The Columbia River is known as the Great River of the West. As it flows from its mountainous headwaters in British Columbia to its turbulent mouth at the Pacific Ocean the river changes, shaped not only by the physical landscape of the watershed it drains, but increasingly by the human landscape as well; dams pool its waters, pipes divert its flow, and turbines harness its power. The Columbia has for generations been a source of sustenance and livelihood, of myth and stories, and a place of great beauty to celebrate. Not only do we shape the river, but it shapes us. It provides us with a shared sense of identity, interconnecting the lives of all who share its waters. We have tamed the Columbia and yet wild still remains. In the words of Woody Guthrie, "Roll on Columbia, roll on."
In this theme we explore many issues related to the health and ecology of the river and its watershed. We explore the physical and human forces that have changed the river and our region. We examine the competing interests of stakeholders and ask how geography shapes our perspectives and personal worldviews. We study how the Columbia and its environs contribute to the myths and stories of the region. We explore the early history of the Columbia Basin and a look towards popular struggles that produced important changes of the day. Though the emphasis is on the Columbia Basin, most of the major themes transcend the region, being relevant to wherever we call home.
Chris Butenhoff uses his background in physics to develop the quantitative literacy and critical thinking skills of his freshman inquiry classes. His research interests center on climate change with an emphasis on understanding how human and natural activities are changing the abundances of greenhouse gases in the global atmosphere. He has Masters degrees in environmental physics and radio astronomy and is currently finishing his doctoral studies at Portland State. In his spare time he enjoys hiking, camping, birding, and star-gazing.
