Columbia River Treaty 2014-2024 Review PNWA Summer Meeting LaConner, WA J June 24, 2013 1
Columbia River Treaty 2014-2024 Review Treaty Basics Purpose of 2014/2024 Treaty Review P f / T t R i Mechanics of Treaty Review Summary of Iteration 2 Navigation Impact Assessment Stakeholder involvement and input Next steps 2
Columbia River Treaty 2014-2024 Review Originates in Canada Flows over 1,240 miles through Fl il th h 2 countries 259,000 square mile drainage 59, q g area 15% of basin area in Canada with 38% average annual flow with 38% average annual flow from Canada. Over 60 large dams and g reservoirs owned and operated by many different entities for multiple purposes multiple purposes. 3
Columbia River Treaty 2014-2024 Review • Flood risk management g • Hydropower • Fish and wildlife • Navigation • Water supply • Recreation 4
Columbia River Treaty 2014-2024 Review An agreement to manage water for flood g g risk management and power Between Canada and the U.S. Implemented in 1964 “Relating to International Cooperation in Water Resource Cooperation in Water Resource Development in the Columbia River Basin” 5 Treaty monument at Libby Dam (Montana)
Columbia River Treaty 2014-2024 Review Capture the spring Release water from snowmelt in Canada to l i C d C Canadian Treaty reservoirs di T i refill the reservoirs and for power production at all manage peak flood flows manage peak flood flows Columbia River dams from Columbia River dams from along the Columbia and Mica in British Columbia specifically at Portland, p y , through Bonneville, east of g , OR. Portland Vanport, OR 1948 flood devastated homes, farms, and levees from Trail, British Columbia to d l f T il B i i h C l bi Astoria, Oregon 6
Columbia River Treaty 2014-2024 Review Kcfs is a flow rate measured by 1000 cubic feet of water per second 7
Columbia River Treaty 2014-2024 Review 1948 1948 ‐ 56 1964 1967 ‐ 73 2014 2024 Duncan, Arrow, Earliest Treaty Mica and Libby possible date to analyses dams completed terminate begins Major Treaty ratified by flooding both countries advances Latest date for 10 ‐ year notice regional if either country desires discussions termination by 2024 8
Columbia River Treaty 2014-2024 Review Canadian storage ‐ 5 1% of total basin capacity Canadian storage 5 1% of total basin capacity Infrastructure and governance governance Power coordination agreements 9
Columbia River Treaty 2014-2024 Review Canada must operate 15.5 million acre ‐ feet of Treaty storage to optimize power generation d downstream in both nations. t i b th ti U.S. must deliver power to Canada equal to one ‐ half the estimated U.S. power benefits from the h lf h i d U S b fi f h operation of Canadian Treaty storage, This Canadian Entitlement currently worth about y $250 ‐ $350 million annually. British Columbia owns Canadian Entitlement Five Mid ‐ Columbia non ‐ federal hydro projects deliver 27.5% of Canadian Entitlement to BPA for deliver 27.5% of Canadian Entitlement to BPA for delivery to B.C. 10
Columbia River Treaty 2014-2024 Review Canada obligated to operate 8.95 million acre ‐ feet of storage to help eliminate or reduce flood damages in b both Canada and the U.S. h C d d h U S Canada must also operate all additional storage in these dams on an on ‐ call basis (as requested and paid for) dams on an on call basis (as requested and paid for). This has never been used to date. U.S. paid Canada $64.4 million for expected future flood damages prevented in U.S. from 1968 through 2024. d d i U S f 68 h h U.S . purchase of assured flood Portland 1996 flood storage expires in 2024 flood storage expires in 2024. an acre-foot is 1 acre of water to a depth of 12 inches p 11
Columbia River Treaty 2014-2024 Review CANADIAN GOVERNMENT UNITED STATES Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade GOVERNMENT Ministry Natural Resources Department of State TREATY Department of Army BRITISH COLUMBIA GOVERNMENT Department of Energy CANADIAN UNITED STATES ENTITY ENTITY ENTITY U.S. Entity: • Bonneville Power Administration Administrator Bonneville Power Administration Administrator • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Northwestern Division Engineer Canadian Entity: Canadian Entity: • B.C. Hydro, a province ‐ owned electric utility • Province of British Columbia (disposal of Canadian Entitlement) 12
Columbia River Treaty 2014-2024 Review While Treaty has no specified end date either nation While Treaty has no specified end date, either nation can unilaterally terminate most provisions as early as September 2024 with 10 years’ written notice. p 4 y 2014 is the latest date for either nation to declare its intentions to terminate at the earliest possible date p of 2024. Important changes in flood risk management provisions in 2024. 13
Columbia River Treaty 2014-2024 Review Enable the U.S. Entity to provide an informed and regionally supported recommendation to and regionally supported recommendation to the U.S. Department of State by end of 2013. Determine if the United States better off with the Determine if the United States better off with the Treaty or without the Treaty 14
Columbia River Treaty 2014-2024 Review A National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process process An Endangered Species Act (ESA) process The development of a detailed operational plan Th d l t f d t il d ti l l or implementation plan for the Columbia Basin 15
Columbia River Treaty 2014-2024 Review The world has changed The world has changed since 1964. Opportunity to O t it t “modernize” the Treaty to reflect regional values and reflect regional values and priorities. Opportunity to re ‐ evaluate O i l the value of Canadian Entitlement in terms of Entitlement in terms of today’s power benefits. 16
Columbia River Treaty 2014-2024 Review What are the possible impacts and benefits from different Treaty futures on: Water supply Navigation Recreation Ho might these be impro ed or hindered ith a How might these be improved or hindered with a modified Treaty? What if Treaty terminates? Can the Treaty be modified to be resilient and Can the Treaty be modified to be resilient and adaptable to future conditions such as climate change? c a ge 17
Columbia River Treaty 2014-2024 Review How might the Treaty be changed to better reflect H i ht th T t b h d t b tt fl t ecosystem needs? What are impacts and benefits of various Treaty futures on ecosystems in the Basin? How would these impacts and benefits change if the Treaty were modified or terminated? y 18
Columbia River Treaty 2014-2024 Review Ch Changes in 2024 i In Treaty Review i Assured flood control What is the level of flood risk procedures end in 2024 – with procedures end in 2024 with certainty for the U S when this certainty for the U.S. when this or without the Treaty. assured protection expires? The U.S. must “call upon” How often will we have to call Canada for flood management upon Canada for flood risk assistance and pay associated protection? costs. costs. How much will it cost? The U.S. must make effective How effective use impact U.S. use of its reservoirs before f f reservoirs and ecosystems? calling on Canada. 19
Columbia River Treaty 2014-2024 Review C Current Treaty In Treaty Review i U.S. delivers power in exchange for What are the actual power benefits water storage in Canadian reservoirs. to the U.S. from the operation of the Currently 536 average annual mw; Canadian projects? $250 ‐ 350 million per year. Is the Canadian Entitlement a true Power payments are higher than h h h reflection of the power benefits fl f h b f actual benefits produced in the U.S. resulting from Treaty operation? today. If not what is a more equitable If not, what is a more equitable Mid ‐ Columbia utilities deliver 27.5% payment? of power. Remainder delivered by BPA’s regional electricity customers BPAs regional electricity customers. What should the Canadian What should the Canadian Entitlement look like post ‐ 2024? 20
Columbia River Treaty 2014-2024 Review Understand Ask Analyze & Answer • Impacts and p • Can the benefits of current Treaty Provide • Collect current Treaty meet those information Informed, needs? • Today’s • Evaluate regionally regionally regional l • Does the h policies, supported needs and Treaty need to options and recommendatio n priorities. be changed? potential • Possible • Possible • Modify current • Modify current results results future needs Treaty or • Assess & priorities develop new impacts one? 21
Columbia River Treaty 2014-2024 Review Advance 3 alternatives from Iteration 1 for full impact assessment t 1A ‐ TC: Treaty Continues with 450 kcfs flood flow 2B ‐ TC: Treaty Continues with 600 kcfs flood flow B TC T t C ti ith 6 k f fl d fl 1A ‐ TT: Treaty Terminates with 450 kcfs flood flow RC ‐ CC (Reference Case, Current Condition) This is how the system is now under current Treaty provisions and current U.S. operations d U S i All alternatives and components are compared to the current condition condition 22
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