  JoDe Goudy, Chairman of the Yakama Nation Tribal Council, speaking during the CRT Symposium in Spokane, WA Today marks the opening of the fifth round of negotiations between the U.S. and Canada on the Columbia River Treaty (CRT) since talks to modernize the Columbia River Treaty regime began in May 2018. PNWER has taken a keen interest in the Columbia River Treaty negotiations and is looking forward to seeing the Treaty modernized for the mutual benefit of the region. In fact, PNWER has been working with partner jurisdictions over several years to underscore the importance of the CRT. In 2004, the PNWER Executive Committee affirmed the Columbia River Treaty as one of the most important issues for the region. Since then, much has been done in the region to provide input to the U.S. and Canadian entities leading up to the renegotiation of the treaty. This past year marked a major effort by PNWER to bring stakeholders and experts together to learn more about the treaty, the negotiations, and the impact on the region. This past July, PNWER organized a Symposium which was held at the PNWER Annual Summit in Spokane, WA. This Symposium was the first joint session to include stakeholders from both sides of the border as well as the chief negotiators from the U.S. and Canada. The Symposium provided the chief negotiators the opportunity to present together and hear testimony from stakeholders. Stakeholders shared the benefits and impacts of the Treaty, focusing on areas including ecosystems, tribal groups, utilities, tourism, agriculture, recreation, and more. The Symposium also featured legislators of jurisdictions that are in and surrounding the Columbia River Basin who spoke about effects of the CRT on livelihoods in the region. Watch TVW's coverage of the CRT Symposium HERE. Following the Symposium, PNWER and its partners organized two policy tours highlighting aspects of the Columbia River Basin to legislators, policymakers, and stakeholders. The first tour to the Grand Coulee Dam in central Washington showcased hydroelectric power and water storage for irrigation projects in the U.S. and Canada. Participants heard from several experts including a speaker from the Bonneville Power Administration who illustrated the delivery of power throughout the region. The Chelan County Public Utility District Leadership spoke about operations and the important role the Grand Coulee Dam has in power generation. Tour attendees also heard about the importance of water storage for irrigation to the region’s agricultural community.
The following day, attendees were invited to a two-day study tour of southeast B.C. During the two-day tour, fifty attendees visited the Hugh Keenleyside Dam as well as the Spicer farm in Nakusp, which is one of the farms inundated when the treaty dams were built. Columbia River Basin residents and local experts were present during the two days to share their knowledge of how the treaty affects the region’s ecosystems, agriculture, tourism, and community.  Legislators, policymakers, and stakeholders with local community leaders and environmental specialists in Syringa Provincial Park in Castlegar, British Columbia The U.S. Chief Negotiator for the Columbia River Treaty, Jill Smail, will lead a town hall in Kalispell, Montana on March 20. The town hall will provide an opportunity for the public to hear about the status of the negotiations as well as to ask questions. For more details on the town hall, visit the U.S. Department of State's website.
For more information on the Columbia River Treaty, its history, and impact, visit the links below. Government of British Columbia: https://engage.gov.bc.ca/columbiarivertreaty/ https://engage.gov.bc.ca/columbiarivertreaty/2018-community-meetings/ February 2019 Columbia River Treaty Newsletter U.S. Department of State: https://www.state.gov/p/wha/ci/ca/topics/c78892.htm https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/02/27/2019-03353/town-hall-meeting-on-modernizing-the-columbia-river-treaty-regime  Senator Arnie Roblan, Oregon, speaks with Washington Governor Jay Inslee on issues of mutual cooperation. PNWER's annual capital visits kicked off this January 13 with PNWER officers traveling to Helena, Montana before heading to Boise, Idaho; Salem, Oregon; Olympia, Washington; and Juneau, Alaska. Every year, PNWER visits our jurisdictions' capitals to bring the issues of our region to the attention of our public sector leaders and forge and strengthen relationships across borders. The PNWER delegation had a number of successful meetings with the governors, lieutenant governors, and legislators from the state capitals of our region.
Topics of discussion ranged from trade and NAFTA 2.0 (USMCA) to invasive species to energy. For a brief overview of PNWER's visit to Helena and Boise, click HERE. For a brief overview of PNWER's visit to Salem, Olympia, and Juneau, click HERE. MEDIA Boise: Northwestern states secure $21 million in federal funds to combat invasive mussels- Idaho Press, January 16, 2019 Olympia: Live webcast of Lunch and Learn with Washington Legislators- TVW, January 29, 2019 Juneau: Lunch and Learn: Overview of the Pacific Northwest Economic Region & the Northwest Territories- 360 North, January 31, 2019 Alaska House Floor Introductions of PNWER Delegation by Rep. Dave Talerico- Start at 4:32- 360 North, February 1, 2019 |
