Locks shutdown turns focus on county’s river dependence

A cool Snake River breeze blows chaff back onto the Almota rocks as Ron Dennison moves a spout pouring soft white wheat into a Portland-bound barge.

Tuesday marked the last time a barge will leave the Port of Almota for the next four months while locks on the Snake and Columbia Rivers shut down for repairs at four dams.

“We’ve still got plenty enough to do around here to keep us busy,” said Dennison, as he operated the barge loading spout at Almota Elevator’s port site.

Due to replacement of entire lock gates at The Dalles and John Day dams on the Columbia and at Lower Monumental on the lower...