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Northwest lawmakers seek talks on river treaty with Canada

FILE - In this March 7, 2012, file photo, the Columbia River flows past the Vista House on Crown Point, at right near, Corbett, Ore. The entire congressional delegation from Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana is demanding that the Obama administration begin negotiations with Canada to re-authorize the landmark Columbia River Treaty. The updating of the treaty affects the economy, environment, and flood control needs of millions of residents of the four states along more than 1,200 miles of the Columbia River and its tributaries, they contend. (AP Photo/Don Ryan, File)
FILE - In this March 7, 2012, file photo, the Columbia River flows past the Vista House on Crown Point, at right near, Corbett, Ore. The entire congressional delegation from Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana is demanding that the Obama administration begin negotiations with Canada to re-authorize the landmark Columbia River Treaty. The updating of the treaty affects the economy, environment, and flood control needs of millions of residents of the four states along more than 1,200 miles of the Columbia River and its tributaries, they contend. (AP Photo/Don Ryan, File)

By Associated Press 2 min read

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) – The entire congressional delegation from Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana is demanding that the Obama administration begin negotiations with Canada to update a landmark treaty that governs the operation of dams on North America’s fourth-largest river.

The treaty, signed in 1964, is important because the Columbia River basin’s dams affect the economy, environment and flood-control needs of millions of residents in the four states, along more than 1,200 miles of the river and its tributaries.

“Given the 2024 deadline for certain aspects of the treaty, we … urge you to initiate negotiations with Canada in 2015,” the 26 members of the Senate and House wrote to the president this week.

The letter expressed concerns about the Obama administration’s slow pace on the complicated matter.

The treaty governs operations of hydroelectric dams and reservoirs on the Columbia River. It has no expiration date, but either country can cancel it or suggest changes beginning in 2024 with 10 years’ notice.