Cowlitz Falls Dam
Dam in Lewis County, Washington
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cowlitz Falls Dam is a 70 megawatt hydroelectric dam in Lewis County, Washington. It was constructed in the early 1990s and completed in 1994. The dam is 140 feet (43 m) high and 700 feet (210 m) wide.[2]
| Cowlitz Falls Dam | |
|---|---|
Cowlitz Falls Hydroelectric Project | |
 Interactive map of Cowlitz Falls Dam | |
| Country | United States |
| Location | Lewis County, Washington |
| Coordinates | 46°28′00″N 122°06′32″W |
| Status | Operational |
| Opening date | 1994 |
| Built by | Bonneville Power Administration, |
| Operator | Bonneville Power Administration, |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Impounds | Cowlitz River |
| Height | 140 ft (43 m) |
| Length | 700 ft (210 m) |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Lake Scanewa |
| Surface area | 700 acres (280 ha) |
| Normal elevation | 866 ft (264 m)[1] |
| Power Station | |
| Installed capacity | 70 megawatt |
| Annual generation | 260 GW·h |
History
A village of the Cowlitz people, known as Koapk, existed at the Cowlitz Falls Dam site. The tribe, possibly Upper Cowlitz, were known as the k’wolama.[3]
Geography
The dam's reservoir, Lake Scanewa, is located at the confluence of the Cowlitz River and Cispus River downstream of Randle, Washington with a surface area of about 700 acres (280 ha). The lake is accessible by way of the Cowlitz Falls Park, a day use area situated near the junction with the Cispus River.[4]
Power plant
The Cowlitz Falls Project impounds the Cowlitz River and produces on average 260 gigawatt hours annually for the local public utility, the Lewis County Public Utility District, or about one-third of its annual electrical needs.[2] The facility was developed jointly with the Bonneville Power Administration, and the BPA bears the direct cost of operating and maintaining the dam.[5]
See also
Media related to Cowlitz Falls Hydroelectric Project at Wikimedia Commons