WALLA WALLA, Wash. – Sunday, May 15, marks the start of the summer schedule for recreational boaters using navigation locks to travel past U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dams on the Columbia and Snake rivers, Corps navigation planners announced today.
Recreational Craft Lockage Schedule
For the Period May 15 Through Sept. 15
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Upstream
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Downstream
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9 a.m.
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9:30 a.m.
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12:01 p.m.
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12:30 p.m.
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3 p.m.
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3:30 p.m.
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6 p.m.
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6:30 p.m.
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9 p.m.
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9:30 p.m.
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The lockage schedule is the same for eight Corps dams in Walla Walla and Portland districts, making recreational vessel lockage schedules identical for the entire Columbia-Snake river system.
In Walla Walla District, navigation lock facilities are available at McNary Dam, near Umatilla, Ore.; Ice Harbor Dam, near Burbank, Wash.; Lower Monumental Dam, near Kahlotus, Wash.; Little Goose Dam, near Starbuck, Wash.; and Lower Granite Dam, near Pomeroy, Wash.
Portland District dams with locks include John Day Dam, near Rufus, Ore.; The Dalles Dam, near The Dalles, Ore.; and Bonneville Dam, near Cascade Locks, Ore. The summer recreational vessel lockage schedule is indicated in the above chart.
Call to Schedule Special Lockages
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Dam
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Phone Number
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McNary
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(541) 922-2231
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Ice Harbor
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(509) 543-3231
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Lower Monumental
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(509) 282-3218
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Little Goose
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(509) 399-2233 ext. 231
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Lower Granite
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(509) 843-1493 ext. 231
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Bonneville
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(541) 374-8323
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The Dalles
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(541) 298-4007
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John Day
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(541) 298-9712
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This schedule will remain in effect until Sep. 15. Recreational vessel operators have precedence over commercial vessels during the designated times. At other times, recreational vessels may be allowed to lock through with commercial craft, at the discretion of the lockmaster.
Lockage outside the scheduled times will be considered for flotillas or other organized events sponsored by yacht clubs, marinas and other groups, provided 24-hour advance arrangements are made with the appropriate location.
All vessel owners and operators lock through at their own risk, and must comply with the Corps’ safe-lockage policy. Walla Walla District’s recreational vessel lockage schedule, the Corps safety policy and the brochure, "How To Lock Through," are on the Internet at www.nww.usace.army.mil/html/offices/op/t/navdata/default.html.
Portland District’s navigation information is also available online at www.nwp.usace.army.mil/op/s/nl/home.asp.
The Corps’ Walla Walla and Portland districts maintain about 350 miles of the federal navigation channel from Portland, Ore. to Lewiston, Idaho. The Columbia-Snake navigation system is vital to the economic health of the Pacific Northwest. The system accommodated the transportation of an average of 17.5 million short tons of cargo annually from 1999 to 2008, according to the Corps’ Waterborne Commerce Statistics Center. 10 million tons equals about 2,700 barges, 100,000 railcars or 350,000 semi-trucks.
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