Click here for the “Arrow Lakes Levels & CRT Information Page”
Learn about the Arrow Lakes levels and the Columbia River Treaty negotiations and dam system. This info page will be updated regularly.
I have lived in Castlegar most of my life – moving here when my dad got a job at the pulp mill in the early 1960’s and I was a young child. One of my earliest memories as a child was watching houses being moved and floated down the lake as they were preparing to build the Dam. The Columbia River and the Arrow Lake have been a part of my life here. My husband worked on the tugboats, my family have camped, swum and lived next to the lake, we have fished and boated on the Arrow. This area and the water we have around us are a part of who I am.
The low water levels presently on the Arrow Lake causes me great concern and I feel for all the residents in this area who have a special connection to the water. It is upsetting to see water levels this low, to see fish struggling and lack of access to get to the water. While it is upsetting it is also a very complicated problem and the solutions are not easy.
There are two major parts to this problem – a severe drought and an International Treaty that regulates the water and needs to be modernized to reflect different priorities then when it was first signed in 1964. We are all very concerned about the impact on recreation, tourism, the local economy, drinking water, and fish & wildlife habitats.
Although the drought has created very worrisome conditions, it has put the Columbia River Treaty on the forefront of everyone’s minds. It’s incredible to see the renewed interest on this issue, and to see people coming together to make themselves heard.
In response to the many inquiries from constituents, my office has just launched a new information web page which we hope will help people gain a better understanding of this complex issue, including how to make your concerns a part of the negotiations.
Please visit and bookmark the Arrow Lake Levels & CRT Information Page to learn about the Arrow Lakes levels and the Columbia River Treaty negotiations and dam system. This info page will be updated regularly.
