Northwest Passage: The Great Columbia River

by William Dietrich

For more information about the author go

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Nature

450 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

For the author of the thriller series Ethan Gage, see William Dietrich.

Reviews

[Andy Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

William Dietrich wrote the definitive book on the Columbia River in 1995. It included the river's natural history and geography, the story of the area's original inhabitants carefully avoiding lumping the Native American tribes together, the exploration and settlement by Europeans and Americans and then discussed the river's current issues of salmon, dams, navigation, pollution, and Native American fishing rights. The book was not as linear as this description which gave the benefit of putting current issues into context, for example the contemporary prosecutions of Native Americans for fishing salmon was discussed in context of the treaties that Isaac Stevens forced Native Americans to sign before Washington's statehood.
The book was reissued in 2016 with an introduction to the newer edition which includes the discovery of Kennewick Man, the population growth along the Columbia and updates on salmon restoration and the political debates about the river.
Because the book is so ambitious in scope it does not always have depth. The chapters on English and American exploration of the Columbia seemed shallow to me after reading Undaunted Courage(Lewis and Clark) Astoria (the ocean and overland routes to Astoria and fur trapping) and Rivers of the West (David Thompson's exploration) which all intersected. But not only is this book a good jumping off for more detailed study and reading, its broad view also ties the river's themes together. The comparison of the elevation drop from source to mouth of the Columbia to other rivers such as Missouri and Mississippi helps explain the original Columbia's numerous and treacherous rapids as well as why it was so well suited to the hydro development of dams.
The book does have balance. Dietrich's romanticism of the beauty of the old Columbia and the sad demise of the original salmon runs come through, but Dietrich consistently presents alternative views tying in the new river with the economic well being of the Pacific Northwest.
A great read, especially for those of us who are so tied to the Columbia.

[Cathie Stumpenhaus · Rating 3 out of 5]

A densely packed and readable history of the last two hundred years of the Columbia River basin.

[Lin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This would be a great required or adjunct book for Northwest history or environmental studies class.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A comprehensive history of the Columbia River and the Columbia River Basin, written in 1994. Beginning with Native Americans and the European explorers, Dietrich turns us to the Grand Coulee and Bonneville Dam Projects which has led to a series of 14 dams on the Columbia itself and over 500 dams in the Columbia River Basin. He addresses both the benefits to people and the damage to salmon and the ecosystem of the river. Much has happened since 1995, but this is a fine study.

[Nick Hodge]

An overview of the white man's history of a vast geographical area. The author manages to reduce the scope by skipping quickly over the First Nations culture that had existed for ??,000 years, almost everything above the 49th parallel, and the early influence of the Metis. What's left? The unconscious transition from a salmon economy to an electrical and irrigation economy. Way too long a book - a poem would have done.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly detailed, well-organized history of the Columbia River. I love it for its rich grounding, endless side trails and anecdotes and factoids, and thoughtful attention to people, not just perspectives, on different sides of the issues it addresses.

Perhaps most riveting to me was the history of rural electrification and the way it was framed partially as an issue of equalization, freeing women from drudgery.

[George · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read on our trip to Portland, Mt St Helen's and up the Columbia and Snake Rivers into Hell's Canyon. Gives an excellent description of the history of the Columbia and all the issues concerning its transformation to one of West's wildest and most beautiful and bountiful rivers into a computerized water way for electricity generation and irrigation. Is there any hope for the wild Salmon?

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

some great information if you are interested in the history of the Columbia. Well organized and reads like a well written journalist report. The information on the current status is dated, as the book was written in 1996 but the historical information and the personalization of the relationships between the Columbia and the people that have lived on and around it was excellent.

[Judd Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating and well researched. A must read for adventurers and history minded people. This book is about the history of the Columbia River from the time of trappers, through Lewis and Clark, to the 300+ dams of the New Deal, to it's present day problems with salmon degradation and leaking nuclear waste.

[Don · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit dated now (1995) but a solid overview of what the Columbia is and was, and how it can't continue to be all things for all people. Lots of good information and insights, as a newsman tries to take a balanced approach to a controversial topic.

[Debbie Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. I grew up on the Columbia River, so very interesting to me to read the history.

[Coho Cabin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great history of the river that shaped our beloved Pacific Northwest.