News Release
| Release Number: | 01-047 |
| Dated: | 4/18/2001 |
| Contact: | Public Affairs Office, 503-808-4510 |
Portland, Ore.-To do its part to conserve water, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is beginning a new schedule for recreational lockages at dams on the Columbia and Snake rivers.
The changes will go into effect on May 15, 2001, at Bonneville, The Dalles, John Day and McNary dams on the Columbia River and at Ice Harbor, Lower Monumental, Little Goose and Lower Granite on the Snake River. The schedule will be in effect through Sept. 15, 2001.
The recreational lock schedule is as follows: upstream lockage times 9 a.m., 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; downstream lockage times 9:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m., and 7:30 p.m.
These changes are for recreational vessels only. The continuing dry weather and low water reserves in the Columbia Basin are the reasons for the changes. Reduced recreational lockages will help conserve water that is necessary for fish, irrigation and power generation.
Each lockage at Bonneville Dam uses about 28 million gallons of water. At Bonneville, water used for each lockage could be used to produce an average of nearly 5,000 kilowatt-hours of electrical energy. Used to produce power, the water for each lockage could supply enough energy to power the average home for one-third of a year, assuming a typical usage per home of about 12,000 kilowatt-hours per year.
These savings are being multiplied throughout the river system. At some locks, such as John Day, more than 47 million gallons of water are used per lockage, so the savings is even greater.
Commercial vessels still will be locked through on a first-come first-served basis as they approach each lock. In some cases recreational vessels may be allowed in the same lockage with commercial vessels. Safety will be the determining factor, and that decision will be made by the lockmaster on an individual basis.
Special lockages will be considered for flotillas or other organized events, provided arrangements are made in advance. The temporary schedule will be re-evaluated if water conditions change.