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Summer Recreational Vessel Lockage Schedule Begins Sunday at 9 a.m. by Staff East Oregonian, May 12, 2011

WALLA WALLA, Wash. -- Sunday marks the start of the summer schedule for recreational boaters using navigation locks to travel past U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dams on the Columbia and Snake rivers.

Corps navigation planners said the lockage schedule is the same for eight Corps dams in Walla Walla and Portland districts.

In Walla Walla District, navigation lock facilities are available at McNary Dam, near Umatilla; Ice Harbor Dam, near Burbank, Wash.; Lower Monumental Dam, near Kahlotus, Wash.; Little Goose Dam, near Starbuck, Wash., and Lower Granite Dam, near Pomeroy, Wash.

Portland District dams with locks include John Day Dam, near Rufus; The Dalles Dam, near The Dalles, and Bonneville Dam, near Cascade Locks.

Recreational Craft Lockage Schedule

May 15-Sept. 15
9 a.m. upstream
9:30 a.m. downstream
12:01 p.m. upstream
12:30 p.m. downstream
3 p.m. upstream
3:30 p.m. downstream
6 p.m. upstream
6:30 p.m. downstream
9 p.m. upstream
9:30 p.m. downstream

Recreational vessel operators have precedence over commercial vessels during the designated times. At other times, recreational vessels may be allowed to lock through with commercial craft, at the discretion of the lockmaster.

Lockage outside the scheduled times will be considered for flotillas or other organized events sponsored by yacht clubs, marinas and other groups, provided 24-hour advance arrangements are made with the appropriate location. All vessel owners and operators lock through at their own risk, and must comply with the Corps' safe-lockage policy. Walla Walla District's recreational vessel lockage schedule, the Corps safety policy and the brochure, "How To Lock Through, are on the Internet at www.nww.usace.army.mil/html/offices/op/t/navdata/default.html. Portland District's navigation information also is available online at www.nwp.usace.army.mil/op/s/nl/ home.asp.

Call to schedule special lockages:

McNary Dam 541-922-2231
Ice Harbor Dam 509-543-3231
Lower Monumental Dam 509-282-3218
Little Goose Dam 509-399-2233 Ext. 231
Lower Granite Dam 509-843-1493 Ext. 231
Bonneville Dam 541-374-8323
The Dalles Dam 541-298-4007
John Day Dam 541-298-9712

bluefish adds:
Lock flushes cost BPA customers (50,560 MWh x $32.4/MWh =) $1.6 million in foregone electricity sales. Also note that in 2011, $60 million in lock repairs were paid entirely by taxpayers as the "Inland Waterways Trust Fund is broke," says Army Corps of Engineers dam manager at Lower Monumental Dam (www.bluefish.org/Gina.wav).