The Columbia River used to be a wild river. It is 1,954 kilometers long (1,214 miles). The river winds through the U.S. states of Oregon and Washington and into Canada.

The Columbia River was once full of salmon, a kind of fish. Now, the river is much calmer. It has 14 dams on it. A dam is like a wall that slows the water. As the water passes through it, it turns blades inside. This creates electricity. The dams have turned the river into something more like peaceful lakes and ponds.

The dams on the Columbia create more than half of the area's electricity. The dams also make the river easier for boats. They allow boats to go from the Pacific Ocean all the way to Idaho. That is about 750 kilometers (about 465 miles).

Salmon Need To Get Upstream

The dams have made trouble for the river's ecosystem. The salmon have been hurt.

The Columbia was once a fast-moving waterway. It had a very large population of fish. Salmon need fast, cold water. The dams carved the river into smaller pieces. The water moves slower and is warmer. The dams make it harder for the salmon to swim upstream.

Fish Ladders

Fish ladders were built at many of the dams. They allow salmon to get past the dams. The fish ladders are like steps and the water flows down them. They create a bunch of shallow waterfalls. The waterfalls let the fish get upstream to lay eggs.

Once the fish are born, they head back downstream. The dams' blades have been changed. Now they are less harmful to fish. A path was also added that allows the fish to swim around the blades.

Sometimes, water is spilled over the top of the dams. This makes the river flow the way it used to. The dams create less electricity this way, but it is better for the fish.

Sea Lions In The River?

Sea lions travel up the Columbia River from the ocean. They eat the salmon there. To protect the salmon, U.S. Army engineers and the states of Washington and Oregon use firecrackers and rubber bullets. They try to scare away the sea lions.

Fish Cam!

The Bonneville Dam Fish Camera shows a new photo every 20 seconds. You can watch the fish swimming through.