This film, A River Loved, was produced by Oregon State University Water Resources Program graduate student Julie Elkins Watson (shown here auditioning for the film version of 99 Luftballoons). I'll let her describe it in her own words.
The Columbia River has been successfully managed by the United States and Canada for hydropower and
flood control since the 1960s. The Columbia River Treaty is an inspirational example of international cooperation; however, needs and values for the basin have changed since the 1960s.
Many values for the river, including salmon migration, ecosystem services, aesthetics, recreation, and cultural value were not included in the original treaty. Furthermore, the treaty was negotiated by federal entities, and important actors- from tribes to regional stakeholders- were not actively included in the process.
Today, these topics are being discussed throughout the basin. In 2024, the flood control provisions of the Columbia River Treaty will expire. This creates the perfect opportunity for all the stakeholders on both sides of the border to come together and have a conversation about future management of the Columbia.A River Loved is a documentary film that tells the story of the Columbia River and the diverse people and interests in the basin. It is my hope that this film will spark dialogue and foster a deeper understanding of the benefits that can be shared in the Columbia River Basin.
"I have seen salmon swimming upstream to spawn even with their eyes pecked out. Even as they are dying, as their flesh is falling away from their spines, I have seen salmon fighting to protect their nests. I have seen them push up creeks so small that they rammed themselves across the gravel. I have seen them swim upstream with huge chunks bitten out of their bodies by bears. Salmon are incredibly driven to spawn. They will not give up. This gives me hope." — Kathleen Dean Moore and Jonathan W. Moore, "The Gift of Salmon," Discover magazine, May 2003
"In the world there is nothing more submissive and weak than water. Yet for attacking that which is hard and strong nothing can surpass it." -- Lao Tzu
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