Columbia River History

October 2024: Hydropower development in the Columbia River Basin delivered immense benefits – and wrought devasting impacts – on both sides of the US/Canada border.

September 2024: Rivers transport us through time. The Columbia reminds us how (relatively) young parts of our planet still are.

August 2024: The history of the American West is primarily a history of water, or lack thereof. Aridity dominates the West.

July 2024: Thousands of years of Ice Age flooding helped shape the Columbia Gorge

Topics to the left were originally written by John Harrison, and continue to be updated by the Council’s Public Affairs division.

includes interactive map

Integrating energy and the environment in the Columbia River Basin

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The Council works to protect and enhance fish and wildlife in the Columbia River Basin. Its Fish & Wildlife Program guides project funding by the Bonneville Power Administration.

The Fish and Wildlife Program

Independent Review Groups

Forums and Workgroups

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The Council develops a plan, updated every five years, to ensure the region’s power supply and acquire cost-effective energy efficiency.

The Northwest Power Plan

Technical Tools and Models

Energy Advisory Committees

Regional Technical Forum

Energy Topics

Recent and Upcoming Meetings

Browse reports and documents relevant to the Council's work on fish and wildlife and energy planning, as well as administrative reports.

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COLUMBIA RIVER HISTORY PROJECT

Columbia River History

Explore this rich history of the Columbia River and basin, with photos, interactive maps and more.

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History Corner