USBR may open portion of trail

A quarter mile long piece of the Downriver Trail system might soon be reopened, Bureau of Reclamation officials stated last week.

The trail would extend through a pedestrian gate along the rip-rap on the east side of the Columbia River near the bridge to just short of the Third Powerhouse. If approved, hikers could go from the north end of the trail near Seaton’s Grove all the way to near the Third Powerhouse.

Public Affairs Officer Lynne Brougher said the change is being evaluated and that the agency will seek approval if everything goes well.

The portion of the trail that would be opened has been closed for the past 12 years with the security measures taken after 9/11.

On the west side of the river, the Bureau of Reclamation is planning to improve the access area on that side of the river so walkers there could better determine the area open to them.