This past Tuesday October 4, I attended an open house at the Jaffray Hall that brought together a huge amount of information regarding the Columbia River Treaty signed between Canada and the US.
It was ratified on September 16, 1964 after then President Johnson handed over a cheque for 274 million dollars. This agreement is for 60 years which means that by 2024 the Treaty could be terminated. Sessions such as this one are being held throughout the Basin to bring attention, understanding and knowledge on CBT. The conversation needs to begin regarding the question of whether to continue or terminate the Treaty.
Heather Mitchell, program manager and one of the organizer of the water initiatives led by KIndy Gosal, Director of Water and Environment, was on hand to set up the elaborate display of vintage photographs, TV screens, wall displays and information pamphlets and pages. She said that the Columbia Basin Trust partnered with the Regional District of East Kootenay to host day and evening sessions of information to “build awareness about the 1964 Columbia River Treaty between Canada and the US. It was this Treaty that led to the formation of the Koocanusa Reservoir.” CBT is the legacy because under the CRT downstream power benefits from the Libby Dam accrue to the country where the benefit occurs. This means Canada keeps the benefits derived here and the US does the same. CRT requires that the downstream benefits be shared equally; this is called the “Entitlement”.
Although the information presented was really interesting for me the most fascinating part of the afternoon was meeting with some of the residents and reading the South Country History book. According to the book “The actions of the provincial and federal governments of the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’ were unkind, unfair, unjust and uncalled for”. The US long wanted to control the waterway, wanting to have power/flood control dams at Mica Creek, High Arrow Lake and Duncan Lake at Mica Creek and a fourth one on the Kootenay at Libby, Montana. This involved 17,600 acres of agricultural river bottom land extending 70 kilometers north of the border to the mouth of the Bull River, just upstream from Wardner, removing this land from productivity as well as displacing many residents from their ancestral homes.” The book goes on to say that survey pins appeared in 1949 indicating advanced plans and by 1957 showed detailed US planning while there was a lack of planning and knowledge by BC and Canada.
Many cases of BC lands were flooded before the price was even negotiated while the Americans received information constantly and fair market value for their lands. “They made our people wait and put the screws to them”. Tommy Douglas of the NDP said “we are selling our birthright to sharp Yankee traders.” The people continued to fight for fair compensation but finally quit for health and emotional reasons. Ernie Desrosiers, Heath Slee and Dennis Dilts stand staring at the vintage photos of land and river. Ernie looks at the ranch he used to own. They reminisce about the fishing. Dennis says that they used grayling on triple hooks to fish for ling during a dark moon. On a full moon they would fish for bull trout. “A hole would be chopped and a net worked across the river, the fish caught would last all summer”. Heath says fish were like a “swarm” back then and Dennis comments that fish would be pickled. “Italians used to come and fish here, Albert Carolei, did you know him, he came here to fish. There was sturgeon here too”. Heath says the water destroyed the fishery.
We look at the large photo of the Waldo school. Dennis laughs and says, “there was a 100 kids in that school. There were windows in the front and no windows in the back. It was like a prison in the back side. It was dark, the bad asses played behind the school, you had to be tough, the sissies went in the front”. He jokes that the kids from the front ended up being teachers and lawyers while the ones from the back ended up working the land or doing labour work. I comment that it must be sad to look at those photos of how their communities used to be before the water covered them. “It’s heartbreaking” Dennis replies softly. It’s obvious in the men’s faces and tone of voice that time doesn’t heal all. Heath says that they should have a museum here to preserve the history, something that was promised long ago but not followed up on.
Many promises were broken, “we did finally get the Bailey bridge and the boat launch” Dennis says. Adding “but CBT failed us, money came from the suffering of the people so some of that money should be put back here, we were told they would put customs in Newgate, now it’s so too far away,” Heath adds that this was some of the best productive farmland, Flagstone, Waldo, those were thriving areas.
There could be changes in water management after 2024. If CRT is terminated or continues under different conditions the water level and flows could change “affecting the aesthetic, archaeology sites, erosion and flooding, fish, navigation, power generation and recreation” states the info sheet. A stable water level means “real estate, jobs, construction, and having Lake Koocanusa takes the pressure off the smaller lakes. Some provisions of the CRT would remain in place as long as the dams exist even if the CRT is terminated. ”Termination can be given notice after 2014 however termination will not take effect until at least ten years after the date of notice and either county may give notice earlier than 2014 but 2024 is the earlist date for termination.
Check out online information sessions on October 26 and November 23 at 10:00 a am and 7:30 pm at www.cbt/crt. Or call 1 800 505 8998 for more information.
