Dam Awesome Sites

Bonneville Dam from WA off Hwy 14

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     Along the lower Columbia River are 4 dams, and what awesome sights/sites they are!  I traveled from Bonneville, near Portland OR, upstream to McNary near Tri-cities and the Snake River Confluence at Pasco WA.

• https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/columbia/ dams of the lower Columbia River

Photos of Columbia River dams

• https://www.gettyimages.com/photos/columbia-river-dam
• http://columbiariverimages.com/Regions/Places/columbia_river_dams_reservoirs.html​​

A 12.5 min video about the geography/geology of the Columbia River, produced for the Columbia River Interpretive Center Museum, Stevenson WA

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMLCHTw_C04&ab_channel=ExecutiveProductions-Seattle

The Columbia River, 21 min 1949 film

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgUao_PK58U&ab_channel=ColumbiaRiverSalmonEnhancement

The Mighty Columbia River, 10 min 1947 film (Note that McNary Dam wasn't built until 1947-1954, The Dalles Dam was built 1952-1957, and John Day Dam was built 1958-1971)

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKGeBF_cwQI&ab_channel=OldTVTime

Interpretive sign about Ice Age Lake Lewis at Sacajawea Historical State Park, Pasco WA

Various information sheets available at the  Dams I visited.

Bonneville Lock and Dam
     As with every river, there are 2 sides, and Bonneville Dam has a visitor center on both the Oregon side and the Washington side.  Both sides have recreational opportunities and historical displays (more extensive on the Oregon side).  I think both are worth visiting.

• https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/bonneville/
• https://www.nwd.usace.army.mil/CRSO/Project-Locations/Bonneville/

Recreation on Robins Island and Bradford Island--on a wet day
​Recreation info:

• https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/Columbia/#:~:text=Robins%20Island%20Recreation%20Area%20(Ore,as%20ball%20and%20disc%20games

Bonneville Lock

Bradford Island Visitor Center, Bonneville Lock & Dam OR

Bonneville Dam Bookstore/Gift Shop and Info

Bonneville Fish Hatchery on an overcast, sometime rainy day

My own little Sturgeon Fest, Bonneville Dam & Beyond
2.5 min video of 100 year old sturgeon caught in the Pacific Northwest

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BjrT9JoUJE&ab_channel=NewsNation

5 min video about sturgeon research in the Pacific Northwest

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuJLH9AvfcY&ab_channel=CBCNews%3ATheNational

Bonneville Dam--WA Hwy 14

The Dalles Dam--built 1952-1957
We take for granted the reasons the dams were built on the Columbia River, one of which was flood control.

• https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/The-Dalles/
• https://www.nwd.usace.army.mil/CRSO/Project-Locations/The-Dalles/#top
• https://www.recreation.gov/camping/gateways/234
• https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/Locations/Columbia-River/The-Dalles-Lock-Dam/Eagle-Watch/

1948 Vanport Flood

• https://www.oregonhistoryproject.org/articles/essays/the-vanport-flood/#.Y9ik53bMI7c
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3wrgC0D1p4&ab_channel=TheOregonian 2 min video
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6XQTXYDxFU&ab_channel=NWSPortland half hr video
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gl8dMk0Z0lc&ab_channel=OregonPublicBroadcasting    1 hour video

John Day Dam--east of Biggs Junction & Hwy 97 on I-84 in OR, and Maryhill on Hwy 14 in WA

• https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/John-Day/
• https://www.nwd.usace.army.mil/CRSO/Project-Locations/John-Day/#top
• https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/233536
• https://www.recreation.gov/camping/gateways/241
• https://corpslakes.erdc.dren.mil/visitors/projects.cfm?ID=G20848

McNary Dam--off Hwy 730, east of Umatilla OR
     The visitor facilities was closed for so long for COVID, but at last I was able to visit, and I made it with only an hour to take in the Visitor Center.  Sorry that I have a fear of heights which curbed my chance to take photos from the walkway at the top of the Visitor Center.  So desperate for a restroom, I was extremely grateful for the accessible facilities.

• https://www.nww.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/McNary-Dam-and-Lake-Wallula/
• https://www.nwd.usace.army.mil/CRSO/Project-Locations/McNary/#to

2 min video traveling through McNary Lock

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VV2yFhVoXlQ&ab_channel=FrensicPic

7 min video about salmon & McNary Dam

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Mvu9v-dcWo&ab_channel=WallaWallaUSACE

5 min video Sturgeon Fishing at McNary Dam for hatchery brood stock 
     McNary Dam fishing videos included walleye, shad, steelhead, salmon, sturgeon.

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6FNRGo1MaY&ab_channel=JamieNicho

McNary Beach Recreation Area--above McNary Dam, 3 mi east of Umatilla OR, off Hwy 730

• ·       https://www.nww.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/McNary-Dam-and-Lake-Wallula/McNary-Beach-Park/

Deer silhouetted in the evening at McNary Beach Recreation Area--above McNary Dam, 3 mi east of Umatilla OR, off Hwy 730