Electron Hydroelectric Project facts for kids
The Electron Hydroelectric Project is a special power plant that uses the power of water to make electricity. It's located on the Puyallup River in Pierce County, Washington. This project, also known as the Puyallup Project, creates enough electricity to power many homes. About 20 people work full-time to keep it running smoothly.
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Where is the Electron Project Located?
The Electron Hydroelectric Project is found along the Puyallup River. It's near a place called Kapowsin in Pierce County. This spot is about 25 miles southeast of Tacoma. It's also about 42 miles southeast of Seattle, sitting in the western hills of Mount Rainier.
How the Hydroelectric Project Works
The Electron Project was finished in 1904. It works by taking water from the Puyallup River behind a special wall called the Electron Diversion Dam. This water then travels through a long, wooden channel called a flume. This flume is about 10 miles long. It runs along the hills next to the river valley. Meanwhile, the river itself flows down a steep canyon.
The wooden flume is quite large, about 8 feet by 8 feet inside. It can carry a lot of water, up to 400 cubic feet per second. This water then powers the turbines at the Electron power plant. Building the original project took about 14 months. The flume has a gentle slope, dropping about seven feet for every mile it travels.
The Flume's Railway Line
A small railway line was built on top of the flume. This railway helps workers and equipment move along the flume for maintenance. It's sometimes called "the crookedest railway in the world" because of its many turns.
The flume and its railway have been rebuilt over the years. They were updated in the 1940s and again in 1985. During the 1985 rebuild, the original wood supports were replaced with over 12,000 strong steel frames. The flume itself is lined with a huge amount of fir wood. The company that runs the project is currently replacing this wood lining with Alaska yellow cedar. This project is special because its flume is likely the largest one used for hydroelectric power in the United States.
Helping Fish Travel Safely
The Electron Project has special features to help fish. Adult salmon and rainbow trout need to swim upstream to lay their eggs. A concrete fish ladder, about 300 feet long, helps them do this. It's built next to the dam, opposite where the water enters the flume.
Young fish sometimes accidentally swim into the wooden flume. To protect them, there's a "trap-and-haul" system. This system catches the young fish safely. Then, it puts them back into the Puyallup River, allowing them to continue their journey.
Environmental Events
In July 2020, something unexpected happened at the dam. Pieces of rubber material were released into the Puyallup River. This happened because artificial turf, used during a construction project, broke apart and spilled into the water. The company quickly worked to clean up the spill.
Later, in 2023, the company had to pay money because of this event. They paid for the rubber pieces that went into the river. These pieces, made from old tires, can be harmful to fish if eaten. The rubber traveled far down the river. The company also had to pay fines to the state for polluting the river.
In 2020, the company also built a rock wall that was supposed to be removed in 2021. A court ordered the company in February 2024 to remove part of this rock wall during the summer. The court decided that this barrier was harming important fish like steelhead trout, Chinook salmon, and bull trout. These fish are protected by a law called the Endangered Species Act.
