News Releases

27 Jul 2026

Heat broils eastern Washington, Idaho as federal water managers seek to salve river temperatures. Enter Dworshak Dam – calm, cool (water) and collected.

The Clearwater and Snake rivers converge at Lewiston and the hot water from those two rivers mixing there is dangerous for salmon and steelhead that prefer cooler water temperatures. As dire as this can be, there is one tool the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has to help cool the river – Dworshak Dam, also near Orofino. Salmon are cold-water species and migrate most efficiently at 65 degrees, according to Chris Peery, fish biologist for Walla Walla District.

2 Jun 2026

Water managers monitor upper-elevation rain that could cause local flooding

Pacific Northwest weather can be a conundrum. In 2026, many parts of the region struggled to build snowpack and saw minimal precipitation. However, even average snowpack combined with storm events can lead to elevated stream flows, as the Flathead Basin in western Montana saw this week.

8 Apr 2026

Spring fish operations begin on Snake, Columbia rivers

Spring fish passage operations began April 3 at federal dams on the lower Snake River and will begin April 10 on the lower Columbia River.

17 Dec 2025

Federal water managers take precautions by adjusting water levels behind John Day dam as precipitation mounts

Federal water managers at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) will adjust water levels behind John Day Dam (Lake Umatilla), in north-central Oregon, this week to prepare for another round of heavy precipitation in the Columbia River Basin. This will be the third atmospheric river storm event within the last two weeks.

26 Jun 2024

Spillway gates at Gavins Point Dam closing

Spillway operations at Gavins Point Dam are ending following recent heavy rains.At 8 a.m. today,

1 Mar 2024

Litigation stay agreement increasing Columbia River spill, begins

After an agreement to stay the Columbia River Basin litigation for up to 10 years, federal water managers will begin spilling more water over basin dams this spring than in past years. In the agreement, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has committed to spill more water over spillways instead of through turbines during its annual “spring spill” operations at dams on the lower Snake and Columbia rivers as well as expanding spill in the fall and early spring.