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Detroit Dam
Detroit Dam (2019).jpg
Detroit Dam on the North Santiam River
Detroit Dam is located in Oregon
Detroit Dam
Location of Detroit Dam in Oregon
Country United States
Location Detroit, Linn County/Marion County, Oregon
Coordinates 44°43′15.44″N 122°14′59.27″W / 44.7209556°N 122.2497972°W / 44.7209556; -122.2497972
Purpose Flood control, power, irrigation
Status Operational
Construction began 1949
Opening date 1953; 71 years ago (1953)
Construction cost $13,615,000 (1953 est.) equiv. to $149 million today
Owner(s) U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Dam and spillways
Type of dam Concrete gravity
Impounds North Santiam River
Height 463 ft (141 m)
Length 1,523.5 ft (464.4 m)
Elevation at crest 1,580 ft (480 m)
Reservoir
Creates Detroit Lake
Total capacity 455,000 acre⋅ft (561,000,000 m3)
Active capacity 321,000 acre-feet (396,000,000 m3)
Catchment area 437 sq mi (1,130 km2)
Surface area 3,500 acres (14 km2)
Maximum length 9 mi (14 km)
Normal elevation 1,569 ft (478 m) (full)
Power station
Commission date 1953
Type Conventional
Turbines 2 x 100 MW Francis-type
Installed capacity 100 MW

Detroit Dam is a gravity dam on the North Santiam River between Linn County and Marion County, Oregon. It is located in the Cascades, about 5 mi (8.0 km) west of the city of Detroit. It was constructed between 1949 and 1953 by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. The dam created 400-foot (120 m) deep Detroit Lake, more than 9 miles (14 km) long with 32 miles (51 km) of shoreline.

It is one of the dams authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1938. Construction was delayed largely due to World War II. The dam, dedicated on June 10, 1953, was authorized for the purposes of flood control, power generation, navigation, and irrigation. Other uses are fishery, water quality, and recreation. It was built in concert with the Big Cliff Dam downstream.


Capacity

  • Drainage area: 437 mi² (1,132 km²)
  • Maximum inflow: 63,200 ft³/s (1,790 m³/s) 1909
  • Lake Elevation
    • Maximum pool: 1,574 ft (480 m)
    • Full pool: 1,569 ft (478 m)
    • Minimum flood control pool: 1,450 ft (442 m)
  • Usable storage (1,425.0 to 1,563.5 ft) = 321,000 acre-feet (396,000,000 m3)
  • Powerhouse
    • Number of units: 2
    • Nameplate capacity: 100 MW
    • Overload capacity: 115 MW
    • Hydraulic capacity: 5,340 ft³/s (151 m³/s)
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