As Francisco Palmieri of the U.S. State Department put it, “Good treaties make good neighbors.”
Palmieri was writing in advance of negotiations regarding the Columbia River Treaty, and his assessment effectively distilled the importance of the agreement. In working to update the 54-year-old treaty between the United States and Canada, officials are helping to define the economy and the environment of the Northwest for future generations.
The Columbia River Treaty helps govern hydroelectric power throughout the region, the future of salmon runs, flood management, irrigation for agriculture, and other issues that impact the daily lives of residents. As Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., said: “The Columbia River Treaty is integral to so much of the Pacific Northwest way of life — from our economy to our environment to our culture and heritage — so it’s hard to overstate the importance of updating this treaty to meet modern-day issues.”
The fact that U.S. representatives are turning attention to the treaty is encouraging. As far back as 2015, The Columbian noted editorially that “the U.S. review of the treaty has involved four states, 11 federal agencies and 15 Native American tribes — demonstrating Americans’ vast capacity for soul-crushing bureaucracy” and that remaking the treaty will “require time-consuming diligence and thoughtfulness.” Still, the Obama administration ignored the importance of the treaty despite pressure from the Northwest’s congressional delegation.