Other Columbia River Info

News and Features

Corps begins expanded navigation lock times for recreational boaters
Portland District
5/15/2025
Beginning today, recreational boaters navigating the three lower Columbia River dams—Bonneville, The Dalles, and John Day— will have expanded access to pass through the navigation locks...
As temps rise, officials implore recreators wear simple life-saving device
Northwestern Division
5/6/2025
When the Pacific Northwest sees increasing outdoor temperatures, many people flock to their favorite lakes and streams to cool off. Tragically, this also leads to avoidable drownings and...
Agencies extend comment period for Columbia River System environmental review
Northwestern Division
5/1/2025
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), or co-lead agencies, are extending the public comment period for the Columbia River System Operations Supplemental...

Columbia River Basin

A barge transits down a river(Above) A barge makes its way down the Columbia River.

The Columbia River Basin is a large and complex system with variable stream flows and weather patterns. Fourteen federal projects (dams) in Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington make up the system. The economic vitality of the region and its Tribes, communities, industries, and fish and wildlife species all depend on the system's ability to provide for multiple uses, including flood risk management, hydropower generation, navigation, irrigation, recreation, water quality, and fish and wildlife. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is committed to managing the Columbia River System in a responsible way in accordance with the Congressional authorized purposes of the projects.

 

Phase II Implementation Plan

The Phase II Implementation Plan (P2IP) is a 20 year, $300M plan developed by the Upper Columbia Unified Tribes (UCUT) to conduct studies to inform the feasibility of salmon reintroduction above Chief Joseph and Grand Coulee Dams on the Columbia River. In 2023, the Bonneville Power Administration, Bureau of Reclamation, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) agreed to provide funding and technical support for the P2IP. 

Once the UCUT complete the study, there would be a recommendation on implementation, which would require additional funding. This would be phase three, in approximately 2042. USACE has signed a Finding of no Significant Impact (FONSI) as part of the National Environmental Policy Act compliance process for the P2IP, April 21, 2025. It is available here: https://usace.contentdm.oclc.org/utils/getfile/collection/p16021coll7/id/27780. The FONSI documents that there would be no significant adverse effects on the quality of the environment from implementation of the P2IP.   Bonneville Power Administration and the Bureau of Reclamation participated as co-leads on the NEPA process.