The gates open at 6 at confluence state park. we were going out at 3. didnt really want to wait 3 hours. hydro. its on the same river. confluence would have been just as bad.
Check hydro next time, or even whenever you can get down there next. Some of the launches on the Columbia have long ramps for just this occasion.
And the water is dropped for the salmon. Im guessing since theres a large run coming through bonneville they are flushing ots of water down that way to accommodate them. Coulee will spill soon and we'll be back to normal.