In July 2024, Canada and the U.S. reached an Agreement-in-Principle (AIP) on the key elements of a modernized Columbia River Treaty.

While the AIP is a key step forward towards modernizing the Columbia River Treaty, it is not a legally binding document. Until a modernized Treaty has been finalized and brought into force by both countries, the current Treaty remains in place.

To bridge the gap between the AIP and a modernized Treaty, the Canadian Entity (BC Hydro) and U.S. Entity (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Bonneville Power Administration) have entered into interim arrangements under the existing Treaty through exchanges of diplomatic notes between Canada and the U.S. to allow continued operations and implement some components of the AIP.

These arrangements will ensure:

• the Canadian Entitlement set out in the AIP will continue until 2044, securing predictable benefits to B.C. over the next two decades, and
• the pre-planned flood risk management operations as outlined in the AIP are implemented for a three-year period and ensure that B.C. is compensated as set out in the AIP.

Below are links to the Interim Period Entity Agreements and Diplomatic Exchange of Notes:

Assured Operating Plan and Determination of Downstream Power Benefits Entity Agreements and Exchange of Notes (PDF) Both agreements and the exchange of notes are in this file.

• The Assured Operating Plan Entity Agreement provides the Entities with an operating plan for Canadian Treaty storage and information for planning the power systems that are dependent on or coordinated with the operation of the Canadian Treaty storage projects.
• The Interim Period Determination of Downstream Power Benefits Entity Agreement sets out the power benefits that Canada/B.C. will receive over the next 20 years.

Exchange of Notes Regarding Interim Pre-Planned Flood Risk Management Arrangements (PDF)

Entity Agreement Regarding Interim Pre-Planned Flood Risk Management Arrangements (PDF)

• The Entity Agreement regarding Pre-Planned Flood Risk Management will ensure “assured” flood risk management protections remain in place for which the Province will be compensated for up to three years.