Deliver Keynote Speech at the Lake Roosevelt Forum													 
            -  April 10, 2018  							04/10/18 Town Hall on Modernizing the Columbia River Treaty Regime													 
            -  December 7, 2017  							12/07/17 Modernizing the Columbia River Treaty Regime													 

Tags

Bureau of Western Hemisphere AffairsCanadaClimate and EnvironmentEnvironmentTreatiesWater

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