columbia river basin

After 13 months at the negotiating table, the Biden Administration shared the next step in the process of seeking solutions in balancing our region’s energy, climate, salmon recovery, resiliency, food security, and economic goals as they relate to the ongoing operations of the Federal Columbia River Power System.

Oregon senators Ron Wyden, Jeff Merkely as well as Washington’s Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell joined 10 others this week sending a letter to the USDA about the western Drought and conservation priorities.  The lawmakers are asking the agency to give parity to the urgent priorities of Western growers and communities through existing authorities, new funding, and collaboration across government.  

If you travel from one northwest state to another, you’ll notice a boat inspection stop at the border. This is an effort to prevent invasive species, specifically the zebra mussel from moving across the region, infecting water systems. Llo ...

Earlier this week, the Washington state Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Assessment Section was awarded funding to monitor the Columbia River Basin watershed. The $200,000 from the EPA is part of $2 million distributed nationally to help reduce and assess toxins impacting the water quality. ...

The USDA and National Science Foundation have given a $3 million grant to a team led by WSU researchers to examine how food, energy and water needs can be better managed along the Columbia River Basin.   Jennifer Adam with WSU Civil and Environmental Engineering said they are looking to implement theoretical ideas into computer modeling and design scenarios that can be tested in real life to measu

Local dignitaries, water managers and others were on hand Wednesday as the new Lind Coulee Siphon was opened east of Warden.  The $14.6 million construction project allows farmers to access water, serving 17,700 acres.  Tom Tebb Director of the Office of the Columbia River says, for the past century, farmers across the Columbia Basin have had a vision of irrigation water.   “...

Three meetings next week will present research on climate change and its impact on water, as well as get feedback from producers on what they are doing to conserve.   The Department of Ecology’s Joye Redfield-Wilder said it’s important for farmers to get to one of the workshops.   “We can...