Thursday, May 15, 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 announced today.
In Walla Walla District, navigation lock facilities are available at McNary Dam, near Umatilla, Ore.; 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.
The upstream schedule times are 9 a.m.; 12:01 p.m.; and 3, 6 and 9 p.m. The downstream schedule times are 9:30 a.m. and 12:30, 3:30, 6:30 and 9:30 p.m.
This schedule will remain in effect until Sep. 15. 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 Corps’ website.
