The Columbia River is the backbone of the economy in The Dalles, providing irrigation for farming, inexpensive barging of products throughout the world, clean affordable energy for businesses such as the new Google complex, recreation, and backup power for the newest local industry - wind power.

Fish biologist Bob Cordie describes a new spillwall at the Dalles dam which speeds juvenile fish past birds and other predators and contributes to enhanced fish returns.

Northern Wasco County Peoples Utility District had the foresight 20 years ago to capture fish attraction water at The Dalles Dam to generate electricity. The five megawatt project produces enough electricity to power about 2,500 local homes, and is a good model for small hydro projects being promoted in the U.S.

The view is of Bonneville Dam, east of Portland, Oregon. One of many dams providing clean, renewable hydropower that fuels the economy of the Northwest.

Salmon and steelhead returns to the Columbia and Snake rivers are fantastic again this year with record runs. The main reasons for these great returns are favorable ocean conditions, improved passage at dams and improved habitat and hatcheries.

The Columbia/Snake river system is the economic gateway for national and international trade and commerce. The cleanest mode of transportation, moving nearly billion in cargo annually, and providing for 40,000 port jobs and thousand of related jobs.

The Columbia and Snake rivers are the best renewable resource available, and it provides thousands of jobs in the Northwest. Northwest RiverPartners believes that salmon and dams can coexist with sound science that can enhance salmon and steelhead runs.

There are several ways for juvenile salmon to pass dams on the Snake and Columbia Rivers, and spill at the dams is just one of them. Fish biologist Shane Scott explains methods of juvenile fish passage, and why increased spill at a dam is not always the best answer.

Much has been done to improve habitat, hatcheries, and fish passage at the dams. However, better results were expected in adults returning from the ocean. Scientists have discovered that the ocean has the greatest effect on those returns, and that a cool ocean has more nutrients and is better for fish.

The federal hydro system is the original clean, green source of renewable energy and a perfect partner to back-up intermittant wind power. Indispensible to the development of renewable resources in the Northwest, hydropower currently helps integrate 4,000 megawatts of wind power presently in the region's transmission system.