Skagit River Hydroelectric Project
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The Skagit River Hydroelectric Project is a series of dams with hydroelectric power-generating stations on the Skagit River in northern Washington State. The project is owned and operated by Seattle City Light to provide electric power for the City of Seattle and surrounding communities. The dams provide approximately 25 percent of the electric power for Seattle.
The three major dams in the Skagit River Project are (from lower to upper) Gorge Dam, Diablo Dam, and Ross Dam. The dams are located in Whatcom County above the town of Newhalem, which lies just west of North Cascades National Park. Ross Lake, formed by Ross Dam extends into British Columbia, which is 20 miles upriver from the dam. Ross Lake National Recreation Area surrounds the lake.
Construction of Gorge Dam began in 1921 and the first power was delivered to Seattle in 1924. The cost of the dam was $13 million ($153,339,181 in 2006 dollars).[1]
Construction of Diablo Dam was begun in 1927, five miles upstream from Gorge Dam. Diablo Dam was completed in 1930, and at that time was the tallest dam in the world at 389 feet (119 meters). However, the dam produced no electricity for Seattle until 1936.
Construction of Ruby Dam at the Rip Raps below Ruby Creek began in 1937. This dam was renamed Ross Dam, after the death of James Delmage Ross (1872–1939), the superintendent of the Skagit River Project. Construction of Ross Dam was to take place in three stages and the first stage was completed in 1940. The second and third stages were completed in 1953 when the dam was built to its final height of 540 feet (165 meters).
In 1961 a new Gorge High Dam was completed (300 feet, 91 meters) to replace the original Gorge Dam.
[edit] Hydroelectric Power Production
| Dam | Power (MW)[2] |
|---|---|
| Gorge | 172.7 |
| Diablo | 169.3 |
| Ross | 460.0 |
| Total | 802.0 |
[edit] References
[edit] Sources
- Historylink.org
- Seattle City Light Skagit Tours
- The Skagit Valley Herald “Skagit River Dams—A Chronology”
- Guide to the Seattle City Light Gorge Development Project Photographs and Photograph Albums 1948-1962
- Guide to the Seattle City Light Skagit Project: Diablo Dam Construction Photograph Albums 1919-1936
- Guide to the Seattle City Light Ross Dam Photograph Albums 1938-1948
- Guide to the Seattle City Light Skagit Youth Camp Records 1991-1996
