It’s time for the U.S. and Canada to join forces to protect and restore the health of this great river
The U.S. and Canada need to right historic wrongs and honor the Northwest’s consensus to restore the health of the river.
The Columbia River Treaty is a 1964 agreement between the U.S and Canada that controls the Columbia River’s flow across the border. It has a major impact on fish, hydro-electricity, flood protection, agriculture, navigation, recreation, and more.
The current treaty has an exclusive focus on maximizing hydropower production and engineered flood control. It ignores Indigenous rights, fish, water quality and the health of the river, principles of good governance, and the reality of present and worsening climate disruption.
After six years of negotiating to ‘modernize’ the treaty, the U.S. and Canada reached an “Agreement-In-Principle” as a high level framework for the new agreement on July 11th, 2024.
Unfortunately, the AIP excludes the addition of Ecosystem Function as a third primary purpose, as was called for in the Northwest’s formal recommendations and by Columbia Basin tribes and many stakeholders. In the face of struggling fish populations and climate change, this is unacceptable.
SOS is working with other NGOs and in coordination with Indigenous sovereigns to advocate for improvements before a new treaty is finalized.
Read more about the current work by the U.S. NGO Treaty Caucus and how you can take action at ColumbiaRiverTreaty.org
Modernizing the Columbia River Treaty Articles
The Columbian: Pause in Columbia River Treaty talks stokes worry for flood…
The Columbian: Updated river treaty prepares region for future
Columbia River Treaty agreement prioritizes status quo over the needs of…
Seattle Times: U.S. and Canada reach deal on Columbia River Treaty
Columbia River Treaty “Agreement in Principle” prioritizes hydropower and flood…
E&E News: Columbia River Treaty deal would boost US energy capacity
Idaho Statesman: Northwest U.S., Canada reach vital Columbia River pact. Some…
OPB: US would keep more hydropower under agreement with Canada on treaty…
Everett Herald Comment: Water, energy, salmon depend on U.S., Canadian talks
Lewiston Morning Tribune: Dam deal’s in eye of beholder
Dec 13, 2023 - The Spokesman-Review: Cantwell, Risch urge Biden, Trudeau to prioritize negotiations on critical Columbia River Treaty provisions
Nov 9, 2023 - CBC News: Sinixt want a say in Columbia River Treaty renegotiations
Nov 5, 2023 - Global News: First Nations in B.C. seek salmon return to Columbia Basin in new treaty with U.S
Oct 25, 2023 - Vancouver Sun: Drought reveals cracks in Canada-U.S. Columbia River Treaty as B.C. lake dries up
Oct 16, 2023 - The Oregonian: LTE: Give environment a voice in modernized treaty
Aug 10, 2023 - Seattle Times Opinion: Modernize Columbia River Treaty to meet challenges ahead
May 11, 2023 - Columbia Insight: Opinion: Without a modernized Columbia River Treaty we’ll fail to meet 21st-century challenges
Apr 20, 2023 - Columbia Basin Bulletin: As Expiration Date Nears, U.S., Canada Pushing To Finish Columbia River Treaty Negotiations By June; Uncertainty Over Future Operations A Motivator
Apr 10, 2023 - Columbia Basin Bulletin: Canada, U.S. Meet For 16th Round Of Columbia River Treaty Negotiations; Biden, Trudeau Issue Statement
Oct 7, 2022 - KUOW: Salmon advocates ask to include healthy ecosystems in Columbia River Treaty
Oct 3, 2022 - Modernizing the Columbia River Treaty: Where do we go from here?
Sep 20, 2022 - The Capital Press: Environmental groups urge update of Columbia River Treaty
Sep 15, 2022 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 32 Pacific Northwest Groups Urge U.S. to Take Action to Modernize the Columbia River Treaty to Avoid Ecosystem Collapse
Jul 30, 2021 - Nelson Star: Canada given top marks for Columbia River Treaty public engagement
Jul 1, 2021 - Associated Press: Northwest lawmakers seek progress on Columbia River Treaty
Jun 30, 2021 - For Immediate Release: Conservationists Urge the Biden Administration to Reinvigorate Columbia River Treaty Negotiations
Dec 12, 2020 - Canadian Broadcasting Company: Calls to terminate Columbia River Treaty spark concern after 2 years of negotiations
Jul 9, 2020 - Nelson Daily Guest Opinion: As Columbia River Treaty negotiators get serious, Basin residents need to speak up
Jul 2, 2020 - Columbia Insight: How (and why) to fix the U.S.-Canada Columbia River Treaty
Jul 30, 2019 - Westerly News: First Nations, governments agree to bring salmon back to Upper Columbia River
Jul 8, 2019 - HCN: Renegotiating the Columbia River Treaty, six decades later
Jun 28, 2019 - Crosscut.com: U.S. tribes are being left out of talks over the Columbia River's fate. Why?
Jun 14, 2019 - CBB: Treaty Fishing To Begin For Summer Chinook, Sockeye; Run Forecasts Down From Last Year’s Actual Returns
May 20, 2019 - Seattle Times Guest Opinion: U.S. must follow Canada and invite tribes into Columbia River Treaty negotiation
Apr 17, 2019 - Nelson Star: U.S. and Canada continue to talk Columbia River Treaty
Apr 17, 2019 - Vancouver Sun: B.C. in no big rush to conclude Columbia River Treaty talks with U.S.
Apr 17, 2019 - Thomas Reuters Foundation: Roll on, Columbia? U.S. tribes demand seat at river treaty negotiating table
Mar 18, 2019 - Lewiston Tribune: Columbia River Treaty, What's at stake during negotiation
Jul 22, 2018 - CBB: State Department To Hold Portland Town Hall On Columbia River Treaty Negotiations
Jun 28, 2018 - Vancouver Sun: Restoring the Columbia/ Water as an opportunity to rebuild our relationship with the U.S.
May 31, 2018 - Spokesman Review Guest Opinion: Good treaties make good neighbors: Modernizing the Columbia River Treaty regime
May 14, 2018 - Seattle Times Guest Opinion: Columbia River treaty negotiations must include tribes, First Nations
May 10, 2018 - Spokesman Review Guest Opinion: A modern Columbia River treaty needs to treat the Columbia as one river
Apr 27, 2018 - Northwest Tribes Noticeably Absent in Columbia River Treaty Renegotiations
Mar 19, 2018 - NW News Network: After 70 Years, Salmon Could Return To Columbia River Above Grand Coulee
Jan 29, 2018 - Register Guard Guest Opinion: New treaty must address ecosystem concerns
Jan 10, 2018 - Columbia River Treaty talks offer hope for river, native peoples
Jan 10, 2018 - Canada: Columbia River Treaty a boon to the U.S., but must benefit all (Guest opinion)
Dec 17, 2017 - Associated Press in the Seattle Times: US, Canada to begin talks in 2018 on Columbia River Treaty
Dec 11, 2017 - For Immediate Release: Conservation, fishing and faith groups applaud announcement that negotiations over the Columbia River Treaty will begin in 2018 (Dec. 11, 2017)
Dec 10, 2017 - For immediate release: U.S. - Canada talks to modernize the treaty will begin in early 2018
Dec 2, 2017 - CBCNews: Indigenous groups in Alberta, N.W.T. say they've borne 'enormous costs' from B.C. dams, call for end to Site C
Oct 27, 2017 - CBB: U.S. State Department Picks New Columbia River Treaty Negotiator
Sep 28, 2017 - Seattle Times: Evening of ‘story, reflection and discussion’ about Columbia River
Aug 31, 2017 - Healing the Columbia River - Seattle event - Sept. 28
Jul 6, 2017 - For Immediate Release: The Columbia River Basin Holds Immense Natural Capital Value
Jun 22, 2017 - News Release – Northwest, British Columbia need to stand together to modernize the Columbia River Treaty
Aug 25, 2016 - Clearing Up: Northwest Delegation Sends Another Letter Urging U.S. CRT Action
Jun 25, 2016 - CBB: Cantwell, Canadian Ambassador Meet To Discuss Columbia River Treaty
May 22, 2016 - Seattle Times Editorial: Columbia River Treaty works, but needs thoughtful updating
Feb 12, 2016 - CBB: Cross-Border Coalition Urges Collaboration In Modernizing U.S.-Canada Columbia River Treaty
Feb 9, 2016 - For Immediate Release: Conservation, fishing and faith communities call for U.S and Canadian government collaboration as essential to modernize the Columbia River Treaty
Aug 15, 2015 - Spokesman-Review Editorial: Drought put new facet on U.S.-Canada river treaty
Aug 15, 2015 - The Spokesman-Review: B.C. residents push for more-stable reservoir levels as Columbia River Treaty is renegotiated
Jun 23, 2015 - Spokesman-Review guest opinion: Pope's letter on environment a call for change
Jun 9, 2015 - For Immediate Release: Columbia River Treaty: State Department to include Ecosystem Function in negotiating position
Jun 5, 2015 - Wenatchee World: Feds - Columbia River Treaty's future is a 'priority'
Apr 15, 2015 - AP: NW delegation demands start of Columbia River treaty talks
Jan 12, 2015 - High Country News: Salmon ground is holy ground
Nov 19, 2014 - Views from North of the Border: Treaty must consider climate change
Oct 8, 2014 - Al Jazeera America: Salmon people pray for sacred fish to return to historic home
Oct 8, 2014 - Modernizing the Columbia River Treaty: A report from our nation's capitol (Sept 2014)
Oct 7, 2014 - HCN: Watershed moment: The U.S. and Canada prepare to renegotiate the 50-year-old Columbia River Treaty.
Oct 3, 2014 - CBB: Religious, Tribal Leaders Send To President, Prime Minister Declaration On Columbia River Treaty
Aug 26, 2014 - New York Times: Large Dams Just Aren’t Worth the Cost
Aug 8, 2014 - NAIADS: When Will Salmon Return to the Spokane?
Aug 8, 2014 - The Daily New: Residents, Cowlitz Tribe pray for return to natural salmon runs
Jul 28, 2014 - The Spokesman-Review: Spawning hope
Jul 28, 2014 - Spokesman Review Guest opinion: Value the water stored in Canada
Jul 2, 2014 - Seattle Times Guest Opinion: Why the Columbia River Treaty matters
Jun 20, 2014 - Righting Historic Wrongs: A conference on ethics and the Columbia River Treaty.
Jun 16, 2014 - The Economist: The Columbia River Treaty: Salmon en route
May 2, 2014 - EPA weighs in on the Columbia River Treaty
Apr 23, 2014 - It’s Unanimous: Northwest delegation says “aye” to Treaty negotiations
Mar 19, 2014 - Spokesman-Review: Tribes talk salmon, dams as Columbia River Treaty renewal looms
Mar 13, 2014 - Seattle Times: Weigh all the benefits of the Columbia River Treaty
Feb 24, 2014 - The Globe and Mail: First Nations push to restore Columbia River salmon runs
Dec 11, 2013 - Tri-City Herald: Ecology, power concerns voiced in Columbia River Treaty hearing
Nov 15, 2013 - Seattle Times Guest Opinion: Consider ecosystem in U.S.-Canada negotiations for Columbia River Treaty
Nov 13, 2013 - Columbia River Treaty: November 2013 Update
Oct 29, 2013 - Spokesman-Review: U.S. utilities say Columbia River Treaty payments to Canada are excessive
Oct 28, 2013 - News Release: Northwest, British Columbia need to pull together to modernize Columbia River Treaty
Oct 27, 2013 - Spokesman-Review op/ed: Include salmon, climate provisions in river treaty
Oct 25, 2013 - Seattle Times: Roll on Columbia River Treaty
Oct 23, 2013 - AP: Canada Cries Foul on Columbia deal; U.S. plan exact opposite
Oct 23, 2013 - B.C. Releases Draft Columbia River Treaty Recommendations
Oct 16, 2013 - What Save Our Wild Salmon is doing to modernize the Columbia River Treaty
Oct 11, 2013 - Why Save Our Wild Salmon is Working to Modernize the Columbia River Treaty
Oct 10, 2013 - Toronto Globe & Mail: With water treaty to be revisited, future of Columbia River up for debate
Oct 8, 2013 - The Oregonian Editorial: The Northwest needs an overhauled Columbia River Treaty.
Sep 27, 2013 - The Spokesman Review: Treaty renewal chance to reopen salmon passages
Sep 17, 2013 - Wenatchee World: Tribes say fish protection must be part of river treaty
Aug 15, 2013 - Save Our wild Salmon submits comments on the Columbia River Treaty
Aug 15, 2013 - Save Our wild Salmon submits comments on the Columbia River Treaty (2)
Aug 14, 2013 - The Globe and Mail: Revised Columbia River Treaty could restore salmon runs
Jun 20, 2013 - Renewing the Columbia River Treaty: a-once-in-our-lifetime chance
May 8, 2013 - Paul Lumley: To manage the Columbia River, we need a new treaty for a new era
May 8, 2013 - Paul Lumley: To manage the Columbia River, we need a new treaty for a new era (2)
Aug 20, 2008 - U.S. Government’s Columbia River Treaty “Working Draft” recommendation has come under fire
