The first round of Columbia River Treaty negotiations was in Washington, DC in May. Now the lead negotiators for Canada and the US are in Nelson for the second round of talks. Nelson Mayor Deb Kozak says representatives from BC Hydro, the province, and US power companies are also in town today and tomorrow.
Three dams were built in Canada and one in the US after the Treaty was ratified in 1964 which reduced the flood risk and enabled hydro electric projects. The US prepaid Canada $64-million for 60 years to provide flood control.
270,000 acres of Canadian ecosystems were impacted when the dams were built, and more than 2000 residents as well as First Nations displaced.
The next round of meetings will be held in Portland in October.