snake river major river greater pacific_northwest united_states miles long largest tributary largest north american river pacific_ocean rising western wyoming river flows southern idaho rugged area northeastern oregon rolling reach mouth near area enters columbia drainage basin encompasses parts states average discharge cubic feet second rugged mountains divided rolling plains characterize diverse watershed created volcanic lies underneath arise gigantic glacial retreat flooding episodes occurred previous ice age carved features including ridges middle lower catastrophic flooding events significantly affected river surrounds years ago prehistoric native americans lived snake salmon pacific_ocean spawned millions river fish central lives people snake time lewis clark crossed sighted valley snake tributary powerful peoples region tribes adopted use horses contact europeans hunting cultures years outside settlement later explorers fur changed resources basin point hand sign representing fish represent snake giving middle 19th century pioneer trail major portion followed established aspiring settlers traders railroads moved agricultural products minerals river 19th early 20th centuries powerful steep flow 1890s generate enhance navigation provide irrigation water major dams built lower river transforming series proposed removal order restore river tremendous salmon runs course formed confluence tiny southwest flank oceans plateau western wyoming national park snake starts small river flowing west south miles run valley cuts snake takes large bend northwest cutting eastern idaho receiving rivers entering met mouth passing dam flows vast province extending southern idaho rocky_mountains snake river productive united_states southwest city snake receives right called confluence takes river southwards downtown rounding fort hall indian reservation receiving overflow channel glacial period carried carving features significantly altering landscape resumes journey westwards enters drops marks historical limit migrating salmon passing bridge close snake approaches southernmost point entire course starts flow generally northwest shortly passes miles idaho state capital river past state border oregon close meets rivers begins define roughly mile long state border follows river steep spectacular gorge cuts idaho oregon rugged portions course pioneers oregon trail operators 19th century great difficulty negotiating hundreds dams canyon largest tributary meets remote areas entire course nearly halfway point snake crosses washington idaho receiving west receiving major city stretch snake snake leaves spreads low lying eastern washington dams transformed series confluence snake columbia rivers submerged reservoir dam flows miles west pacific_ocean cutting cascade range way geology recently million years ago western north_america pacific_ocean nearly complete underneath westward moving north american plate created rocky_mountains pushed rising trapped sinking plate north american plate moved westwards stationary beneath crust series tremendous lava flows volcanic carved beginning million years ago west larger lava flows issued eastern washington forming southeast lower snake separate volcanic activity formed northwestern portion plain area far path lies beneath point watershed beginning shape snake river plain gap formed moisture channel running far inland pacific_ocean blown moisture channel travel eastwards miles range million years ago detachment fault running north south central began encounter barrier eastern end channel frequent rainfall rains fed helping cut forming million years ago far end plain began rise river cut rising mountains ancestral formed lake idaho formed covered large portion lava dam finally breached million years ago lava flowing present southeast idaho blocked years ago near present day site mile lake known american formed barrier lake stable survived nearly years years ago great salt lake area formed glacial period snake event known flood series catastrophic flooding events northwest known caused american falls lake breach natural lava dam rapidly eroded foot left end flood waters approximately times flow cubic feet second swept leaving debris sediment deposits southern idaho miles snake flood waters stripped away soils underlying bedrock process creating cutting deepening way flood waters continued flood widened floods rushed floods occurred period farther north took place times time span years ago caused clark fork repeatedly ice dams breaking lake water rushing eastern washington massive far larger lake flood floods cascade range enormous lakes northern drainage divide watershed carving deep canyon largest cut large lake floods helped widen columbia river gorge giant water gap allows water columbia snake rivers direct route cascade range pacific massive amounts sediment deposited lasting effect high hydraulic rocks plain led formation snake river productive north_america rivers streams flowing north plain sink instead flowing group called lost streams idaho filled hold nearly acre feet water underlying square miles km2 feet thick places water exits rivers rates nearly cubic feet second water lost plain issues river western end way springs watershed thirteenth longest river united_states watershed 10th largest north american rivers covers square miles km2 portions states wyoming idaho nevada utah oregon washington largest portion idaho snake river watershed lies rocky_mountains east northwest largest tributary watershed makes entire average discharge mouth constitutes columbia flow point confluence snake slightly longer columbia miles compared miles drainage basin slightly larger bigger upstream watershed semi arid desert climate watershed average receives inches precipitation year precipitation watershed varies widely center climate nearly desert annual rainfall inches average snowfall inches desert climate occupies majority basin longer discharge average significantly high wyoming upper area average precipitation inches snowfall averages inches basin consists wide arid plains rolling hills bordered high mountains upper parts watershed river flows area distinct alpine climate stretches river tributaries tight watershed includes parts grand national park national state parks area river miles banks farmland especially middle lower course irrigation dams include dam strike dam aside water river water pulled snake river irrigation major cities river include jackson wyoming idaho washington dams total aside irrigation produce electricity maintain navigation channel river route provide flood control fish passage limited stretch watershed bounded major north american drain atlantic pacific basins southwest divide separates snake watershed oregon south snake watershed borders nevada watershed great salt lake bear jordan rivers south shares boundary southeast drains parts wyoming utah largest tributary western short stretch continental divide separates snake watershed tributary snake begins near north watershed bounded tributary flows gulf_of_mexico drainage basin rest watershed borders major tributaries north montana northeast west join columbia snake john day joins downstream snake columbia river gorge note northeastern divide watershed forms idaho montana boundary watershed extend montana mountain ranges snake watershed include extreme northwestern end grand highest point watershed reaching feet elevation elevation feet joins pollution agricultural runoff farms areas severely hurt ecology river 20th century irrigation dams river begun operation decade 20th century land strip miles wide cultivated turned pasture agricultural return flows began snake runoff dumped river laws practice illegal chemicals washed river greatly increase nutrient load especially nitrogen low water algae occur calm stretches river oxygen supply return flows issue directly feed snake river underneath water diverted river irrigation absorbing surface enters ground feeds maintained level increasingly laced water eventually travels west enters river springs excessive sediment recurring problem december issued permit requiring owners fish farms reduce discharge levels upstream confluence including water temperature dissolved nutrients sediment required meet certain levels discharge average flow cubic feet second united_states geological survey recorded river discharge period stream gauge period largest average annual flow recorded cubic feet second lowest cubic feet second lowest recorded daily mean flow cubic feet second february august temporarily flow result testing ice harbor dam highest recorded flow cubic feet second june highest flow recorded different stream gauge near operated gauge recorded maximum flow cubic feet second columbia average discharge larger peak discharge estimated cubic feet second occurred flood june river flow measured points course wyoming discharge cubic feet second drainage area square miles km2 idaho halfway river discharge rises cubic feet second idaho miles downstream river flow decreases cubic feet second agricultural border idaho oregon near beginning snake flow rises cubic feet second receiving major tributaries discharge increases cubic feet second border idaho oregon washington downstream confluence salmon snake largest tributaries mean discharge cubic feet second history canadian explorer recorded native american arrived mouth boat lewis crossed westwards watershed gave lewis group sight river note snake indians lived river actually tribe learned native americans called river grew banks later american explorers originally lewis clark expedition watershed records variety names associated river explorer wilson price hunt named river gave river names including tribe eventually derived shaped gesture tribe hands represent swimming salmon explorers represent snake giving river present day early inhabitants people living years divides western main phases systems calls broad spectrum foraging dating years present period people drew wide variety food resources second period foraging dates years present distinctive increased reliance fish especially salmon food preservation storage phase years present calls equestrian characterized large horse mounted tribes spent long amounts time away local foraging range hunting eastern evidence cultures dating years ago early fur traders explorers noted regional trading centers archaeological evidence shown considerable antiquity trading center area existed early years ago culture contributed historic understood poorly understood early cultural component called introduction horse helped establishing northern cultures southeastern washington ancient sites oldest known called years ago relatively recent times flooded reservoir eventually large native american groups controlled territory stretched southeastern columbia plateau northern oregon western idaho occupied lifestyles snake river varied widely economy centered salmon came river enormous numbers salmon tribes falls life significantly different snake river plain forms relatively easy paths main rocky_mountains hundreds miles allowing native americans east west mountains interact result centered trading economy according legend tribe founded valley major tributaries height settlements snake mouth rivers villages lower area annual salmon run estimated time exceed million good years supported lived permanent defined villages unlike nomadic southeastern tribes involved trade tribe north tribes enemies upstream tribes characterized nomadic groups took culture earlier culture tribes migrated north powerful tribe rocky_mountains area known great plains tribes snakes 18th century territory extended extending upper watershed north canada smallpox epidemic brought european explorers fur responsible east rocky_mountains continued occupy eventually culture merged tribes came area respectively brought skill buffalo hunting horses acquired europeans changing way life significantly exploration settling lewis american group cross rocky_mountains sail snake columbia rivers pacific_ocean lewis supposedly american sight drainage basin crossed mountains days ahead party august sighted valley major snake tributary miles present day site salmon idaho party later traveled north descended salmon attempted descend snake found impassable violent expedition named honor traveled northwards traveled lower snake columbia referred indians snake indians present day river later american explorers traveled area major tributaries beginning lewis clark returned explored lower sight upper including area party fur discovered named sailed lower later explorers included gave river 1830s later explorers original members lewis returned map explore area greater detail later american fur scouted area beaver streams canadian major competitor sent fur watershed party traveled major southern tributary snake disappeared american fur kept coming region hudson ordered canadian kill eventually nearly species watershed rationale reason americans come goal eventually gain rights region covering washington oregon idaho parts montana wyoming present day region called pacific_northwest area eventually annexed united_states middle 19th century established generally following crossing trail near present day site years later ferry established site replacing old system pioneers ford wide powerful deep snake place pioneers crossed snake upstream place called island crossing near mouth area group islands splits snake channels feet wide chose ford snake proceed west river near continue drier east gorge float snake columbia destination oregon trail reason better availability grass water access numerous ferries provided crossings upper snake ferry head hell canyon ferry operates today wyoming varied reed boats pulled indians horse described electric operated ferry swan falls ferry swan falls dam early 20th century unlike far difficult navigate snake drops feet source mouth snake drops feet elevation length miles shorter 1860s 1940s traveled mouth near mouth lower sailed river mouth located confluence snake rivers stretch river easiest navigate elevation change contained sets passenger freight service downstream lasted late 19th century persisted introduction railroads hills grain growing region ultimately construction dams lower snake facilitate barge traffic caused demise railroad miles confluence snake columbia miles mouth columbia pacific_ocean connected portland pacific ports service mouth snake columbia river gorge commonly traveled route washington miles downstream mouth upstream launched fort provided passenger freight service upper snake mines 1870s owned operating seven transporting wheat grain productive region snake columbia lower ports boats harvest queen built resources wheat grain 1890s huge copper deposit discovered bar ships built specifically transport ore included suffered boiler explosion sank snake river modifications dams factors influenced construction dams total dams constructed multitude different purposes rocky_mountains mouth reservoir formed dam dams snake grouped major categories beginning small dams block snake provide irrigation water dam snake built cascade dams produce river decrease elevation comparatively small distance finally cascade dams mouth navigation different government private agencies worked build dams serve important purpose people living snake drainage basin trade agricultural products pacific created passage act involved diversion water upstream order approximately acres km2 store acre feet water studies irrigation plain conducted late 19th century project authorized april dam constructed project power plant began operating producing electricity capacity revised dam constructed project far upstream wyoming built raise lake level providing additional water storage dry years upstream completed replaced dams constructed historical limit salmon total barrier boats ships provisions fish passage navigation irrigation dams built including built maintained starting 1940s second major water projects river dams project dam located upper dams primarily power generation flood control fish passage navigation locks dam constructed generates power dam second dam project built generates dam named mile bend shaped like lake constructed generates lower snake river project authorized created create channel mouth beginning dams downstream order lower granite lock dam little dam lower monumental lock dam ice harbor lock dam work length navigation channel facilitate ship passage dams form cascade stretches free flowing river immediately formed construction dam lower snake river project river channel maintained jet boats section rugged ships dams proposed removal removed largest dam removal project undertaken united_states removal proposed grounds restore salmon runs lower smaller tributaries idaho snake river salmon wild salmon left river number factors reasons reduced number reason snake river runs different states miles long salmon swimming upstream river faced predators dams dams extremely difficult salmon access hydroelectric dams hell blocks passage entire upper grand blocks spawning grounds famous june june legendary salmon weighed pounds average salmon returned idaho year conservation efforts wildlife fish captured remaining wild salmon collected sperm eggs laboratory spawn instead spawning naturally begin lives fishery biologist laboratory baby salmon transported ship bypassing dams dams hurt juvenile baby salmon powerful tides currents suck baby salmon conservation effort helped salmon recover destruction old outdated dams tributary snake destroying dam salmon populations noticeably recovered interesting recovery method called juvenile salmon dam swimming ocean massive ships filter collect baby salmon size ocean ride guaranteed alive method raises controversy effectiveness costs method extremely expensive costing million similar method transport fish dams fish gun method engineers innovations developed fish transport system literally collects salmon shoots dam high speed effort dams overall combined efforts good success summer snake river reportedly salmon returned spawning grounds summer salmon returned spawning grounds navigation 1960s 1970s built dams locks lower facilitate shipping lower likewise navigation deep shipping channel locks heavy barges exists pacific_ocean idaho barge traffic originating goes deep water ports lower portland grain wheat main product shipped snake nearly exported internationally lower ports shipping channel authorized feet deep feet wide river depths feet shipping channel places work ongoing actual depths vary time channel feet deeper mississippi_river system columbia snake rivers float barges twice heavy agricultural products idaho eastern washington main goods transported barge snake columbia rivers grain mainly wheat accounts cargo lower dry gal imp gal grain snake completion lower snake dams grain region transported truck rail ports products lower include forest products petroleum biology divides watershed freshwater columbia upper snake marks boundary wwf placed boundary kilometres order include main tributary distinct rest snake presented total barrier upstream movement fish years result fish fauna falls fish fauna shared lower freshwater includes southeastern idaho extends small portions wyoming utah nevada including major freshwater habitats compared lower rest watershed high level especially freshwater species special concern including appear exist single clusters fish species found region occur columbia watershed occur freshwater western utah related prehistoric lake endemic endemic small portion home thirty native fish species found endemic snake sand roller family oregon oregon found nearby basins lower supports seven species pacific salmon trout high localized levels especially basins extends lower tributaries animals aside aquatic species watershed supports larger animals including numerous species mammals birds amphibians reptiles especially mountainous areas watershed gray wolf bear mountain lion canada common determined species mammals upper upstream fork confluence sheep common area drained lost streams idaho rivers large creeks flow south rocky_mountains disappear snake river bird species endangered threatened use watershed including bald eagle falcon crane greater sage yellow billed species bird occurs commonly lower section species reptiles inhabit upper wetland zones species frogs common lost streams basin watershed including inland tailed frog northern leopard frog western columbia spotted frog long lower middle portions watershed native species severely impacted agriculture practices resulting non native species supported introduced birds include gray ring non native species include brown headed european attracted construction cities towns plants watershed includes diversity vegetation zones past present majority watershed covered grassland common southeastern washington zones wetlands marshes occurred length tributaries higher elevations forests pine common dominate landscape basin ranges semi desert alpine climates providing habitat hundreds species plants watershed southeastern washington surrounded area called columbia plateau occupied farms rest plateau area characterized low hills dry lakes arid nearly desert climate high mountains watershed historically heavily forested include douglas fir spruce fir comprising historic watershed base mountains basin predominant vegetation cover fourth forests taken leaving remaining forests cover watershed pine increased number taking historic stands conifers species rare endemic plants occur watershed salmon fish important rivers spawning fish hatched rivers live ocean lives return river spawn united_states river supported species including salmon salmon salmon white pacific known construction dams river major salmon runs spring summer fall totaling fish salmon run historical barrier fish migration occurs passes early 20th century constructed upstream dams river posed increasing problem migrating salmon agricultural lands resulting runoff significant impact success rate migrating fish salmon travel far fish passage facilities lower dams leaving salmon river sustain spawning salmon rising central idaho nearly undeveloped enormous exception dam watershed northeastern oregon largely undeveloped formed lower dams formed problems downstream current pools fish sense confusing migration routes confluence snake young salmon swim spawning delay significant temperature difference prior removal dam main dam south fork completely migrating salmon agricultural runoff water held higher upstream snake warm waters flows snake meets average temperature higher directly confluence river flows formed lower granite dam dam lower snake river project combination factors gives young salmon time grow feed begin migration pacific_ocean higher chance survival compared salmon migrate ocean earlier dam removal controversy erupted late 20th century lower dams primary argument removing dams allow fish reach lower tributaries spawn higher numbers removal dams fiercely opposed groups pacific_northwest electricity northwest comes dams removing dams create hole energy grid immediately navigation lower snake suffer submerged islands exposed removal dams irrigation pumps fields southeastern washington reach access water aside restoring salmon runs dam removal proponents argue power grain transportation system replaced railroads supplies irrigation water likely need allow water low flow order create current lower recreation tourism likely benefit tributaries second largest tributary salmon larger drainage salmon drains drier country smaller acre feet annually compared acre feet annually major tributaries mountainous regions basin largest far drains square miles km2 north central idaho rivers flow north sink snake river contribute water river aside rivers snake fed significant springs arise west plain
Snake River