Rocky Reach Dam
| Rocky Reach Dam | |
|---|---|
Interactive map of Rocky Reach Dam | |
| Official name | Rocky Reach Hydroelectric Project |
| Location | Chelan / Douglas counties, Washington |
| Coordinates | 47°32′00″N 120°17′44″W / 47.53333°N 120.29556°W |
| Construction began | 1956 (Phase One) 1969 (Phase Two) |
| Construction cost | $273.1 million |
| Operator | Chelan County Public Utility District |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Impounds | Columbia River |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Lake Entiat |
| Total capacity | 382,000 acre⋅ft (0.471 km3) |
| Power Station | |
| Turbines |
|
| Installed capacity | 1,299.6 MW [1] |
| Annual generation | 4,901.1 GWh[2] |
Rocky Reach Dam is a run-of-the-river hydroelectric dam in the U.S. state of Washington owned and operated by Chelan County Public Utility District. It has 11 generators rated in total 1300 MW. The project is on the Columbia River in north central Washington state about seven miles (11 km) upstream from the city of Wenatchee. The dam is 473 miles (761 km) above the mouth of the Columbia. The reservoir impounded by the dam is Lake Entiat. The project provides energy for more than 7 million people throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Rocky Reach is nationally recognized for efforts to protect the environment.[3] A first-of-its-kind juvenile fish bypass system was completed in 2003 to help young salmon and steelhead on their way to the ocean.[4] A major powerhouse upgrade started in 1995 includes new turbines that are more fish friendly.[5] Improvements to turbines and generators are also designed to improve efficiency and reliability.[3]
Tourism & recreation
The project is located on the Columbia River on Highway 97A, seven miles (11 km) north of Wenatchee. The visitor center shows films describing the Columbia River. The "Look a Salmon in the Eye" exhibit from (May–September) is a fish viewing room. The Powerhouse includes exhibits on the fourth floor. The Rocky Reach dam is near the Lincoln Rock State Park a short distance upriver.
History
In 1934 the United States Army Corps of Engineers first reported on the hydroelectric potential of this site. By the 1950s, studies were carried out by the Chelan County P.U.D. for detail design of the project. The present site is about one mile (1.6 km) downstream of the site investigated by the Corps of Engineers, due to better conditions for foundations. A preliminary permit was issued in 1954. In 1956 construction of the powerhouse and the first seven generating units began. Four more generators were installed starting in 1969, increasing nameplate capacity to 1287 megawatts. The original project cost was US $273.1 million, financed by bonds sold by the PUD. Project costs included relocation of highways and railroad, land acquisition, and relocation of the town of Entiat. Repayment of bonds was through revenues from long-term sales contracts between Chelan County Public Utility District and local industrial and distribution customers. The facility has been re-licensed until 2052.[3]
In 2009, Season 5, Episode 17 of Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe was filmed at the project.[6]
Hydroelectric power capacity
The powerhouse is equipped with seven Westinghouse generators and four Allis-Chalmers generators. The turbines are adjustable blade Kaplan type to allow for efficient production of energy at varying water levels. Water flows through each of the first seven turbines at a rate of 116 thousand gallons per second and 145 thousand gallons per second through each of the remaining four turbines.
| Generator | Nameplate Capacity (MW)[1] | Manufacturer |
|---|---|---|
| C-1 | 114.0 | Westinghouse |
| C-2 | 114.0 | Westinghouse |
| C-3 | 114.0 | Westinghouse |
| C-4 | 114.0 | Westinghouse |
| C-5 | 114.0 | Westinghouse |
| C-6 | 114.0 | Westinghouse |
| C-7 | 114.0 | Westinghouse |
| C-8 | 125.4 | Allis-Chalmers |
| C-9 | 125.4 | Allis-Chalmers |
| C-10 | 125.4 | Allis-Chalmers |
| C-11 | 125.4 | Allis-Chalmers |
| Total | 1299.6 | - |
See also
- List of dams in the Columbia River watershed
- Hydroelectric dams on the Columbia River
- List of reservoirs and dams in the United States
References
- ^ a b c "January 2026: EIA 860M". Preliminary Monthly Electric Generator Inventory. U.S. Energy Information Administration. Retrieved 21 March 2026.
- ^ "2024: EIA-923". Form EIA-923 detailed data with previous form data. U.S. Energy Information Administration. Retrieved 21 March 2026.
- ^ a b c "Rocky Reach Hydro Project". Chelan County Public utility district. Retrieved 2008-03-13.
- ^ "Pumps Assist Migrating Salmon on the Columbia River". Fluent NEWS. Fluent. Winter 2001. Archived from the original on 2007-09-12. Retrieved 2007-10-11.
- ^ McKee, C, and G. Rossi, "Rocky Reach Kaplan Turbines: Development of Fish-Friendly Runners," Hydropower into the Next Century, Barcelona, Spain, 1995, as cited in www.tva.gov/environment/pdf/rri_aree.pdf.
- ^ "'Dirty Jobs' TV show finds work at Rocky Reach Dam". The Seattle Times. The Associated Press. Retrieved 21 March 2026.