Columbia River

The Columbia River runs through British Columbia down into the states of Washington and Oregon, but its watershed spreads even beyond that into the boundary states of Idaho and Montana. The river and its tributaries are a major source of hydropower for the region, and the IJC’s Orders and References are specific to water level management due to these dams. The 2000 km river (1,243 miles) is also subject to the Columbia River Treaty between the Canadian and US governments, which are currently in the process of updating it. The river was also historically known for its fish runs, though the hydropower dams have introduced some barriers to ecologically and culturally important species such as salmon.