John Day Dam: Columbia River, at mile marker 215.6,completed 1968, federally owned, concrete gravity type, hydroelectric, fish ladder. The dam was opened before the fish ladder was completed. As a result the Oregon Fish Commission estimated that 30,000 sockeye salmon died. Later estimates put the total fish kill at over 200,000.
McNary Dam: Columbia River, at mile marker 292.0, completed in 1953, federally owned, concrete gravity type, hydroelectric, 2 fish ladders, 1310 foot spillway, 22 gates,7365 feet long, 183 feet high, 1 lock. McNary Dam creates Lake Wallula which extends 64 miles upstream to Hanford. Named after Oregon Senator Charles L. McNary. In 1948, the Nez Perce and Umatilla filed an injunction against the cofferdam because they feared it would damage salmon runs. The district court denied the request.
There is power for us all and if we absorb it all, Congress will go up the river and build more river dams for you.
— Senator Charles McNary
