Transcript Slide 1

Columbia River Treaty Review
British Columbia Perspective
Northwest Hydroelectric Association
2013 Annual Conference
Portland, Oregon
February 20, 2013
Kathy Eichenberger
Executive Director, Columbia River Treaty Review
BC Ministry of Energy, Mines and Natural Gas
1
Overview of BC Treaty Review Process
• Builds on domestic Water Use Planning
• CRT review comprehensive and inclusive
• Examines a broad range of values
• Public consultation
• First Nations consultation
• Federal, provincial and local government committees
2
Initial and
ongoing
impacts
• Community displacement and
sustainability
• Air quality
• Aboriginal cultural sites
• Ecosystems, fish and wildlife
• Agriculture, forestry, transportation
• Tourism and recreation
Very top of mind
BC Perspective on Flood Control
• Called Upon is a step backward
• Difference in views between Entities
• Transfer of risk from BC to US
• US Effective Use - may not need to call upon Canada
below 600 kcfs at The Dalles
• Energy loss at small facilities in high water years: 13003000 GWh ($40-150M)
4
BC Perspective on Ecosystem Management
• Changes in operations to address ecosystem values
over the last 15 years
• Proportional drafting during low flows
• Flow augmentation for fish
• Dry year strategy
• Adaptation to climate change
5
BC Perspective on Sharing Downstream
Benefits
• Original benefits have expanded to other values
• BC should not have to pay for US choices on use of
flows
• Value of Canadian Entitlement has diminished and will
decrease over time
• Ongoing costs associated with Treaty dams
6
BC Perspective on Future of the Treaty
• Founding principles of the Treaty recognized
internationally – creating and sharing benefits
• Treaty can be amended upon agreement by both
parties – creating a new treaty is not likely feasible
• Transboundary water system cannot be managed
efficiently by a series of commercial agreements
• If Treaty terminated BC motivated to change
operations for new power, other values
7
Questions?
8