Ok…not sure where to put this, & this came up when Pacific Palisades (LA) was burning…when Trump was saying he’d just open the “faucet” from Canada because he’s the Orange Jesus Art of the Deal Hyper-Diplomatic Wonderboy.
Anyway, about that. I’m assuming he’s referring to the Columbia River Treaty.
en.wikipedia.org
Last year Trump mused about a "very large faucet" that could be diverted to the U.S. While the faucet is fiction, questions about what will happen next for the 61-year-old water treaty under renegotiation are very real.
Since 1964, the Columbia River Treaty has required Canada to control the flow of the river, via dams, to meet U.S. needs for hydropower and flood prevention. The treaty also obliges the U.S to give Canada half the additional potential hydroelectric power produced by treaty dams, which can be sold at market value.
Provisions expired in September 2024. A three-year interim agreement is in place to allow continued operations of flood control and some components of a new agreement, but the renegotiated, modernized treaty isn't finalized and is expected to stall longer under the new Trumpian U.S. administration.
The Columbia River is the fourth largest watershed in North America, flowing about 2,000 kilometres from B.C's Columbia Lake into Washington State, entering the Pacific near Astoria, Ore. With some 60 dams on the river and tributaries, it today delivers more than 40% of the US’s hydroelectric power, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, and about half the hydropower in B.C.
When the treaty was ratified in 1964, Canada agreed to build three dams in B.C. to manage the flow of the Columbia, flooding 110,000 hectares in southeastern B.C.
For those who lost land when dams flooded valleys back in the '60s, it remains a struggle to cope with fluctuating water levels that leave docks airborne and dead fish.
Even in dry years, B.C. Hydro is required to release water downstream when it is needed by the U.S., often depleting water in the seven-million-acre Arrow Lakes Reservoir…& this treaty is currently expired.
Historian Eileen Delahanty Pearkes, a dual citizen of Canada and the U.S. and author of A River Captured, would like to see Canada trigger (?) the treaty’s 10yr termination notice, signalling an end to the long-held agreement.
Pearkes says Canadians underestimate the powers they have, like the treaty, which she described as a "sharp" negotiating tool as it threatens flood control and reliable electricity the U.S. has come to rely on.
"If Canada really wants to play hardball, it can say we're serving notice of termination and say we're going to run this river exactly how we want to run this river," Pearkes said.
Pearkes says Canada was never compensated enough for treaty losses. As for potential retaliation from the U.S. administration, she said, "Fear-based responses are not helpful."
Wagner says losing the treaty could benefit Canada, despite the loss of payments.
"The United States would be in a much worse position than we are. We could generate an awful lot more hydropower on the Canadian side of the border, for instance," Wagner said. "I mean, we could do really wonderful things."
Our friend, neighbour, and ally in America has gotten a fantastic deal for 60+ years so far due to the Columbia River Treaty, but Trump…is a complete arsehole set on attacking Canada…so should this be revisited and notice of its dissolution be given (?) or should it be renewed with a view through modern eyes and reality’s???
Anyway, about that. I’m assuming he’s referring to the Columbia River Treaty.
Columbia River Treaty - Wikipedia
Since 1964, the Columbia River Treaty has required Canada to control the flow of the river, via dams, to meet U.S. needs for hydropower and flood prevention. The treaty also obliges the U.S to give Canada half the additional potential hydroelectric power produced by treaty dams, which can be sold at market value.
Provisions expired in September 2024. A three-year interim agreement is in place to allow continued operations of flood control and some components of a new agreement, but the renegotiated, modernized treaty isn't finalized and is expected to stall longer under the new Trumpian U.S. administration.
The Columbia River is the fourth largest watershed in North America, flowing about 2,000 kilometres from B.C's Columbia Lake into Washington State, entering the Pacific near Astoria, Ore. With some 60 dams on the river and tributaries, it today delivers more than 40% of the US’s hydroelectric power, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, and about half the hydropower in B.C.
When the treaty was ratified in 1964, Canada agreed to build three dams in B.C. to manage the flow of the Columbia, flooding 110,000 hectares in southeastern B.C.
For those who lost land when dams flooded valleys back in the '60s, it remains a struggle to cope with fluctuating water levels that leave docks airborne and dead fish.
Even in dry years, B.C. Hydro is required to release water downstream when it is needed by the U.S., often depleting water in the seven-million-acre Arrow Lakes Reservoir…& this treaty is currently expired.
Historian Eileen Delahanty Pearkes, a dual citizen of Canada and the U.S. and author of A River Captured, would like to see Canada trigger (?) the treaty’s 10yr termination notice, signalling an end to the long-held agreement.
Pearkes says Canadians underestimate the powers they have, like the treaty, which she described as a "sharp" negotiating tool as it threatens flood control and reliable electricity the U.S. has come to rely on.
"If Canada really wants to play hardball, it can say we're serving notice of termination and say we're going to run this river exactly how we want to run this river," Pearkes said.
Pearkes says Canada was never compensated enough for treaty losses. As for potential retaliation from the U.S. administration, she said, "Fear-based responses are not helpful."
Wagner says losing the treaty could benefit Canada, despite the loss of payments.
"The United States would be in a much worse position than we are. We could generate an awful lot more hydropower on the Canadian side of the border, for instance," Wagner said. "I mean, we could do really wonderful things."
Our friend, neighbour, and ally in America has gotten a fantastic deal for 60+ years so far due to the Columbia River Treaty, but Trump…is a complete arsehole set on attacking Canada…so should this be revisited and notice of its dissolution be given (?) or should it be renewed with a view through modern eyes and reality’s???
