The Columbia River Treaty was signed by the United States and Canada in 1961.
The Columbia River Treaty (CRT) was signed by the United States and Canada in 1961 and began implementation in 1964. The treaty enabled the construction of three dams in Canada and one in the United States. This resulted in 15.5 million acre-feet (MAF) of additional water storage that has been used to maximize Columbia River flood control and hydropower generation benefits.
Although the treaty has no end date, either country can terminate the treaty with a minimum of ten years’ written notice. In addition, September 2024 would see the end of flood control requirements and a transition to “called-upon” operations.
Called upon means the United States will call on Canada to specify flood risk management space needs from Canada, which (following a consultation) Canada must then provide and be compensated for. Most important, the United States would need to demonstrate the use of all related storage in its reservoirs before requesting Canadian space.
To avoid uncertainty and address environmental needs that were not part of the CRT, the United States and Canada began negotiations to “modernize” the treaty in May 2018. In July 2024, a non-binding Agreement in Principle was reached to modernize the treaty. Click here for U.S. State Department summary.
Click here for charts and explanation of potentially deep Lake Roosevelt drawdowns. Click here for a Congressional Research Service summary of 1) CRT history and provisions, and 2) the 2024 agreement in principle.
Until a modernized treaty is finalized and adopted, both countries are seeking to use interim measures to carry out the intent of the agreement in principle as it relates to operations and compensation.
See the Forum’s Columbia River Treaty news for updates, including specific effects and concerns for Lake Roosevelt and its communities.
