Northwestern Division News Releases

John Day Dam storing water to minimize lower Columbia River flooding

Press Operations — Sun, 12 Jun 2022 20:49:53 GMT

Federal water managers are changing release and storage schedules at several Pacific Northwest dams because of a late season and strong atmospheric river that began June 9. Significant amounts of rainfall have fallen across the Columbia River Basin filling reservoirs and rivers.

Spring Spill begins facilitating fish passage at Snake and Columbia river dams

Press Operations — Wed, 21 Apr 2021 21:50:00 GMT

Federal water managers have begun the annual spill of water past hydroelectric dams on the Columbia and Snake rivers to help juvenile salmon and steelhead migrate to the ocean this spring. The spill began April 3 on the lower Snake River and April 10 on the lower Columbia River. Spill for juvenile fish passage helps reduce the proportion of juvenile fish that pass dams through the turbines and helps reduce passage delay at each dam, thereby shortening their travel time through the Snake and Columbia rivers.

Corps begins flexible spring spill operations to benefit fish and hydropower

Press Operations — Fri, 08 May 2020 16:44:39 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began implementing its 2020 Fish Operations Plan at the four lower Snake River dams April 3 and at the lower Columbia River dams April 10.

Corps begins spring spill operations with new flexibility to benefit fish and hydropower

Press Operations — Tue, 02 Apr 2019 22:04:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will begin implementing its 2019 Fish Operations Plan at the four lower Snake River dams April 3, and at the lower Columbia River dams April 10. The 2019 plan includes spill and transport operations for the spring and summer juvenile fish passage seasons at these dams, as specified in the NOAA Fisheries 2019 Columbia River System Biological Opinion.

River operators increase flows to welcome returning chum salmon

Press Operations — Fri, 02 Nov 2018 19:35:00 GMT

Sometimes being underwater is a good thing, especially for Columbia River salmon nests, called redds. This fall, federal agencies are increasing Columbia River flows below Bonneville Dam to ensure the redds of spawning chum salmon stay covered with water. The agencies have conducted these “chum operations” every fall since 2000. Beginning Nov. 2, the river will be held between 11.5 to 13 feet above sea level to ensure chum can spawn at the mouth of Hamilton Creek in the Columbia River Gorge. For chum operations to occur, water is released from reservoirs as far away as Hungry Horse and Libby dams in Montana, more than 850 river-miles upriver from Bonneville Dam. The water is then captured and released as needed to create spawning flows that keep the redds underwater.

Higher Columbia River water levels possible this fall

Press Operations — Fri, 28 Sep 2018 21:57:17 GMT

River levels between John Day and McNary dams could be higher during the next three months, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced today. From October through December, Lake Umatilla, the section of the Columbia River above John Day Dam, will be operated in a broader and higher range. That means river users could see river levels 2.5 feet higher than in the spring and summer.

Columbia-Snake winter navigation lock schedule begins Sept. 15

Press Operations — Mon, 10 Sep 2018 23:19:00 GMT

COLUMBIA-SNAKE RIVERS, Ore. & Wash. -- Beginning Saturday, Sept. 15, recreational boaters can lock past U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dams on the lower Snake and Columbia rivers almost any time during daylight hours, according to Corps navigation planners. Commercial vessels will have precedence, and recreational vessels may be allowed to lock through with commercial craft at the discretion of the lockmaster.

Lower Columbia River levels to remain high, fast

Press Operations — Mon, 14 May 2018 18:33:00 GMT

Residents and river user along the lower Columbia River can expect higher-than-normal water levels over the next week, according to federal water managers and meteorologists.

Spring fish operations begin on the lower Snake and Columbia rivers

Press Operations — Tue, 03 Apr 2018 18:15:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began implementing its 2018 Spring Fish Operations Plan at the four lower Snake River dams today. The 2018 plan includes operations for the spring fish passage season at the lower Snake and lower Columbia River projects, utilizing tools such as spill, river flow and water level adjustments, bypass operations, and transportation of juvenile fish from Lower Granite, Little Goose, and Lower Monumental dams.

Ice Harbor Dam’s navigation lock returns to service; Little Goose remains on schedule for April 2 reopening

Press Operations — Fri, 24 Mar 2017 23:05:00 GMT

LOWER SNAKE RIVER, Washington – Ice Harbor Dam's navigation lock, located at Snake River Mile 9.7 near Burbank, Washington, returned to service at 11:59 p.m., on Thursday, March 23, according to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials in the Walla Walla District.

Corps and others continue to monitor and manage Columbia Basin river and reservoir levels

Press Operations — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 02:22:17 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Northwestern Division, in coordination with its Portland, Seattle, and Walla Walla Districts as well as B.C. Hydro, Bonneville Power Administration, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the National Weather Service’s, Northwest River Forecast Center, and others are continuing to monitor river conditions across the Columbia River Basin.

Corps closely monitoring Columbia Basin river and reservoir levels

Press Operations — Sat, 18 Mar 2017 18:02:23 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is monitoring Columbia Basin flood events encompassing the Seattle, Portland and Walla Walla districts areas of responsibility on the Columbia River. Columbia Basin Water Management Division initiated emergency flood risk management protocols this week due to a Flood Warning issued by the National Weather Service for the lower Columbia River.

Corps begins spring fish operations

Press Operations — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 14:00:00 GMT

Portland, Ore. — On April 3, the U.S. Army Corps ofEngineers (Corps) began implementing its 2016

Corps of engineers updates region on basin conditions

Press Operations — Mon, 15 Jun 2015 05:00:00 GMT

he U.S. Army Corps of Engineers continues to monitor snowpack levels across the Columbia River Basin. “Currently, levels are well below normal for this time of year, so we’re seeing lower than normal river flows throughout the system,” said Steve Barton, Chief of the Corps’ Water Management Division. Basin snow below 5,000 feet in the United States is either already gone or is melting ahead of normal.

U.S.-Canada coordinate operations to manage flood risk in the Kootenai River Basin and invite public to regional meetings

Press Operations — Tue, 20 May 2014 15:40:00 GMT

Current snowpack levels across the Kootenai (spelled Kootenay in Canada) River Basin

Corps begins spring fish operations

Press Operations — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 15:00:00 GMT

Portland, Ore. — Today, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) began implementing its 2014 Spring

U.S., Canada Continue Coordinating on Libby Dam Operations to Reduce Flood Impacts

Press Operations — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 17:28:28 GMT

Portland, Ore. -- Water managers and dam operators with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers may further