Columbia/Snake (and other) river locks/sailing

I have been wondering about the details of sailing up the Columbia to Lewiston, ID from the standpoint of boat design.

I found that the standard barge taken downriver from Lewiston is 42' W and from pictures I've found I can see that the locks are much longer (5X?) than they are wide so it would appear that one would need a true behemoth of a boat to not be able to use the locks.

Does anybody else have any applicable experience in this area? I can't imagine there is a published maximum draft for this river system but I wonder if there is a source for guidance.

I'd also be interested in info for other inland waterways and their particular rules. I was taking a walk in Reading UK down by the Thames when I was there this summer and viewed the operation of a lock there. The traditional size and long aspect ratio of the Thames river boat made a lot more sense to me after seeing the lock which had been in operation for over 100 years.

Thanks in advance for info.

 

Any river system with that level of infrastructure will have published max dimensions, including draft.

I bet these people can tell you: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Freight/Marine.htm

If not they can tell you who is in charge of the locks, and you can get the info from them.