Background
In 1944, the Canadian and U.S. governments agreed to begin studying the potential for joint development of dams in the Columbia River basin. Planning efforts were slow until a 1948 Columbia River flood caused extensive damage from Trail, British Columbia, to Cathlamet, Washington, completely destroying Vanport, the second largest city in Oregon. The increased interest in flood protection and the growing need for power development initiated 11 years of discussion and alternative proposals for construction of dams in Canada. In 1959, the governments issued a report that recommended principles for negotiating an agreement and apportioning the costs and benefits. Formal negotiations began in February 1960 and the Treaty was signed January 17, 1961 by Prime Minister Diefenbaker and President Eisenhower. The Treaty was not implemented, however, until over three years later due to extensive fighting between Ottawa and British Columbia over Canadian rights and obligations outlined in the Treaty.
Read more about this topic: Columbia River Treaty
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