Today, 32 Pacific Northwest-based conservation, clean energy, faith, fishing, and civic organizations have sent a letter urging the U.S. government to inform the region on efforts to update - or ‘modernize’ - the 1964 U.S.-Canada Columbia River Treaty, and involve citizens and tribes in decisions about its future. The current, 58-year-old Treaty has only two priorities: maximizing hydropower production and engineered flood control. The organizations are calling on U.S. leaders to add Ecosystem Function – the health of the river and its ecosystems – as a third primary purpose of the Treaty.

With escalating climate impacts like droughts, flooding, heat waves, wildfires, and rivers too hot for salmon and other fish, it is essential that the operation of the Columbia Basin hydrosystem be updated to maximize resilience of the watershed and the communities that depend on it.

The signing organizations want your help in sending a strong message to the Biden Administration and Northwest Senators at this crucial time. Take action now and send your own letter to U.S. leaders involved in the Treaty negotiations.

Want to learn more? Northwest NGOs are hosting a webinar on October 4, 2022 to dive deeper into this issue with the general public. Register here .

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Thank you for taking the time to support this incredible watershed so that the communities and wildlife who depend on a healthy, resilient river can flourish.

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