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About 10,000 years ago, a huge glacier dammed a river gorge in Idaho creating a 3,000 square mile lake in western Montana. When the ice dam broke, a wall of water nearly 2,000 feet high and traveling 65 miles per hour carved new river paths across Idaho, Washington, and Oregon in a matter of days. Ancient ravines were left high and dry above today's Columbia River after the water receded. Over time, the wind gradually deposited a rich layer of soil.
In the early 1900s, many settlers homesteaded the dry plateaus of eastern Washington and began dryland farming. But the area's average annual precipitation of 6-10 inches doomed their efforts to failure despite an ample growing season and soils well suited for crops. Many settlers abandoned their farms while others tried to develop irrigation water supplies. The plans often proved too costly or difficult for private groups.
Congress passed the Reclamation Act in 1902 to boost development of the arid West. Reclamation began its task of creating water storage and irrigation networks by looking into locally supported projects.
Several groups proposed irrigation projects for the Columbia plateau. One plan used gravity to bring water from the Pend Oreille River in northern Idaho and eastern Washington. Others suggested pumping water from the Columbia River into the ancient riverbed known as the Grand Coulee.
 Between 1905 and 1958, Reclamation built several river diversions and canals. The project includes six reservoirs that catch and hold over a million acre-feet of spring runoff in the Cascade Mountains. In a normal water year, this provides a reliable water supply for Yakima Valley farmers for the entire growing season.
President Roosevelt gave Reclamation permission in 1933 to begin building Grand Coulee Dam to create jobs and provide inexpensive power. The first step was to build a town for workers and a railroad for hauling supplies. Work on the dam and powerplants continued day and night through World War II.
Congress authorized the Columbia Basin Project in 1943, although building the irrigation system did not start until after the war. The first irrigation water pumped from the Columbia River near Pasco in 1948 was delivered to about 5,400 acres. The irrigation system carried its first water from Grand Coulee Dam to about 66,000 acres in spring 1952. Extending canals and adding pumping plants and other features continued for about 30 years.
Water that irrigates project land is often used again before it returns to the Columbia River near Pasco. Potholes Reservoir collects runoff from the north for farms in the south. Water from drains and wasteways returns to the canal system for reuse. Irrigators use about 2.5 million acre-feet of Columbia River water each year. Water reuse gives them an additional 1 million acre-feet.
Although some grow wheat and other grains, many Columbia Basin Project farmers grow high value fruits, vegetables, and specialty crops like mint and wine grapes. Agriculture-related businesses account for 30-50 percent of all income in counties served by the project.
The Bureau of Reclamation works with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Bonneville Power Administration to coordinate operations at Grand Coulee Dam and other Columbia River dams to produce power, prevent flooding, and provide irrigation water, benefits to fish and wildlife, and recreation.
The 1964 Columbia River Treaty between the United States and Canada allowed both countries to build more reservoirs to store and share water. This greatly reduced the risk of flooding for cities along the Columbia River. It also led to producing more electricity in the energy-short 1970s.
In addition to storing and carrying water for irrigation, producing electricity, controlling floods, providing recreation, and regulating streamflow, the Columbia Basin Project also provides water for cities, industries, navigation, and endangered species.
Irrigated crops: $630 million
Power produced: $950 million
Flood damage prevented: $20 million
Recreation: 3 million visits - $50 million
Ephrata Field Office (509) 754-0200
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