Tag Archives: dams

Part 3 of 4 – Arlington, OR to Cascade Locks, OR On day three, we travel through the tallest navigation lock in the western hemisphere, sail over the historic site of Celilo Falls, learn about the Long Narrows of the Columbia, and pick up a fourth grain barge while parallel parking at 650 ft long tow! Read More »

Part 2 of 4 – Lyons Ferry, WA to Arlington, OR On day two, we see Lower Monumental Dam, Ice Harbor Dam, and the legendary Wallula Gap on the Columbia River. As the sun goes down, we pass through McNary Dam and enter the Columbia River Gorge to see the stars over the 75-mile-long John Day cruise! Read More »

From the Capital Press U.S. District Court Judge Michael Simon has mostly agreed to plaintiffs’ requests to increase spill over dams and lower reservoir levels on the Columbia and Snake rivers, in an injunction issued Feb. 25 in Oregon District Court. Stakeholders say the order will further hamper navigation on the rivers, but somewhat tempers impacts to power users and ... Read More »

On Feb. 26, 2026, the Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG) expressed disagreement regarding the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon’s decision to grant a preliminary injunction in litigation involving the four lower Snake River dams. Overall, the ruling will increase the risk of harm to infrastructure, listed species, and public safety while failing to provide substantiated evidence that ... Read More »

The Columbia/Snake River transports millions of tons of cargo every year, but most people have never seen it in action. Ride along with me as I hitch a ride on a tugboat hauling grain from the wheat fields of Eastern Washington to the terminal depots of Portland, Vancouver, and Longview. Part 1 of 4 – Central Ferry, WA to Lyons ... Read More »

From the Spokesman-Review By Kate Miner, Marketing Correspondent Sponsored content provided by Northwest River Partners Every year, Washington’s wheat fields produce over 144 million bushels of grain—enough to fill more than 144,000 tractor-trailers. However, getting that wheat from Eastern Washington to customers overseas requires a transportation system that works. For wheat growers across the Pacific Northwest, that system hinges on ... Read More »

The Inland Ports and Navigation Group (IPNG) opposes emergency motions filed by the National Wildlife Federation and the State of Oregon (plaintiffs) that seek to require increased spill and significantly alter reservoir operations at eight dams on the Columbia and Lower Snake Rivers. In its response filed with the U.S. District Court of Oregon, IPNG explained that the science shows ... Read More »

The Washington Association of Wheat Growers joined with other Columbia River System Operations stakeholders in a letter to Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson, urging him to refrain from becoming a plaintiff in river system litigation and meeting with stakeholders instead to discuss the benefits of the system. “Washington and other regional stakeholders are at a critical crossroads; we are hoping to ... Read More »

From OPB Environmental groups and the State of Oregon are seeking a court injunction to force federal dams on the Columbia River to lower reservoirs and increase the amount of water they spill downstream. The court filing is the latest turn in the fight over the Columbia River’s endangered salmon populations. It comes after the Trump administration canceled a long-term agreement ... Read More »

From the Capital Press Dam advocates anticipated environmental and recreation groups’ new motion asking a U.S. District Court judge in Oregon to lift a pause on litigation over endangered salmon and steelhead, the latest in the ongoing controversy surrounding the four lower Snake River dams. “I think this was predictable, obviously, once (President Trump) undid the Biden administration’s secret deal,” ... Read More »