River Reliant

The production of hydropower due to Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal in the 1930s was the primary instrument of economic change in the North West. 

80 years on, the 11 U.S. dams on the Columbia now produce enough electricity to run "13 Seattles" every year. 

The Dalles Dam, Columbia River

The resulting river impoundments, and lock installation has increased navigation accessibility, and the Columbia River is now the 3rd largest grain export corridor in the World behind the Mississippi and the Parana River in South America, exporting 26.5MMT of grain each year. 

The first dam on the river, constructed 1933-1938, Bonneville, lies 234km from the mouth of the Columbia and comprises a 442m long spillway, a 25.9m wide navigation lock, two powerhouses (313m and 301m long respectively) and two fish passes.

The dam was built and is managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, who run a visitors' centre and tours to the (slightly art deco!) first powerhouse, which is a fantastic opportunity to get in and see the infrastructure up close (photos to follow). 

For more info follow this link http://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/Locations/Columbia-River/Bonneville/ 

Due to this visit we also now have another team member... Please meet Bonneville the engineering enthusiast, seen here at John Day Dam, another of the Columbia river dams.