U.S. and Canada reach tentative deal on Columbia River Treaty update

The United States and Canada have reached a preliminary agreement renewing and modernizing the Columbia River Treaty, which has governed the river’s dams and reservoirs for 60 years.

President Joe Biden on Thursday announced the tentative pact while Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was visiting Washington, D.C. It will be finalized in the coming weeks.

Since 1964, the treaty has managed hydropower production and flood control operations along the river – a waterway crucial to both countries’ economies. The two nations began negotiations in 2018 to update the agreement to address changing needs.

The deal announced Thursday aims to rebalance hydropower generation between the two countries while improving environmental stewardship, preparing for greater flood risk, and working with tribes and other communities along the river, according to the White House.

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2024/07/11/u-s-and-canada-reach-tentative-deal-on-columbia-river-treaty-update/