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Do you know about all you get from irrigation, shipping, hydropower, and more?

You’ve heard a lot of negativity about the Columbia Snake River System. But every single one of us in the Pacific Northwest gains from the irrigation, navigation, hydropower, and other benefits of this publicly owned, federally operated system. Whether you live in the Willamette Valley or Puget Sound, whether you’re on the west or east side, the Columbia Snake River System gives more than you can imagine.

 

Irrigation

The Columbia Snake River System provides clean water to irrigate crops that we consume locally and ship overseas. Through both irrigated and dryland farming, our Northwest farmers raise livestock and grow potatoes, wheat, fruit, wine grapes, barley, hops, beans, and other key crops. This provides Northwest families and communities with a stable local food supply. Farming and shipping of agricultural products also supports jobs and economic benefit as farmers ship high-quality U.S. crops to customers in Asia, South America, and other global markets. And irrigation amplifies our agricultural production—only 25 percent of agricultural land is irrigated, but that land produces 50 percent of our crops!

 

Navigation 

Shipping on the Columbia and Snake rivers – made possible by federal navigation locks – moves agricultural products as well as building materials, fuel, and much more. Stuff we use every single day of our lives, regardless of where we live in the Northwest. And it moves that stuff more efficiently than any other shipping method. In 2019, it would have taken 150,784 semi-trucks or 39,204 rail cars to move all the cargo that was barged on the Snake River alone. Shipping on our river system keeps us from sitting in more traffic and reduces the carbon footprint of transporting these vital goods, especially in sensitive air- and watersheds like our scenic Columbia Gorge – one of the region’s main transportation routes. 

 

Hydropower 

The federal hydroelectric dams on the Columbia Snake River System provide 90% of our renewable power in the Northwest. The reliable power generated by these dams gives us a firm foundation to integrate more renewables, mainly solar and wind energy. Thanks to our abundant and low-carbon hydropower, the Pacific Northwest enjoys a highly stable power supply while continuing to reduce our local and national carbon footprint and fight climate change.


The Columbia Snake River System belongs to us all and it gives to every single Northwesterner in the form of abundant food, clean air, power, and more—no matter where in the region we call home.

 

It’s up to us to know the facts and protect this critical resource. Let’s keep the Columbia Snake River System strong and balanced for all uses—today and for future generations.

Growing salmon counts demonstrate healthy rivers and healthy economies

By Mary Wiley • December 11, 2024
The numbers for 2024 are in, and salmon are having an amazing year as they return from the ocean to spawn in the headwaters of the Columbia and Snake rivers. Not everyone knows that the fish passage programs and facilities on the federally operated locks and dams of the Columbia Snake River System are some of the most effective in the world. Salmon famously travel hundreds of miles upriver to spawn, and that requires them to bypass the dams that power and irrigate our communities, and the locks that efficiently move our goods between local and global markets. Here’s a little report on what our communities do to steward healthy rivers and healthy economies.

Oktoberfest: brought to you in part by the Columbia Snake River System

By Mary Wiley • October 16, 2024
The fall harvest season gives us reason to celebrate in the Pacific Northwest, as farmers gather hops and wheat—key ingredients for beer—to support the booming brewing industry across the U.S. and abroad. At the heart of this success is the irrigation and transportation supplied by the federal locks and dams of the Columbia Snake River System. This vital infrastructure allows the Northwest to sustain its $3.5 billion beer industry, and the country’s $409 billion beer market.

Lessons from the 1992 Snake River drawdown

By Mary Wiley • August 19, 2024
The system of navigation locks and hydroelectric dams on the Columbia and Snake rivers has been the lifeblood of our region for over 80 years. Supporting agriculture, enabling efficient transportation, and providing carbon-free energy, the Columbia-Snake River System is indispensable to millions of people. But what if that infrastructure was no longer there? More than three decades ago, we caught a glimpse of that possibility during a test drawdown of the Snake River.

Our sustainable powerhouse: hydropower in the Northwest

By Mary Wiley • June 10, 2024
Hydropower has long been the backbone of the Northwest’s energy foundation. Since the first federal locks and dams were constructed along the Columbia and Snake rivers over 85 years ago, hydropower has been the primary energy source for millions across our region. This affordable, clean, reliable energy has offset harmful emissions, fueled economic growth, and is fundamental in our fight against climate change. Recognizing hydroelectric dams as a vital asset, many people advocate for the value of dams, and Northwest RiverPartners (NWRP) is one organization that firmly defends these assets. NWRP is a member-driven organization that serves community-owned electric utilities and other organizations that recognize the value of hydropower in the Northwest. Executive Director Clark Mather sat down to share about hydropower's vital role in Northwest communities.

The consequences of removing the lower Snake River Dams

By Mary Wiley • May 6, 2024
An initiative signed by the Biden administration is exploring a dangerous potential to remove the four lower Snake River Dams, which would simultaneously cripple our region’s economy and our fight against climate change. While the initiative argues dam removal could lead to the recovery of several salmon species, this action would have significant consequences, including serious impacts to irrigation, power supply, and transportation. A recent article in the Capital Press by Matthew Weaver examined these consequences in detail, highlighting the potential environmental and economic impacts of dam removal.

The low-cost, high-capacity system: a four-decade perspective on inland freight transportation

By Colleen Newell • November 16, 2023
Rob Rich is no stranger to the Columbia Snake River System. Having worked in transportation and commerce on the Columbia and Snake rivers for over four decades, he understands well the importance of the federal system of locks and dams that make navigation possible. Rich currently serves as the Vice President of Marine Services for Shaver Transportation Company, an inland freight transportation company based in Portland, Oregon. With a fleet of 16 tugs and 22 barges, Shaver operates many of the tugboats and barges that transport goods on the Columbia Snake River System. Rich got his start working with water machinery and transportation at Lake Coeur d’Alene in Northern Idaho, where he worked at a marina that was operated by a local tug company. Then in 1979 Rich headed to Portland to begin his career in the tug and barge industry. At that time, the region was experiencing significant expansion in inland freight transportation. “So many types of cargo were starting to move on the system because of the expansion into Idaho thanks to the Snake River Dams,” said Rich.

American Cruise Lines supports tourism, economic vitality along Columbia Snake River System

By Colleen Newell • September 28, 2023
American Cruise Lines supports tourism, economic vitality along the Columbia Snake River System

Hear from Columbia Basin farmer Blaine Meek

By Sidney Counts • August 25, 2023
The Columbia Basin boasts some of the nation’s most productive farmland, owed to its fertile soil, favorable climate, and abundant water from the Snake and Columbia rivers. This unique combination makes The Columbia Basin’s irrigated farmland up-to twice as productive as other regions in the country.

Current research is inconclusive regarding possible delayed mortality effects of Snake River dams

By Seth Baker • July 13, 2023
Research shows existing science fails to establish the magnitude and mechanism of delayed mortality hypothesis
A map of the dams and elevation changes on the Columbia Snake River Systems.

A word from Idaho's only seaport - 740 feet above sea level

By Mary Wiley • May 23, 2023
Port of Lewiston Commissioner Joseph Anderson has a long, multigenerational connection to the Columbia Snake River System. “Family farming is deeply ingrained in our community—my father, my daughter and I have all hauled wheat that shipped down the Snake River.”
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