3. Congress

Because the United States Constitution forbids states from entering into compacts without the consent of Congress, Oregon and Washington asked Congress to approve the Columbia River Compact, which it did in 1918.

As adopted by Congress, the Columbia River Compact provides in its entirety as follows:

All laws and regulations now existing [as of 1915], or which may be necessary for regulating, protecting, or preserving fish in the waters of the Columbia River, over which the States of Oregon and Washington have concurrent jurisdiction, or any other waters within either of said States, which would affect said concurrent jurisdiction, shall be made, changed, altered, and amended in whole or in part, only with the mutual consent and approbation of both States.

Act of April 8, 1918, ch. 47, 40 Stat. 515.