Navigation Regulations

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is amending its regulations which establish restricted areas at Bonneville Lock and Dam, at McNary Lock and Dam, at Ice Harbor Lock and Dam, at Lower Monumental Lock and Dam, at Little Goose Lock and Dam, and at Lower Granite Lock and Dam on the Columbia and Snake Rivers, Oregon and Washington. The Corps is making adjustments in the restricted area boundaries to provide a greater margin of vessel safety from sudden dangerous currents, turbulence, and whirlpools caused by the operation of spillways, electrical generators, and navigation locks. Vessels, except Government vessels, are prohibited within the restricted areas. The restricted areas upstream and downstream from the spillways can be extremely dangerous should vessels be in the restricted area when water is released. The electrical generators and spillway gates are remotely controlled from Portland and not operated by personnel at the facility. The equipment can be activated within seconds, creating very dangerous water currents, turbulence, and whirlpools. Operation of the navigation lock also creates a very dangerous condition in the downstream area. Water that is discharged from the lock discharge culvert can create waves up to 6 feet high. Therefore, the downstream areas are reclassified from "hazardous" to "restricted" at McNary Lock and Dam, Columbia River, River Mile 292.0; at Ice Harbor Lock and Dam, Snake River, River Mile 9.7; at Lower Monumental Lock and Dam, Snake River, River Mile 41.6; at Little Goose Lock and Dam, Snake River, River Mile 70.3; and at Lower Granite Lock and Dam, Snake River, River Mile 107.5. A change in alignment of the upstream restricted areas at Bonneville Lock and Dam, at McNary Lock and Dam and at Ice Harbor Lock and Dam are to provide additional protection for the boating public.