The Biden administration offered the first public look Monday at a tentative agreement to update the Columbia River Treaty, touting provisions to protect salmon, provide additional water for ecosystem needs, expand tribal involvement and continue hydropower operations.
President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau set the stage for the modernized treaty in July when they announced an “agreement in principle” to update the 60-year old treaty.
“Modernization represents a delicate balance between the United States and Canada’s operational objectives,” said Jennifer Savage, the director of the U.S. State Department’s Office of Canadian Affairs. “The modernized treaty cannot perfectly satisfy all purposes, but this outcome does represent a balance that is acceptable to both countries.”
The State Department led a public webinar on Monday along with negotiators from the Bonneville Power Administration, Bureau of Reclamation, Army Corps of Engineers and NOAA.
