About the Pacific Northwest Waterways Association (PNWA) Pacific Northwest Waterways Association (PNWA) is a non-profit, non-partisan  trade association that advocates for federal policies and funding in support of regional economic development. PNWA is a collaboration of ports, businesses, public agencies and individuals who combine their economic and political strength in support of navigation, energy, trade, tourism and economic development throughout the Pacific Northwest.  Established as the Inland Empire Waterways Association in 1934, PNWA led the way for development of infrastructure for navigation, electric power and irrigated agriculture on the Columbia and Snake River System. PNWA’s first act was to petition President Roosevelt and Congress for fu