Supplying Water to California: Via Washington's Columbia River Dam Revisited

Columbia River DamPhoto byKevin DunlaponUnsplash

The former President, who is again running for office, has suggested that the “large faucet” up North could open up and solve California's water woes. He continues that if this were opened up, it could provide water to cities, farms, and forests, which could also help reduce fires.

The Columbia River starts in British Columbia and flows south through Washington State and down through Oregon. Once British Columbia heard the suggestion, they immediately reacted. It’s not just a simple matter to open up the water flow and allow the water to continue on to California. There are many intricacies that allocate water not just between two countries but also the environment.

In 1990, LA County Supervisor Kenneth Hahn, won in a unanimous vote on the Board of Supervisors to study the possibility of transferring water from the Columbia and Snake rivers to the drought-laden states of California and Nevada.

The study went on to state that an aqueduct system could be started in Hagerman, Idaho, at the Snake River, which lies 3000 feet above sea level. Pumping the water up to 6500 feet above sea level would be expensive, but it could flow downhill to Lake Mead and generate electricity through turbines to run the pumps.

A water panel to fight this was set up and appointed by Governor Cecil Andrus of Idaho at the time.

Then Idaho Gov. Cecil Andrus appointed a bipartisan water panel to fight Hahn and California, and eventually, the idea died.

The U.S. Senate must approve the treaty before it is finalized. If the former president is elected, will he seek to rewrite the treaty so it diverts Columbia-Snake River water to California? What are your thoughts on this? Should British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon help supply water to California and Nevada? Why or why not?

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