The Columbia River Treaty, signed in 1964 between Canada and the United States, resulted in the creation of four treaty dams: Hugh Keenleyside, Duncan and Mica in southeastern British Columbia, and Libby in Montana. The dams created the Arrow Lakes, Duncan, Kinbasket and Koocanusa reservoirs, which displaced 2,300 Basin residents.

Twelve Basin Stories videos explore the lives of Basin residents before, during and after the construction of the Columbia River Treaty dams. Hear the experiences and perspectives of people of all walks of life, including displaced residents, dam workers, First Nations people, elected officials, historians and former BC Hydro employees. View historical photos that touch upon everything from building the dams, to agricultural life, to the arrival of electricity.

A Region Formed

Agricultural Life

Shifting Ecosystems

Transportation

The Promise of Electricity

Building of the CRT Dams

Moving Lives – Part 1

Moving Lives – Part 2

Moving Lives – Part 3

Moving Lives – First Nations

Flooding and the Wild River

Economy and Commerce

Look how far we've come together (2015-2023)

1,029

affordable housing rental units created

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1,415

student jobs created

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825+

families accessed healthy food through the nutrition coupon program

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1,185

km extended for a high-speed broadband network improving access for 18,400 households

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1,017

arts, culture and heritage projects

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718

km of trails developed, enhanced, maintained

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$65M

in new business loans

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1,092

new childcare spaces created

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3,733

existing childcare spaces improved

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453+

community events, festivals, conferences, and community celebrations sponsored each year

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1,503

businesses accessed advisory services

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117

indoor and outdoor facilities built or upgraded

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$12.73M

for 81 wildfire risk management and public education programs

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6,407

hectares of terrestrial habitat improved

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2,093

hectares of aquatic habitat improved

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6.9M

kilowatt hours saved annually from retrofit projects

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