LEWISTON, ID – A delegation of Mississippi River stakeholders will visit the Columbia-Snake River System next week as part of a cross-country exchange aimed at strengthening national support for America’s inland waterway infrastructure.

Representatives from Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin—members of the Upper Mississippi Waterway Association (UMWA)—will travel from Astoria, Oregon, to Lewiston, Idaho, along Marine Highway 84. The tour is hosted by Pacific Northwest stakeholders, including the Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG), river transportation companies, port authorities, and infrastructure partners.

The group will explore key stops such as the Columbia River Maritime Museum in Astoria, the Ports of Longview, Kalama, Vancouver, and Lewiston, and sites like Bonneville Dam and Lower Granite Dam. Participants will tour company vessels operated by Shaver Transportation, Foss Maritime, and Tidewater. The tour will also include a cruise through the lock system and a conference stop at the Port of Kalama.

The effort stems from a reciprocal tour in 2024, when Columbia-Snake River representatives traveled the Mississippi River to better understand shared challenges and strategies. Organizers say these collaborations are designed to strengthen advocacy in Washington, D.C., and to educate the public on the economic and transportation importance of working river systems.

“Forming relationships across the country and speaking with a unified voice has a huge impact,” said Michelle Hennings, Executive Director of WAWG. “We face many of the same pressures, and this tour helps tell our story.”

UMWA Executive Director Gary Williams echoed the sentiment, emphasizing that consistent messaging across waterways fosters credibility with policymakers. “These exchanges help raise awareness about the need to maintain commercial navigation systems that are critical for agriculture, manufacturing, and energy distribution,” he said.

UMWA President Zac Morris added that the tour also highlights workforce opportunities and river preservation strategies that can benefit both regions.

The event is part of ongoing efforts by WAWG and UMWA to maintain the viability of U.S. river transportation networks and ensure long-term investment in waterway infrastructure.

For more information, visit www.wawg.org.