The past and future of the Columbia River

This volume uses uncertainty in environmental management as an organizing principle. We address this theme and several others, including the interconnection between natural systems and social systems, the centrality of historical context in shaping river management regimes and international agreements, the importance of humility in environmental management, and the value of balancing efficiency with equity in resource allocations. We unpack all of these themes in a historical survey of the changing human relationship with the Columbia River over the past century. Our analysis reveals trends in policy development, engineering, ethics, and international relations. Our own organizing principle is, simply, that studying the past illuminates the present and helps us chart an informed course into the future.