In draft recommendations released June 27, the U.S. said it wants to modernize the treaty to better reflect Northwest priorities. The feds want to add "ecosystem functions" as a third primary purpose of the treaty, alongside flood control and power generation. But as drafted, the recommendations make fish the first priority.
For the first time in eight years, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is proposing routine maintenance dredging of a small quantity of sand to ensure continued safe navigation in a federally authorized channel.
Although the Columbia River looked fairly affable and calm that day, Mother Nature often ensures the river is neither of those things. His top priorities, Cline said, are "just keeping everybody safe and keeping the tow in one piece." On the water, he added, "we don't go in a straight line."
Last summer's drought that continued through the winter wasn't just bad news for ranchers and farmers. There were big worries about what it would mean to the Mississippi River, too.
