News Release
| Release Number: | 99-028 |
| Dated: | 4/2/1999 |
| Contact: | Public Affairs Office, 503-808-4510 |
Portland, Ore. --The public can once again take a few hours for the enjoyable, effortless learning experiences offered at the Washington Shore Visitor facilities at Bonneville Lock and Dam.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, builders and operators of the Bonneville project, are reopening the visitor facilities on the Washington side of the project 40 miles east of Portland on the Columbia River tomorrow, April 3, 1999. The visitor's area will be open each day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Underwater fish viewing windows, many displays, and tours of the powerhouse are all there for the public's enjoyment. There are new murals depicting the Columbia Gorge and huge wood carvings of the region's icon salmon in the Fish Viewing Building. The murals and carvings were created by Corps of Engineers' employees Lee Jensen and Bob Van Hoff, respectively.
Currently, access into the powerhouse itself is by guided tour only. Anyone who would like to tour the powerhouse should call (541) 374-8820 before they plan to visit the project to assure a guide will be available.
The Bradford Island Visitor Center on the Oregon side of the Bonneville project also is open daily from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.
The Washington shore facilities were closed on Oct. 19, 1998, because of construction work on juvenile fish bypass system improvements in and around the visitor facilities. The $62 million project included physical changes to the juvenile bypass system inside the second powerhouse, a two-mile-long juvenile bypass flume to carry young fish from the dam to a new release point, called outfall, downstream, new outfall structures, and a juvenile fish monitoring building.
Juvenile fish formerly exited the powerhouse bypass system just downstream of the powerhouse, and were easy prey for predators. The new outfalls are in faster water, which will reduce predation. The new bypass system is ready for this year's juvenile migration. Temporary monitoring facilities also are in place, with the completed monitoring building scheduled to be completed by April 2000.
Bank fishing can be enjoyed along the Washington shore during daylight hours. No overnight parking is permitted. Cascade Island will open for fishing on May 15, 1999, between the hours of 6:30 a.m. and 8 p.m.
To reach the Washington Shore Visitor Center, take Washington State Highway 14, and exit at milepost 40. Reach the Oregon portion of the Bonneville Lock and Dam via Interstate 84.