The United States has been negotiating with Canada for more than six years to update, or ‘modernize,’ the 1964 Columbia River Treaty. Especially given the intensifying impacts of climate change, it is essential that the health of the river (‘Ecosystem Function’), salmon recovery, Tribal rights, and public participation become new top priorities in the Treaty. 

Background: This past summer, the U.S and Canada announced the long-awaited ‘Agreement-In-Principle' (AIP) for renewing the Columbia River Treaty. While the AIP delivers benefits and certainty for the Treaty’s flood risk and power purposes, it repeats the mistakes of the past by excluding Ecosystem Function – health of the river – as a new, essential purpose of the Treaty. Ecosystem Function was specifically included in the Northwest’s consensus recommendations developed over a decade ago by Columbia Basin Tribes and many Northwest stakeholders. Without this new primary purpose, the health of the river and its fish populations will remain a secondary issue in Treaty implementation. Without important policy improvements, the Treaty will continue to hinder rather than help support salmon recovery and river resilience under ever-increasing pressure from climate change and warming waters. 

Salmon, other river-reliant wildlife, and Basin communities are struggling today. We need a Columbia River Treaty that honors the river and will be a tool to protect and restore some of what’s been lost. While the work by both nations to finalize a new Treaty continues, it’s imperative that Northwest people push for big improvements to an inadequate Agreement-In-Principle. It’s not too late. We need urgent leadership by Northwest Senators and the Biden Administration to secure key improvements as the Treaty is finalized in the months ahead. 
 
ACT NOW: Speak up today for a healthier, more resilient Columbia River that can support abundant fish and wildlife populations and sustain vibrant communities. Write the Biden Administration and your members of Congress and ask them to ensure the new Treaty protects the river and its salmon!