About the River System

Idaho wheat farmers rely on the river system to get their wheat from the farm to customers around the world. More than half of Idaho's wheat crop is exported to customers in foreign markets and Idaho is uniquely positioned to access the global marketplace by moving grain from the Port of Lewiston through the Columbia-Snake River system to Portland, then on to customers in the Pacific Rim and elsewhere overseas.  All aspects of the river system are essential for the transportation of wheat from farm to market.  The four dams on the lower Snake River system move nearly 10% of the entire country’s wheat exports each year.