Media Note
Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
October 19, 2018
The United States and Canada held the third round of negotiations to modernize the Columbia River Treaty regime October 17-18 in Portland, Oregon. During the talks, the U.S. and Canadian negotiators discussed shared objectives in modernizing the Treaty regime to benefit both countries and exchanged information on flood risk management, hydropower, and ecosystem considerations. Negotiators from both countries also underscored the need to take into account the views of the people who live and work in the Columbia River Basin. U.S. objectives in this negotiation include continued, careful management of flood risk; ensuring a reliable and economical power supply; and improving ecosystem benefits.
Jill Smail is the U.S. Chief Negotiator for the Columbia River Treaty. The U.S. negotiating team comprises representatives from the Bonneville Power Administration and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Northwestern Division; the Department of the Interior; and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The next round of negotiations will take place December 12-13, in Vancouver, Canada.
As negotiations continue, the U.S. negotiating team will continue to hold regular Town Halls throughout the Columbia River Basin to hear from the U.S. public on the modernization of the Columbia River Treaty regime. The last Town Hall took place September 6 in Portland, Oregon, and the next one is planned for early 2019.
To receive regular updates regarding the Columbia River Treaty, please contact ColumbiaRiverTreaty@state.gov. For press inquiries, please contact WHAPress@state.gov.