Columbia Basin Trust
Encyclopedia
The Columbia Basin Trust was created by the Columbia Basin Trust Act (British Columbia) in 1995 to benefit the region most adversely affected by the Columbia River Treaty
(CRT), in the Canadian province of British Columbia
.
The CRT, ratified by the United States
and Canada
in 1964, led to the construction of three storage dams in the Basin (the Duncan
, Keenleyside
and Mica
dams) and one in Montana (Libby Dam
). The purpose of these dams was flood control and power production
in both countries. Most of the benefits of the CRT were enjoyed by areas outside the Basin while most of the negative effects were, and still are, felt by the Basin.
There was a lack of prior consultation with the people of the Basin, including the 2,300 residents who were displaced by flooding of their communities and farms. The people of the Basin came together in the early 1990s to press the Province for recognition of the injustice of this situation. Local governments in the Basin coordinated their efforts at the regional district and tribal council level under the Columbia River Treaty Committee, which first met in 1992.
The Committee, in partnership with elected officials from the region, negotiated with the Province. They had two objectives:
On both counts negotiations were successful and the Columbia Basin Trust was formed. The Columbia Basin Trust received a $295 million endowment by the Province.
The Province further committed to transfer $250 million to the Columbia Power Corporation
(CPC), the Columbia Basin Trust's Joint Venture Partner in power projects in the Basin. Fifty per cent of the net profits go to the Columbia Basin Trust for the benefit of the people of the Basin. The income from the investments is being spent on social, economic and environmental benefits for the residents of the Basin.
The Arrow Lakes generating station
, jointly owned by Columbia Power Corporation and the Columbia Basin Trust, won one of three Blue Planet prizes presented by the International Hydropower Association
in 2005 for "social, environmental and technical excellence."
Columbia River Treaty
The Columbia River Treaty is an agreement between Canada and the United States of America on the development and operation of dams in the upper Columbia River basin for power and flood control benefits in both countries. For more information about the Columbia River Treaty, visit Columbia Basin...
(CRT), in the Canadian province of British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
.
The CRT, ratified by the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
in 1964, led to the construction of three storage dams in the Basin (the Duncan
Duncan Dam
Duncan Dam is a dam spanning the Duncan River in the Canadian province of British Columbia.Duncan Dam was the first dam built to satisfy the Columbia River Treaty, initiated after the 1948 Vanport Oregon flood. Construction began in 1965 and was completed in 1967. It is an earthfill dam with no...
, Keenleyside
Keenleyside Dam
Hugh Keenleyside Dam is a hydroelectric dam spanning the Columbia River, 12 km upstream of the city of Castlegar, British Columbia, Canada....
and Mica
Mica Dam
The Mica Dam is a hydroelectric dam spanning the Columbia River 135 kilometres north of Revelstoke, British Columbia, Canada. Completed in 1973 under the terms of the 1964 Columbia River Treaty, the Mica powerhouse has a generating capacity of . The dam is operated by BC Hydro...
dams) and one in Montana (Libby Dam
Libby Dam
Libby Dam is a dam on the Kootenai River in the U.S. state of Montana.Dedicated on August 24, 1975, Libby Dam spans the Kootenai River upstream from the town of Libby, Montana. Libby Dam is tall and long. Lake Koocanusa is the name of the reservoir behind the dam; it extends upriver from...
). The purpose of these dams was flood control and power production
Hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy...
in both countries. Most of the benefits of the CRT were enjoyed by areas outside the Basin while most of the negative effects were, and still are, felt by the Basin.
There was a lack of prior consultation with the people of the Basin, including the 2,300 residents who were displaced by flooding of their communities and farms. The people of the Basin came together in the early 1990s to press the Province for recognition of the injustice of this situation. Local governments in the Basin coordinated their efforts at the regional district and tribal council level under the Columbia River Treaty Committee, which first met in 1992.
The Committee, in partnership with elected officials from the region, negotiated with the Province. They had two objectives:
- The creation of a trust governed by a board of Basin residents.
- The allocation to the region of funds representing a fair share of the ongoing downstream benefits earned under the CRT, to be managed by the trust.
On both counts negotiations were successful and the Columbia Basin Trust was formed. The Columbia Basin Trust received a $295 million endowment by the Province.
- $250 million is committed to finance power project construction.
- As directed by Basin residents, $45 million is being reinvested for the benefit of Basin residents through short-term cash investments, business loans, real estate ownership, and venture capital projects.
- In addition, the Columbia Basin Trust receives $2 million per year from 1996 to 2012.
The Province further committed to transfer $250 million to the Columbia Power Corporation
Columbia Power Corporation
Columbia Power Corporation is a Crown Corporation, owned by the province of British Columbia, Canada. Its mandate is to undertake power projects in the Columbia River region of British Columbia....
(CPC), the Columbia Basin Trust's Joint Venture Partner in power projects in the Basin. Fifty per cent of the net profits go to the Columbia Basin Trust for the benefit of the people of the Basin. The income from the investments is being spent on social, economic and environmental benefits for the residents of the Basin.
The Arrow Lakes generating station
Keenleyside Dam
Hugh Keenleyside Dam is a hydroelectric dam spanning the Columbia River, 12 km upstream of the city of Castlegar, British Columbia, Canada....
, jointly owned by Columbia Power Corporation and the Columbia Basin Trust, won one of three Blue Planet prizes presented by the International Hydropower Association
International Hydropower Association
The International Hydropower Association is a not-for-profit, international organization representing the hydropower sector - focussed in particular on electricity generation, water management, and related industries...
in 2005 for "social, environmental and technical excellence."