4 responses to “Media Release: BC Launches Columbia River Treaty Review Consultation”
Robert
Excellent Open House and shared thoughts and opinions at Jaffray last night.
Will continue to follow with interest, the gov. initiative and consultation, and lead up to an improved treaty.
Is there a concise “Lessons Learned” document which summarizes the existing treaty experience?
Robert
Moderator
Hi Robert,
Thank you for your feedback on the joint Columbia Basin Trust/Province community session in Jaffray on May 29.
There is no concise “Lessons Learned” document which summarizes the existing treaty experience. However, you may find Gordon MacNabb’s presentation at Simon Fraser University in 1974, Number 13 of the Columbia River Treaty Lectures, provides some of the hindsight thinking you are looking for. The transcript document can be found on the Columbia Basin Trust website in their Columbia River Treaty library – http://crtlibrary.cbt.org/items/show/367 . Another analysis of the Columbia River Treaty is a 2006 paper co authored by Kelvin Ketchum (BC Hydro) and Luiz Augusto Barroso (PSR) entitled is The Columbia River Treaty – An Example of Effective Cross-border River Regulation which can be found at http://www.psr-inc.com/psr/download/papers/2006_X_SEPOPE-CRTpaperfinal.pdf . To read an analysis of the Columbia River Treaty from the point of view of the United States, you may be interested in a 2010 paper entitled Columbia River Treaty Past and Future written by John Hyde, Bonneville Power Administration member of the Columbia River Treaty Operating Committee which can be found at http://www.crt2014-2024review.gov/Files/10Aug_Hyde_TreatyPastFuture_FinalRev.pdf
The following is some background information on Gordon MacNabb who participated in the joint Columbia Basin Trust/Province community sessions in Nakusp and Castlegar June 5 and 6, 2012.
In 1954 Gordon MacNabb was involved in the development of plans and cost estimates for some of the many dam sites that were then under investigation on the Columbia River in Canada. When the negotiations began in 1960 Gordon became one of the technical advisers to the Canadian team and participated at all negotiating sessions. He ultimately became the senior federal government engineering adviser on the Treaty and helped steer it through the protracted hearings in the House of Commons. After the Treaty was ratified in 1964 he was appointed as the Canadian Chairman of the four-member U.S.-Canada Columbia River Treaty Permanent Engineering Board, the organization charged with ensuring that obligations under the Treaty were met.
I hope you find the lecture transcript and papers helpful.
Will
Moderator
Serge
Very good open house with information of all aspects of the treaty. Balancing all the pros and cons is a huge task. One element that is the most important downside of all these Dams was the destruction of one of the largest salmon runs in the world. This unilateral outrageous “side-effect” or “collateral damage” of the USA at a time when no one was in position to complain effectively has to be corrected. The treaty review is a good occasion to bring it and suggest solutions. The value of such a salmon run is well… priceless. I would expect no less than a full commitment from all the governments and stakeholders involved to reestablish this jewel of life.
The treaty will hopefully evolve into something better than a simple exchange of money for water.
thanks,
Serge
Golden, BC.
Crystal
Hi Serge,
Yes, indeed. You can’t eat or live on money. Everything needs water to survive.
Regarding your comment about the tragic and despicable loss of the salmon runs, Canada was consulted regarding whether or not they wanted the salmon runs to continue in Canada and the BC or Canadian government responded that they were not necessary, and therefore no fish ladders were installed at Grand Coulee when it was constructed 1933 – 1941. Outrageous indeed.
Sorry to give you this news…but I found this disappointing info today in my research.
Excellent Open House and shared thoughts and opinions at Jaffray last night.
Will continue to follow with interest, the gov. initiative and consultation, and lead up to an improved treaty.
Is there a concise “Lessons Learned” document which summarizes the existing treaty experience?
Robert
Hi Robert,
Thank you for your feedback on the joint Columbia Basin Trust/Province community session in Jaffray on May 29.
There is no concise “Lessons Learned” document which summarizes the existing treaty experience. However, you may find Gordon MacNabb’s presentation at Simon Fraser University in 1974, Number 13 of the Columbia River Treaty Lectures, provides some of the hindsight thinking you are looking for. The transcript document can be found on the Columbia Basin Trust website in their Columbia River Treaty library – http://crtlibrary.cbt.org/items/show/367 . Another analysis of the Columbia River Treaty is a 2006 paper co authored by Kelvin Ketchum (BC Hydro) and Luiz Augusto Barroso (PSR) entitled is The Columbia River Treaty – An Example of Effective Cross-border River Regulation which can be found at http://www.psr-inc.com/psr/download/papers/2006_X_SEPOPE-CRTpaperfinal.pdf . To read an analysis of the Columbia River Treaty from the point of view of the United States, you may be interested in a 2010 paper entitled Columbia River Treaty Past and Future written by John Hyde, Bonneville Power Administration member of the Columbia River Treaty Operating Committee which can be found at http://www.crt2014-2024review.gov/Files/10Aug_Hyde_TreatyPastFuture_FinalRev.pdf
The following is some background information on Gordon MacNabb who participated in the joint Columbia Basin Trust/Province community sessions in Nakusp and Castlegar June 5 and 6, 2012.
In 1954 Gordon MacNabb was involved in the development of plans and cost estimates for some of the many dam sites that were then under investigation on the Columbia River in Canada. When the negotiations began in 1960 Gordon became one of the technical advisers to the Canadian team and participated at all negotiating sessions. He ultimately became the senior federal government engineering adviser on the Treaty and helped steer it through the protracted hearings in the House of Commons. After the Treaty was ratified in 1964 he was appointed as the Canadian Chairman of the four-member U.S.-Canada Columbia River Treaty Permanent Engineering Board, the organization charged with ensuring that obligations under the Treaty were met.
I hope you find the lecture transcript and papers helpful.
Will
Moderator
Very good open house with information of all aspects of the treaty. Balancing all the pros and cons is a huge task. One element that is the most important downside of all these Dams was the destruction of one of the largest salmon runs in the world. This unilateral outrageous “side-effect” or “collateral damage” of the USA at a time when no one was in position to complain effectively has to be corrected. The treaty review is a good occasion to bring it and suggest solutions. The value of such a salmon run is well… priceless. I would expect no less than a full commitment from all the governments and stakeholders involved to reestablish this jewel of life.
The treaty will hopefully evolve into something better than a simple exchange of money for water.
thanks,
Serge
Golden, BC.
Hi Serge,
Yes, indeed. You can’t eat or live on money. Everything needs water to survive.
Regarding your comment about the tragic and despicable loss of the salmon runs, Canada was consulted regarding whether or not they wanted the salmon runs to continue in Canada and the BC or Canadian government responded that they were not necessary, and therefore no fish ladders were installed at Grand Coulee when it was constructed 1933 – 1941. Outrageous indeed.
Sorry to give you this news…but I found this disappointing info today in my research.
Crystal Spicer