Last week I mentioned that I would have more information soon about the Columbia River Treaty between the U.S. and Canada. Well, I’ve since had an opinion piece about this published in the Seattle Times. Today I wanted to share that with you.
Guest: Future generations deserve our thoughtful consideration of Columbia River Treaty
THE Columbia River Treaty might not seem as though it impacts your daily life. But, it does, every time you turn on your faucet, pay your power bill or seek local produce at the grocery store.
Our friends in the Portland area understand the importance of the treaty after a flood in 1948 destroyed the town of Vanport, Ore., and in 1996 when Portland was threatened with its own flood.
Forty years ago, American and Canadian officials made the agreement to manage the mighty Columbia River that is shared by the two countries by coordinating flood risk management and optimizing hydropower production. This treaty has served us well, helping Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Canada have a balanced approach to managing our shared water source.
