Other
117. Why were the residents of Burton, Nakusp, Renata, Fauquier, etc. not been consulted or asked for their input for the Treaty negotiations? Why no mail-outs or e-mails?
Answer from the B.C. Columbia River Treaty Team: Residents from these communities and others around Arrow Lakes have been strong voices throughout the Province’s public engagement on the Treaty.
The B.C. Treaty Team has been engaging with Indigenous Nations, local governments, and residents throughout the Basin since 2012 to learn what changes they would like to see in a modernized Treaty. Over 40 meetings have been held, primarily in communities affected by Treaty operations, including multiple meetings in Nakusp, Fauquier and Burton. Public consultation reports from 2014, 2018 and 2019 outline what was heard in each community visited.
In addition, the B.C. Treaty Team connects regularly with the Columbia River Treaty Local Governments Committee, which was formed to seek refinements to the Treaty and to address existing domestic issues to improve the quality of life for Basin residents. Nakusp Councilor, Aidan McLaren-Caux, is currently a member and former Mayor of Nakusp, Karen Hamling, was Co-Chair of the committee before she retired and advocated strongly for the interests in Nakusp. Mayor Zeleznik has also shared the interests and concerns of Nakusp residents with the B.C. Treaty Team.
The Columbia Basin Regional Advisory Committee, which is helping inform future improvements to the Treaty and regional hydro operations, has representation from Basin communities impacted by the Treaty operations, including citizen members from Nakusp, Revelstoke and Castlegar.
The B.C. Treaty Team also connects with people through virtual public meetings, social media, emails, phone calls, and letters, and have heard from many residents around Arrow Lakes.
Everything the B.C. Treaty Team has heard over the years (and continues to hear) is informing what improvements are being sought in a modernized the Treaty.
Updates on Treaty negotiations, news about engagement opportunities, and recordings and reports from past engagement sessions are available on the Province of B.C. Treaty website and shared through Facebook, Twitter/X, and the B.C. Treaty newsletter.
118. In the original agreement between BC Hydro and the flooded community residents was that these communities would have free water. Why did BC Hydro transfer responsibility to the RDCK, who then started charging residents for water?
Answer from BC Hydro: In 2010, the water systems in Burton, Edgewood, Fauquier, and Robson were transferred from BC Hydro to the Regional District of Central Kootenay. The transfers were agreed to by area residents through four separate referendums in each service area, and a supporting vote of 50% +1 was required to finalize the transfer of each community water system. As part of the transfer, BC Hydro contributed $2 million in capital reserve funding to support future system upgrades. BC Hydro also committed to pay water rates on behalf of existing eligible customers until their properties transfer by any method to a new owner and continues to pay the water rates on behalf of existing community facilities in perpetuity.
119. Are the aerial photos accessible to the public and where can they be viewed?
Answer from BC Hydro: The aerial images taken in 2023 will not be made public as they will likely contain sensitive or private information as it relates to private properties due to the level of detail that has been captured and is therefore not appropriate for BC Hydro to share publicly. These images will only be made available to third parties under data sharing agreements to assist with identifying the locations of remaining structures and materials on the reservoir and fish stranding locations.
120. Will you be sending us a link to the recorded meeting?
Answer from the B.C. Columbia River Treaty Team: The recording was emailed to everyone who registered for the information session on October 20, 2023. It is also posted, along with materials from the information session and this report, on the Province of B.C. Columbia River Treaty website.
Photo: McDonald Creek Provincial Park, September 2023, as seen in the Castlegar News[/caption]
3. Why was the drawdown so big this summer?
Answer from BC Hydro: The low levels observed in 2023 were due to a combination of below average snowpack during the winter of 2022/23, the early depletion or melt of the below average snow levels in May, and the following severe drought conditions observed in the Columbia basin. The combination of low inflows into the reservoir and required Columbia River Treaty discharges resulted in an exceptional deeper draft (lowering) of Arrow Lakes Reservoir over the summer and fall. Additionally, water releases from Kinbasket Reservoir that might otherwise keep Arrow Lakes Reservoir levels higher were managed, similar to prior low inflow years, to ensure sufficient water storage for winter energy supply for Revelstoke and Mica Generation Stations.
While last year’s Arrow Lakes Reservoir levels and drawdown caused a number of significant challenges, it’s important to note that the reservoir did operate as expected under the terms of the Columbia River Treaty and severe drought conditions. Should similar conditions occur in the future under the current Treaty, similar operations would be expected.
4. Am I correct in believing that any question involving BC Hydro, such as beach cleanup, boat launches, a bridge etc. are not going to be answered?
Answer from BC Hydro:
Reservoir clean up: In the fall/winter of 2023, BC Hydro undertook an inventory of the structures and materials that exist along the shores of Arrow Lakes Reservoir. This includes old building foundations, rusted metal, broken glass, and recent garbage. These structures and materials have now been assessed based on environmental considerations, archeological and heritage values, accessibility, and public safety concerns.
BC Hydro commenced work to start to remove some of these structures and materials in February of 2024. Work will take place over a four-week period, and efforts will be concentrated in high use areas that are easily accessible. Please note that in some areas, work can only be done by hand and without any excavation due to environmental considerations. Following this initial clean-up, BC Hydro will evaluate the remaining structures and materials for potential removal.
Boat launches: As part of BC Hydro’s water licence, they are required to provide access to Arrow Lakes Reservoir during the peak recreation season. To meet this requirement, BC Hydro completed construction and upgrades of boat ramps for use during the recreation period, which is generally considered to be from mid-June to mid-September. The Comptroller of Water Rights has confirmed that, subject to meeting maintenance requirements, BC Hydro has met their obligation to provide access to the reservoir.
Answer from the B.C. Columbia River Treaty Team:
Fauquier-Needles Bridge: The decision about building a bridge between Fauquier and Needles is the responsibility of the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. The Ministry assessed the feasibility of building a bridge and decided not to pursue that option. This issue has been raised before, during the Province’s public engagement on the Columbia River Treaty, and residents have been divided on this issue. Some want a bridge and others do not, in order to prevent increased traffic through and to communities along Arrow Lakes. It’s important to note that the idea of a Fauquier-Needles bridge is not part of the Columbia River Treaty, or a condition of it. Those interested in pursuing this further can contact the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure.
Other questions: Any additional questions for BC Hydro can be directed to 
Figure 1: Pre and post-regulation hydrograph of the Arrow Lakes. Reference: 
Figure 2: 2023 Drought Levels at a Glance, prepared by Water Management Branch - Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship[/caption]
37. Provided the drought and all the catastrophes are real, why isn’t the pain shared across the border?? Why is it up to B.C. to suffer a drought and Washington state is business as usual?
Answer from the B.C. Columbia River Treaty Team: The Columbia River Treaty includes legal requirements that must be met unless the Treaty is terminated, or a modernized Treaty is in place. This includes the requirement B.C. has to provide a certain volume of water to the U.S. throughout the year for flood-risk management purposes and downstream hydropower generation. In addition, Canada (B.C.) is required to release more water during dry conditions in the U.S. to enable the U.S. to meet their firm energy requirements.
The Canadian negotiation delegation is strongly advocating for improvements in the Treaty, though its negotiations with the U.S., to help mitigate the type of impacts we’ve seen on Arrow Lakes Reservoir this year. Two key goals for the Canadian team are to gain more flexibility for how B.C.’s Treaty dams are operated, and to incorporate adaptive management into the Treaty, which will help both countries to adjust to the effects of climate change (including droughts and floods), evolving Indigenous and scientific knowledge, and other future unknowns.
38. Enough misuse of water by the US. As their desert land flourishes our land becomes desert land with frequent and unbearable dust storms. What will the new treaty bring for our area?
Answer from the B.C. Columbia River Treaty Team: The current Treaty requires B.C. to provide a certain volume of water to the United States throughout the year for flood-risk management purposes and downstream hydropower generation. Beyond that, both countries can use water for their own domestic purposes.
As Canada and the U.S. seek to modernize the Treaty, they are looking at different ways of managing the volume and timing of water releases to support a wider range of interests in both countries.
The Canadian negotiation delegation, which includes Canada, B.C. and the Ktunaxa, Secwépemc and Syilx Okanagan Nations, is strongly advocating for improvements to the Treaty that could reduce the types of impacts we’ve seen on Arrow Lakes Reservoir this year.
One of the priorities for the Canadian negotiating team is to gain increased flexibility for how B.C.’s Treaty dams are operated. The additional flexibility could allow B.C. to adjust operations to support ecosystems, Indigenous cultural values, and socio-economic interests in the B.C. Basin, without agreement from the U.S. There is significant research and river management scenario modelling underway that is informing how best to use any new flexibility. Part of this process includes looking at different elevations throughout the year on Arrow Lakes Reservoir. Research to determine objectives for the modelling process is being led by the Ktunaxa, Secwépemc, and Syilx Okanagan Nations in collaboration with federal and provincial governments, the Columbia River Treaty Local Governments Committee, and environmental non-governmental scientists and technical consultants.
The Canadian delegation is also aiming to incorporate adaptive management into the Treaty, allowing both countries to adjust to the effects of climate change (including droughts and floods), evolving Indigenous and scientific knowledge, and other future unknowns.
39. It seems to me that the U.S. is diverting water for irrigation from its reservoirs and expecting us to maintain their levels with added water (Arrow Lakes) for Hydro. Is anything being done to correct this?
Answer from the B.C. Columbia River Treaty Team: Under the Treaty, B.C. is required to send a certain volume of water to the U.S. throughout the year for flood risk management and power generation purposes only. Beyond that, both countries can use water for their own domestic purposes, which includes irrigation, so once the water crosses the border, the U.S. can determine how it’s used. Canada/B.C. is not required to maintain specific reservoir elevations south of the border, regardless of how the U.S. manages the water. Once B.C. releases the volume of water required under the Treaty, its obligations have been met.
As part of negotiations to modernize the Treaty, the Canadian and U.S. delegations are looking at different ways of managing the volume and timing of water releases to support a wider range of interests in both countries.
One of the priorities for the Canadian negotiating team is to gain increased flexibility for how B.C.’s Treaty dams are operated. The additional flexibility could allow B.C. to adjust operations to support ecosystems, Indigenous cultural values, and socio-economic interests in the B.C. Basin, without agreement from the U.S. There is significant research and river management scenario modelling underway that is informing how best to use any new flexibility. Part of that research includes looking at different elevations throughout the year on Arrow Lakes Reservoir. Research to determine objectives for the modelling process is being led by the Ktunaxa, Secwépemc, and Syilx Okanagan Nations in collaboration with federal and provincial governments, the Columbia River Treaty Local Governments Committee, and environmental non-governmental scientists and technical consultants.
The Canadian delegation is also aiming to incorporate adaptive management into the Treaty, allowing both countries to adjust to the effects of climate change (including droughts and floods), evolving Indigenous and scientific knowledge, and other future unknowns.
The Canadian Entitlement is half of the additional potential hydroelectric power that could be produced in the U.S. as a result of how B.C. operates its Treaty dams. It is calculated in advance using formulas included in the Treaty. The U.S. returns this power to Canada in the form of electricity at the Canada-U.S. border in B.C. Powerex, the marketing and trading subsidiary of BC Hydro, sells the Canadian Entitlement at market value to either BC Hydro or utilities in Alberta or United States. Revenues from the Canadian Entitlement are paid to the Province and go into its general revenue fund.
Photo: Stranded boat at Scotties Marina, August 2023[/caption]
93. What will the minimum water level be this winter? With the winter season coming it would be best to do what we can to our boats now and not during December or January in freezing temperatures and access compromised. Half of Scotties Marina is either on land or very shallow water and not usable. Some of the boats are larger and are moored year-round.
Answer from BC Hydro: Arrow Lakes Reservoir reached its latest minimum elevation of 422.7 metres (1,387 feet) on Thursday, January 11, 2024, for the winter of 2023/24. This year’s summer levels will be dependent on snowpack, rainfall, power generation requirements, Columbia River Treaty provisions, and other variables. If you would like to receive BC Hydro’s regular forecasts by email, please email 
Photo: Crews work to salvage fish from stranding pools along the shorelines of Arrow Lakes Reservoir, September 2023. Submitted by BC Hydro.[/caption]
96. We are used to water level drops in the Arrow Lakes area. What is alarming is the rate of water released in gallons per day that was done during spawning season. Can an explanation be given for the rapid release of water during spawning season?
Answer from BC Hydro: Under the terms of the Columbia River Treaty, BC Hydro is required to continue to release water to the U.S. during periods of dry conditions. BC Hydro did not send any more water than what is absolutely required, and this was managed and reviewed daily as part of inflow forecasts and operations planning. BC Hydro and the U.S. coordinated additional storage in the spring of 2023 to support higher Arrow levels from May through June. However, any water stored in the spring was later released from July through mid-August to meet U.S. domestic needs as required under the agreement.
97. Is BC Hydro going to fund a fish ladder at Grand Coulee with their 8 billion profit last year?
Answer from BC Hydro: Fish passage in the U.S. portion of the Columbia basin is the responsibility of the U.S. government.
98. Will there be any initiatives to improve spawning channels on more creeks along the Arrow Lakes?
Answer from the B.C. Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship: The Hill Creek Spawning Channel provides enhanced spawning habitat for Arrow Lakes Reservoir and compensates for significant spawning habitat lost upstream of Revelstoke dam. Collectively, spawning habitat is not limiting for Arrow reservoir kokanee. Creating more spawning channel habitat elsewhere is not expected to improve overall kokanee outcomes. However, there are issues with spawner access and habitat for some of the smaller spawning tributaries which are of concern to the Province and BC Hydro. Those issues will not be resolved by constructing spawning channels but rather through site specific habitat improvement measures where feasible. Unfortunately, in years with low tributary flows into the reservoir due to climatic conditions (e.g. drought), particularly in combination with low reservoir levels, access to spawning habitat in some tributaries cannot be resolved through habitat improvement.
99. What is being done to address the low water levels and the impact to our fish and overall habitat loss in the Valley? The loss is extreme and should never be allowed to happen again. What is the plan moving forward?
Answer from BC Hydro: The Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program (FWCP) is a partnership between BC Hydro, the Province of B.C., Fisheries and Oceans Canada, First Nations and public stakeholders to conserve and enhance fish and wildlife in watersheds impacted by existing BC Hydro dams.
The FWCP is funded annually by BC Hydro. The FWCP directs those funds towards priority actions across its three regions to fulfil its mission and work towards its vision of thriving fish and wildlife populations in watersheds that are functioning and sustainable. The Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program conserves and enhances fish and wildlife in watersheds impacted by BC Hydro dams.
Although fish stranding is not an uncommon occurrence and can happen in any year, BC Hydro recognizes that the impacts were more significant under last year’s operating conditions. BC Hydro documented all reports of fish stranding on Arrow Lakes Reservoir during last year’s drought conditions. In addition, to minimize impacts to fish, crews were deployed to assess stranding sites and salvage fish where possible. 530 kilometres of shoreline were assessed to identify pools and focus ground surveys and salvage efforts, and 159 pools were sampled at 26 different sites.
Answer from the B.C. Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship: The Province, the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program, and BC Hydro also surveyed creek mouths in advance of spawning migration to assess passage as well as collecting additional water temperature data. Ground and aerial counts for kokanee are complete and information indicates the kokanee spawner return increased compared to recent years and that fish were able to access the tributaries where the majority of fish in Arrow Lakes Reservoir return to spawn.
Answer from the B.C. Columbia River Treaty Team: Canada, B.C. and the Ktunaxa, Secwépemc and Syilx Okanagan Nations are seeking improvements in the Treaty through negotiations with the U.S. to reduce the type of impacts we’ve seen on Arrow Lakes this past year. The additional flexibility the Canadian negotiation delegation is seeking would allow B.C. to adjust its Treaty dam operations to support ecosystems (including fish), Indigenous cultural values, and socio-economic interests. There is river management scenario modelling underway that is informing how to use any new flexibility. Part of this involves looking at different elevations throughout the year on Arrow Lakes Reservoir. Research to determine objectives for this modelling process is being led by the Ktunaxa, Secwépemc and Syilx Okanagan Nations in collaboration with federal and provincial governments, the Columbia River Treaty Local Governments Committee and environmental non-governmental scientists and technical consultants.
100. Were there any environmental and/or biological studies completed in August and September 2023 relating to the impact low water levels have had regarding fish spawning, stranded fish in pools, mortality, and before and after fish population data (for the time periods of August to September 2023)?
Answer from BC Hydro: Although fish stranding is not an uncommon occurrence and can happen in any year, BC Hydro recognizes that the impacts were more significant under last year’s operating conditions. BC Hydro documented all reports of fish stranding on Arrow Lakes Reservoir during last year’s drought conditions. In addition, to minimize impacts to fish, crews were deployed to assess stranding sites and salvage fish where possible. 530 kilometres of shoreline were assessed to identify pools and focus ground surveys and salvage efforts, and 159 pools were sampled at 26 different sites.
Answer from the B.C. Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship: The Province, the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program, and BC Hydro also surveyed creek mouths in advance of spawning migration to assess passage as well as collecting additional water temperature data. Ground and aerial counts for kokanee are complete and information indicates the kokanee spawner return increased compared to recent years and that fish were able to access the tributaries where the majority of fish in Arrow Lakes Reservoir return to spawn.
101. What are your plans to mitigate the impacts of rapid volume release of water during spawning periods?
Answer from BC Hydro: Under the terms of the Columbia River Treaty, BC Hydro is required to continue sending water to the U.S. during periods of dry conditions. BC Hydro did not send any more water than what is absolutely required, and this was managed and reviewed daily as part of inflow forecasts and operations planning. Unfortunately, BC Hydro does not have the unilateral rights to hold back flows for Canadian fisheries objectives without agreement from its U.S. counterparts.
The operation of Arrow Lakes Reservoir follows the Lower Columbia Fish Stranding protocol to help minimize impacts on fish by coordinating fish salvage response if needed during a flow reduction or implementing ramp rates as required to manage flow changes.
Although fish stranding is not an uncommon occurrence and can happen in any year, BC Hydro recognizes that the impacts were more significant under last year’s operating conditions. BC Hydro documented all reports of fish stranding on Arrow Lakes Reservoir during last year’s drought conditions. In addition, to minimize impacts to fish, crews were deployed to assess stranding sites and salvage fish where possible. 530 kilometres of shoreline were assessed to identify pools and focus ground surveys and salvage efforts, and 159 pools were sampled at 26 different sites.
Answer from the B.C. Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship: The Province, the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program, and BC Hydro also surveyed creek mouths in advance of spawning migration to assess passage as well as collecting additional water temperature data. Ground and aerial counts for kokanee are complete and information indicates the kokanee spawner return increased compared to recent years and that fish were able to access the tributaries where the majority of fish in Arrow Lakes reservoir return to spawn. The Province through the FWCP enumerates kokanee spawners annually as a component of the Arrow Lakes Reservoir Nutrient Restoration Program and the Hill Creek Spawning Channel.
Answer from the B.C. Columbia River Treaty Team: As part of negotiations to modernize the Treaty, Canadian and U.S. delegations are looking at different ways of managing the volume and timing of water releases to support a wide range of interests in both countries, including fish spawning and other ecosystems objectives.
102. What future plans are being considered to avoid rapid water level drops (volume per day released through the dam)?
Answer from BC Hydro: Under the terms of the Columbia River Treaty, BC Hydro is required to continue sending water to the U.S. during periods of dry conditions. Last summer and fall, BC Hydro did not send any more water than what is absolutely required, and this was managed and reviewed daily as part of inflow forecasts and operations planning. Unfortunately, BC Hydro does not have the unilateral rights to hold back flows for Canadian objectives without agreement from its U.S. counterparts.
Answer from the B.C. Columbia River Treaty Team: As part of negotiations to modernize the Treaty, Canadian and U.S. delegations are looking at different ways of managing the volume and timing of water releases to support a wide range of interests in both countries. Further details are confidential as negotiations are still underway; however, before any agreement is finalized, we will explain to Basin residents what is being proposed and seek feedback. 
Photo: The barge crew accessing a priority site to remove materials from the shoreline. The barge crew consists of a barge, a crew boat, an excavator and three crew members. Submitted by BC Hydro.[/caption]
103. Will the beach area and old town site of Burton be cleaned up of a lot of rusted metal, glass etc. that was left from the flooding? And is it a serious health and environmental concern?
Is there anything being done to clean up the Burton beach?
The area we live at is littered with debris, it is very dangerous, and it is a disgraceful mess to this beautiful valley. We, along with others request this be cleaned up. What couldn’t be burned was buried, and it is long past time for removal of vehicles, farm equipment, oil barrels etc. to bring back the natural beauty and to remove these dangerous items.
Regarding dangerous debris, what are the plans to clean up old townsite debris? i.e.: rusted metal, foundation debris and garbage?
If there are no such plans to remove the debris, then will BC Hydro assume liability for any and all injury to persons or persons property (watercraft) as a result of not removing the debris now surfacing as a result of lower water levels?
Answer from BC Hydro: In the fall/winter of 2023, BC Hydro undertook an inventory of the structures and materials that exist along the shores of Arrow Lakes Reservoir. This includes old building foundations, rusted metal, broken glass, and recent garbage. These structures and materials have now been assessed based on environmental considerations, archeological and heritage values, accessibility, and public safety concerns.
BC Hydro commenced work to start to remove some of these structures and materials in February of 2024. Work will take place over a four-week period, and efforts will be concentrated in high use areas that are easily accessible. Please note that in some areas, work can only be done by hand and without any excavation due to environmental considerations. Following this initial clean-up, BC Hydro will evaluate the remaining structures and materials for potential removal.