Columbia River Can Float Ranger
One of the questions we get from supporters outside the Pacific Northwest is how can Ranger fit in a river? So we wanted to introduce our future visitors to the mighty Columbia River. The Columbia isn’t an average river, it’s a supercarrier sized river. By water volume, the Columbia River is the fourth-largest river in the United States. Her water flow is also the greatest of any river flowing into the Pacific.
Barge traffic moves up and downriver on the Columbia on Oct. 29, 2011 as seen from the banks of the Chinook Landing Marine Park.
Starting in Canada, this mighty river flows 1,243 miles to meet the Pacific Ocean at the Columbia River Bar between Oregon and Washington. Given the 2,690 foot drop in elevation, the Columbia produces more hydroelectric power than any other river in North America. In addition to working as a power generator, the river is a major transporter for commerce, wildlife, fish, wind surfers, sternwheeler tour boats, sail and power boats.
In order to keep all this water traffic moving, the navigation channel is maintained to an operating depth of 40 feet and 600 feet in width. Ranger will be moored approximately 125 miles upriver from the Pacific Ocean and navigable river traffic will continue on past her to inland Idaho, as it does today.
Many federal, state and local agencies support and manage the Columbia River, in addition to the tribes, river pilots and law enforcement agencies who are all stakeholders in this great resource. Ranger’s new home on the banks of the Columbia is a pristine setting where wildlife and commerce work together under strict land use rules.
Part of Ranger’s educational role will include the importance of the river and wildlife in our region. The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), which markets and moves the electricity generated by the Army Corps of Engineers dams on the Columbia, wears many hats as one of the federal stewards of the river.
Below are links to BPA free publications for kids to help them learn about the importance of this mighty river. The Foundation embraces the stewardship and responsibility of this natural resource. Not only is this river a lifeline in the Pacific Northwest, it will also move Ranger to Fairview.
Zippy, Splash and Sam Coloring Book http://www.bpa.gov/corporate/pubs/coloring_book.pdf
Salmon lifecyclHexagon to print and create (requires 11×17 paper to print out) http://www.bpa.gov/corporate/pubs/salmon_hex.pdf
How hydro power becomes electricity in our homes http://www.bpa.gov/corporate/Power_of_Learning/docs/hydro.pdf
Be Prepared For Any Event In 2012
One of Ranger’s future missions is to be a regional resource for emergency preparedness. Part of that goal is to team with area agencies to provide education and information about preparation for natural and man-made disasters. Through money donations from three Ranger staff, the Foundation teamed up with the Clackamas County Emergency Management office to be a partner on the 2012 Emergency Preparedness Calendar.
USS Abraham Lincoln sailors conduct water hose drills onboard Ranger on June 11, 2009. (Photo by U.S. Navy)
Clackamas County leads the development of a multi-hazard emergency preparedness calendar each year for surrounding counties and other interested partners in the Pacific Northwest. The calendar provides general emergency information. Each month focuses on specific preparedness and response information for different hazard events. All photos and information are provided by area agencies and responders. The emergency preparedness calendar is completely funded through contributions of agencies that partner in the calendar project. The city of Fairview and the Fairview Police Department also participated for 2012.
2012 calendar partners include Benton, Clark, Columbia, Clackamas, Lincoln, Linn, Marion and Multnomah Counties, plus the Oregon Judicial Department, and the cities of Fairview, Gresham, Damascus, Lake Oswego, West Linn, Wilsonville, Tigard and Sweet Home. The Gladstone Police, Lake Oswego Fire Department, Portland Fire and Rescue, Fire District 72 Sandy, Fire District 1, Fire District 6, Estacada Fire District, Clackamas County Sheriff, Benton County Sheriff, Lincoln County Sheriff, Fairview Police Department, Mt. Hood Search And Rescue Council, C-COM, Citizen Corps, Medical Reserve Corps, Multnomah County Health Department, Providence Health Services, Department of Veterans Affairs VISN 20, MetroWest Ambulance, Oregon Department of Forestry, NW Natural Gas, Portland Community College, Multnomah County Emergency Management, Portland Office of Emergency Management, CRESA 911, Radiah Technologies and the USS Ranger Foundation all participated this year.
When area partners work together to provide information and life saving education, it helps all of us respond when a disaster event occurs. You can see this year’s calendar online http://www.clackamas.us/docs/emergency/calendar.pdf
Hard copies of the calendar are available from some of the participating agencies.
The Foundation looks forward to using Ranger’s considerable resources and capabilities to help Oregon and Washington when she is needed to provide emergency support. Ranger will be a regional Pacific Northwest resource and an invaluable asset in the box of emergency response tools available for the region when she opens in Fairview.
The Latest Ranger Project News
Ranger needed 5,000 crew members and airwing personnel to keep her running smoothly and carry out their assigned operations while on active duty. She conducted her duties away from the public eye. This year has also required behind the scenes work to support Ranger’s move to Fairivew. This is where the Ranger project stands right now.
Team Ranger staff have been working very hard behind the scenes on major project development pieces. Due to complicated and delicate negotiations on many fronts, we can only give limited information at this time, but be assured we are moving in many positive directions at once.
BNSF Railroad Bridge: Interactions are taking place at the national level to address BNSF’s concerns and requirements needed to move Ranger through the working freight and passenger line bridge. The Foundation appreciates the dedicated support and team leadership of the Oregon and Washington Congressional delegations working on our behalf.
Fundraising: We appreciate the continuing support of individual donors, the city of Fairview, area businesses and other organizations helping the Foundation. An exciting licensing opportunity is being finalized to help raise funds through a “Ranger only” product to be released
The Foundation is looking forward to a great 2012!
