 counties for food processing sales in the state, which add another $4.1 billion in gross sales.
The Columbia River, the fourth largest river in North America (by volume), runs through the Columbia Plateau, and is in many ways the lifeblood of human activity in the region. Dams and reservoirs along its whole length enable the production of electricity that supports the economy and the needs of industry and communities in the region and beyond. These dams were also created to moderate and regulate flooding along the river. Water from this river feeds the Columbia Basin Project, which has allowed over 670,000 acres of agricultural lands to be irrigated, supporting the strong fruit and vegetable production industries, as well as others.