(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.