The Snake River serves an important function in the Palouse region as it provides the means to transport significant amounts of grain and other commodities that are produced in the region. The construction of four major dams on the Snake River in the 1950’s to 1970’s, complete with lock facilities, enables ocean going vessels to travel inland as far as Lewiston, Idaho. Three of these dams serve the Palouse Region: Lower Monumental Dam, Little Goose Dam and Lower Granite Dam. There are four port Districts in the area: the Ports of Clarkston, Columbia, Garfield and Whitman. The Port of Whitman ’s three industrial port sites are the Ports of Wilma, Central Ferry and Almota. Outbound shipments consist primarily of agricultural commodities and lumber. Port facilities located along the Snake River are operated by Port Districts in each county. Specific ports include the following:

Port of Clarkston
Port of Columbia
Port of Garfield

Port of Whitman County :
     Port of Almota
     Port of Central Ferry  
     Port of Wilma 

The following shows the volume of commodities shipped through area locks. Grain shipments are a major part of the port's activities. The grain shipped from these sites is trucked in from Montana, Oregon, Colorado, the Dakotas, the Great Plains states, and from the farms of the Palouse region.  Grain shipments are a major part of the ports’ freight activities, accounting for 80% of the total commodities shipped from the Port of Clarkston and Wilma (Port of Whitman County) and 85% to 90% of the total shipment from the Ports of Garfield and other Port of Whitman County on-water sites (Central Ferry and Almota). The grain shipped from these sites is trucked in from Montana, Oregon, Colorado, the Dakotas, Idaho, and the Great Plains states and from the farms with the PRTPO. Lumber is also an important product shipped through the Port of Clarkston.

TOTAL TONNAGE OF COMMODITIES SHIPPED THROUGH AREA LOCKS

Dredging operation on the Snake River: