List of dams in the Columbia River watershed facts for kids

The Columbia River watershed in the United States and Canada is home to over 60 dams. These huge structures are built across rivers. While some dams help store water or prevent floods, most dams in the Columbia River area are built to make hydroelectricity. This is a clean way to create power using the force of flowing water. These dams produce a lot of electricity, enough to power many homes and cities.

Building these major dams started in the early 1900s. Construction really sped up after the Columbia River Treaty in the 1960s. By the mid-1980s, most of the big dams were finished. There are 14 dams on the main Columbia River, 20 on the Snake River, seven on the Kootenay River, seven on the Pend Oreille River/Clark Fork River, two on the Flathead River, eight on the Yakima River, and two on the Owyhee River. On average, there's a major dam every 72 miles (116 km) in the Columbia watershed! Together, these rivers generate over 36,000 megawatts of power. The biggest power producer is Grand Coulee Dam, which makes 6,809 megawatts. That's more than one-sixth of all the power from dams in this entire river system!

These dams provide lots of power for people in the Pacific Northwest. The lakes created by the dams also offer fun activities like fishing, boating, and windsurfing. Plus, the dams and their locks help keep the river deep and flowing smoothly. This allows Lewiston, Idaho, to be a seaport far inland on the west coast of the United States. However, dams also have environmental effects. For example, they can make it harder for salmon to travel up and down the river to lay their eggs.

The lists below show the dams. They start with the dams on the main Columbia River. Then, they list dams on its smaller rivers (called tributaries), ordered by how long those rivers are.

Main stem Columbia River dams

These dams are listed from the river's start (Columbia Lake, British Columbia) to its end (Pacific Ocean, Oregon/Washington).

Name	Height	Capacity (MW)	Province/State(s)	Coordinates	Year of completion	Owner	Reservoir formed	Image
Mica Dam	240 m (790 ft)	2,805	British Columbia	52°04′39″N 118°33′59″W / 52.07750°N 118.56639°W / 52.07750; -118.56639 (Mica Dam)	1973	BC Hydro	Kinbasket Lake
Revelstoke Dam	175 m (574 ft)	2,480	British Columbia	51°02′57″N 118°11′36″W / 51.04917°N 118.19333°W / 51.04917; -118.19333 (Revelstoke Dam)	1984	BC Hydro	Revelstoke Lake
Keenleyside Dam	52 m (171 ft)	185	British Columbia	49°20′18″N 117°46′18″W / 49.33833°N 117.77167°W / 49.33833; -117.77167 (Keenleyside Dam)	1968	BC Hydro	Raised Arrow Lakes
Grand Coulee Dam	550 ft (170 m)	6,809	Washington	47°57′26″N 118°58′39″W / 47.95722°N 118.97750°W / 47.95722; -118.97750 (Grand Coulee Dam)	1941 / 1974	USBR	Franklin D. Roosevelt Lake
Chief Joseph Dam	236 ft (72 m)	2,620	Washington	47°59′42″N 119°38′19″W / 47.99500°N 119.63861°W / 47.99500; -119.63861 (Chief Joseph Dam)	1955	USACE	Rufus Woods Lake
Wells Dam	160 ft (49 m)	840	Washington	47°56′50″N 119°51′51″W / 47.94722°N 119.86417°W / 47.94722; -119.86417 (Wells Dam)	1967	Douglas PUD	Lake Pateros
Rocky Reach Dam	130 ft (40 m)	1,287	Washington	47°31′59″N 120°17′41″W / 47.53306°N 120.29472°W / 47.53306; -120.29472 (Rocky Reach Dam)	1961	Chelan PUD	Lake Entiat
Rock Island Dam	135 ft (41 m)	660	Washington	47°20′33″N 120°05′40″W / 47.34250°N 120.09444°W / 47.34250; -120.09444 (Rock Island Dam)	1933	Chelan PUD	Rock Island Pool
Wanapum Dam	185 ft (56 m)	1,092	Washington	46°52′40″N 119°58′13″W / 46.87778°N 119.97028°W / 46.87778; -119.97028 (Wanapum Dam)	1963	Grant PUD	Lake Wanapum
Priest Rapids Dam	178 ft (54 m)	955.6	Washington	46°38′39″N 119°54′36″W / 46.64417°N 119.91000°W / 46.64417; -119.91000 (Priest Rapids Dam)	1961	Grant PUD	Priest Rapids Lake
McNary Dam	183 ft (56 m)	1,133	Washington /  Oregon border	45°56′07″N 119°17′53″W / 45.93528°N 119.29806°W / 45.93528; -119.29806 (McNary Dam)	1954	USACE	Lake Wallula
John Day Dam	184 ft (56 m)	2,485	Washington /  Oregon border	45°42′57″N 120°41′37″W / 45.71583°N 120.69361°W / 45.71583; -120.69361 (John Day Dam)	1971	USACE	Lake Umatilla
The Dalles Dam	260 ft (79 m)	2,038	Washington /  Oregon border	45°36′50″N 121°08′02″W / 45.61389°N 121.13389°W / 45.61389; -121.13389 (The Dalles Dam)	1957	USACE	Lake Celilo
Bonneville Dam	197 ft (60 m)	1,190	Washington /  Oregon border	45°38′42″N 121°56′27″W / 45.64500°N 121.94083°W / 45.64500; -121.94083 (Bonneville Dam)	1937 / 1981	USACE	Lake Bonneville

Snake River dams

These dams are listed from the river's start (Two Oceans Plateau, Wyoming) to its end (Columbia River, Washington).

Name	Height	Capacity (MW)	Province/State(s)	Coordinates	Year of completion	Owner	Reservoir formed	Image
Jackson Lake Dam	65.5 ft (20.0 m)	0	Wyoming	43°51′30″N 110°35′24″W / 43.85833°N 110.59000°W / 43.85833; -110.59000 (Jackson Lake Dam)	1911 / 1916 / 1989	USBR	Jackson Lake
Palisades Dam	270 ft (82 m)	176.6	Idaho	43°19′59″N 111°12′12″W / 43.33306°N 111.20333°W / 43.33306; -111.20333 (Palisades Dam)	1957	USBR	Palisades Reservoir
American Falls Dam	104 ft (32 m)	112.4	Idaho	42°46′43″N 112°52′35″W / 42.77861°N 112.87639°W / 42.77861; -112.87639 (American Falls Dam)	1927 / 1978	USBR	American Falls Reservoir
Minidoka Dam	86 ft (26 m)	28.5	Idaho	42°40′10″N 113°29′03″W / 42.66944°N 113.48417°W / 42.66944; -113.48417 (Minidoka Dam)	1909-1942	USBR	Lake Walcott
Milner Dam	38 ft (12 m)	59.5	Idaho	42°31′30″N 114°00′35″W / 42.52500°N 114.00972°W / 42.52500; -114.00972 (Milner Dam)	1905	Milner Dam, Inc.	Milner Lake
Twin Falls Dam	25 ft (7.6 m)	52.9	Idaho	42°35′21″N 114°21′20″W / 42.58917°N 114.35556°W / 42.58917; -114.35556 (Twin Falls Dam)	1935 / 1995	Idaho Power Company	Twin Falls Reservoir
Shoshone Falls Dam	16 ft (4.9 m)	64	Idaho	42°35′47″N 114°24′04″W / 42.59639°N 114.40111°W / 42.59639; -114.40111 (Shoshone Falls Dam)	1907	Idaho Power Company	Shoshone Falls Reservoir
Swan Falls Dam	107 ft (33 m)	25	Idaho	43°14′35″N 116°22′46″W / 43.24306°N 116.37944°W / 43.24306; -116.37944 (Swan Falls Dam)	1901	Idaho Power Company	Swan Falls Reservoir
Brownlee Dam	420 ft (130 m)	585	Idaho /  Oregon border	44°50′13″N 116°54′03″W / 44.83694°N 116.90083°W / 44.83694; -116.90083 (Brownlee Dam)	1959 / 1980	Idaho Power Company	Brownlee Reservoir
Oxbow Dam	175 ft (53 m)	220	Idaho /  Oregon border	44°58′15″N 116°50′07″W / 44.97083°N 116.83528°W / 44.97083; -116.83528 (Oxbow Dam)	1961	Idaho Power Company	Oxbow Reservoir
Hells Canyon Dam	330 ft (100 m)	450	Idaho /  Oregon border	45°14′34″N 116°42′05″W / 45.24278°N 116.70139°W / 45.24278; -116.70139 (Hells Canyon Dam)	1967	Idaho Power Company	Hells Canyon Reservoir
Lower Granite Dam	181 ft (55 m)	932	Washington	46°39′40″N 117°25′41″W / 46.66111°N 117.42806°W / 46.66111; -117.42806 (Lower Granite Dam)	1975 / 1987	USACE	Lower Granite Lake
Little Goose Dam	253 ft (77 m)	932	Washington	46°35′13″N 118°01′40″W / 46.58694°N 118.02778°W / 46.58694; -118.02778 (Little Goose Dam)	1970	USACE	Lake Bryan
Lower Monumental Dam	152 ft (46 m)	930	Washington	46°33′48″N 118°32′20″W / 46.56333°N 118.53889°W / 46.56333; -118.53889 (Lower Monumental Dam)	1969	USACE	Lake Herbert G. West
Ice Harbor Dam	213 ft (65 m)	693	Washington	46°14′58″N 118°52′47″W / 46.24944°N 118.87972°W / 46.24944; -118.87972 (Ice Harbor Dam)	1961 / 1976	USACE	Lake Sacajawea

Owyhee River dams

These dams are listed from the river's start (near Double Mountain, Nevada) to its end (Snake River, Oregon/Idaho).

Name	Height	Capacity (MW)	Province/State(s)	Coordinates	Year of completion	Owner	Reservoir formed	Image
Wild Horse Dam	114 ft (35 m)	0	Nevada	41°41′14″N 115°50′43″W / 41.68722°N 115.84528°W / 41.68722; -115.84528 (Wild Horse Dam)	1937 / 1969	BIA	Wild Horse Reservoir
Owyhee Dam	417 ft (127 m)	5,8,2	Oregon	43°38′31″N 117°14′33″W / 43.64194°N 117.24250°W / 43.64194; -117.24250 (Owyhee Dam)	1932	USBR	Lake Owyhee

Boise River dams

These dams are listed from the river's start (where the North and Middle Forks of the Boise River meet, Idaho) to its end (Snake River, Idaho/Oregon).

Name	Height	Capacity (MW)	Province/State(s)	Coordinates	Year of completion	Owner	Reservoir formed	Image
Arrowrock Dam	350 ft (110 m)	15	Idaho	43°36′0″N 115°55′12″W / 43.60000°N 115.92000°W / 43.60000; -115.92000 (Arrowrock Dam)	1915	United States Bureau of Reclamation	Arrowrock Reservoir
Lucky Peak Dam	340 ft (100 m)	101.25	Idaho	43°31′12″N 116°03′0″W / 43.52000°N 116.05000°W / 43.52000; -116.05000 (Lucky Peak Dam)	1955	United States Army Corps of Engineers	Lucky Peak Lake
Boise River Diversion Dam	68 ft (21 m)	3.3	Idaho	43°31′48″N 116°05′24″W / 43.53000°N 116.09000°W / 43.53000; -116.09000 (Boise River Diversion Dam)	1908	United States Bureau of Reclamation	Boise River Diversion Dam Pool
Barber Dam	25 ft (7.6 m)	4.14	Idaho	43°34′12″N 116°07′12″W / 43.57000°N 116.12000°W / 43.57000; -116.12000 (Barber Dam)	1904	Ada County and Fulcrum Inc.	Barber Dam Pool

South Fork Boise River dams

These dams are listed from the river's start (where Ross Fork and Johnson Creek meet, Idaho) to its end (Boise River, Idaho).

Name	Height	Capacity (MW)	Province/State(s)	Coordinates	Year of completion	Owner	Reservoir formed	Image
Anderson Ranch Dam	456 ft (139 m)	40	Idaho	43°21′36″N 115°26′24″W / 43.36000°N 115.44000°W / 43.36000; -115.44000 (Anderson Ranch Dam)	1947	United States Bureau of Reclamation	Anderson Ranch Reservoir

Payette River dams

These dams are listed from the river's start (where the South and Middle Forks of the Payette River meet, Idaho) to its end (Snake River, Idaho/Oregon).

Name	Height	Capacity (MW)	Province/State(s)	Coordinates	Year of completion	Owner	Reservoir formed	Image
Black Canyon Diversion Dam	183 ft (56 m)	10.2	Idaho	43°52′48″N 116°28′48″W / 43.88000°N 116.48000°W / 43.88000; -116.48000 (Black Canyon Diversion Dam)	1924	United States Bureau of Reclamation	Black Canyon Reservoir

North Fork Payette River dams

These dams are listed from the river's start (Squaw Meadows, Idaho) to its end (Payette River, Idaho).

Name	Height	Capacity (MW)	Province/State(s)	Coordinates	Year of completion	Owner	Reservoir formed	Image
Cascade Dam	107 ft (33 m)	12.8	Idaho	44°31′12″N 116°03′0″W / 44.52000°N 116.05000°W / 44.52000; -116.05000 (Cascade Dam)	1948	United States Bureau of Reclamation	Lake Cascade

South Fork Payette River dams

These dams are listed from the river's start (near Vernon Lake, Idaho) to its end (Payette River, Idaho).

Name	Height	Capacity (MW)	Province/State(s)	Coordinates	Year of completion	Owner	Reservoir formed	Image
Deadwood Dam (Deadwood River)	183 ft (56 m)	0	Idaho	44°17′24″N 115°38′24″W / 44.29000°N 115.64000°W / 44.29000; -115.64000 (Deadwood Dam)	1931	United States Bureau of Reclamation	Deadwood Reservoir

Clearwater River dams

North Fork Clearwater River dams

These dams are listed from the river's start (near Illinois Peak, Idaho/Montana) to its end (Clearwater River, Idaho).

Name	Height	Capacity (MW)	Province/State(s)	Coordinates	Year of completion	Owner	Reservoir formed	Image
Dworshak Dam	717 ft (219 m)	400	Idaho	46°30′N 116°18′W / 46.500°N 116.300°W / 46.500; -116.300 (Dworshak Dam)	1973	Army Corps of Engineers	Dworshak Reservoir

Kootenay River dams

These dams are listed from the river's start (near Castle Mountain, Beaverfoot Range, British Columbia) to its end (Columbia River, British Columbia).

Name	Height	Capacity (MW)	Province/State(s)	Coordinates	Year of completion	Owner	Reservoir formed	Image
Libby Dam	420 ft (130 m)	604	Montana	48°24′37″N 115°18′52″W / 48.41028°N 115.31444°W / 48.41028; -115.31444 (Libby Dam)	1972	USACE	Lake Koocanusa
Corra Linn Dam	16 m (52 ft)	51	British Columbia	49°28′04″N 117°28′02″W / 49.46778°N 117.46722°W / 49.46778; -117.46722 (Corra Linn Dam)	1932	FortisBC	raised Kootenay Lake
Lower Bonnington Falls Dam	21 m (69 ft)	25	British Columbia	49°27′39″N 117°29′59″W / 49.46083°N 117.49972°W / 49.46083; -117.49972 (Lower Bonnington Falls Dam)	1925	FortisBC
South Slocan Dam	18 m (59 ft)	57	British Columbia	49°27′20″N 117°31′11″W / 49.45556°N 117.51972°W / 49.45556; -117.51972 (South Slocan Dam)	1928	FortisBC
Kootenay Canal Generating Station	84 m (276 ft)	583	British Columbia	49°27′10″N 117°31′02″W / 49.45278°N 117.51722°W / 49.45278; -117.51722 (Kootenay Canal Generating Station)	1976	BC Hydro
Brilliant Dam	42.6 m (140 ft)	260	British Columbia	49°19′29″N 117°37′12″W / 49.32472°N 117.62000°W / 49.32472; -117.62000 (Brilliant Dam)	1944 / 2007	Columbia Power Corporation

Duncan River dams

These dams are listed from the river's start (near Mount Dawson) to its end (Kootenay River, British Columbia).

Name	Height	Capacity (MW)	Province/State(s)	Coordinates	Year of completion	Owner	Reservoir formed	Image
Duncan Dam	130 ft (40 m)	0	British Columbia	50°15′0″N 116°56′47″W / 50.25000°N 116.94639°W / 50.25000; -116.94639 (Duncan Dam)	1967	BC Hydro	raised Duncan Lake

Pend Oreille River / Clark Fork River dams

These dams are listed from the start of the Clark Fork River (Silver Bow Creek, Montana) to the end of the Pend Oreille River (Columbia River, British Columbia).

Name	Height	Capacity (MW)	Province/State(s)	Coordinates	Year of completion	Owner	Reservoir formed	Image
Clark Fork
Thompson Falls Dam	110 ft (34 m)	94	Montana	47°35′28″N 115°21′03″W / 47.59111°N 115.35083°W / 47.59111; -115.35083 (Thompson Falls Dam)	1915	Northwestern Energy	Thompson Falls Reservoir
Noxon Rapids Dam	260 ft (79 m)	527	Montana	47°57′39″N 115°44′01″W / 47.96083°N 115.73361°W / 47.96083; -115.73361 (Noxon Rapids Dam)	1959	Avista Corp.	Noxon Reservoir
Cabinet Gorge Dam	208 ft (63 m)	255	Idaho	48°05′08″N 116°03′27″W / 48.08556°N 116.05750°W / 48.08556; -116.05750 (Cabinet Gorge Dam)	1952	Avista Corp.	Cabinet Gorge Reservoir
Pend Oreille
Albeni Falls Dam	90 ft (27 m)	42	Idaho	48°10′48″N 116°59′59″W / 48.18000°N 116.99972°W / 48.18000; -116.99972 (Albeni Falls Dam)	1955	USACE	Raised Lake Pend Oreille 11.5 ft (3.5 m)
Box Canyon Dam	62 ft (19 m)	90	Washington	48°46′49″N 117°24′46″W / 48.78028°N 117.41278°W / 48.78028; -117.41278 (Box Canyon Dam)	1956	Pend Oreille PUD	Box Canyon Reservoir
Boundary Dam	340 ft (100 m)	1,040	Washington	48°59′13″N 117°20′53″W / 48.98694°N 117.34806°W / 48.98694; -117.34806 (Boundary Dam)	1967	Seattle City Light	Boundary Lake
Seven Mile Dam	79.2 m (260 ft)	848	British Columbia	49°01′49″N 117°30′13″W / 49.03028°N 117.50361°W / 49.03028; -117.50361 (Seven Mile Dam)	1979	BC Hydro
Waneta Dam	75.9 m (249 ft)	450	British Columbia	49°00′14″N 117°36′42″W / 49.00389°N 117.61167°W / 49.00389; -117.61167 (Waneta Dam)	1954	BC Hydro, Teck Resources
Waneta Dam Expansion	75.9 m (249 ft)	335	British Columbia	49°00′14″N 117°36′42″W / 49.00389°N 117.61167°W / 49.00389; -117.61167 (Waneta Dam Expansion)	2015	FortisBC

Flathead River dams

These dams are listed from the river's start (where the North Fork and Middle Fork Flathead Rivers meet) to its end (Clark Fork River).

Name	Height	Capacity (MW)	Province/State(s)	Coordinates	Year of completion	Owner	Reservoir formed	Image
Hungry Horse Dam	564 ft (172 m)	428	Montana	48°20′28″N 114°00′47″W / 48.34111°N 114.01306°W / 48.34111; -114.01306 (Hungry Horse Dam)	1953	USBR	Hungry Horse Reservoir
Seli’š Ksanka Qlispe’ Dam (Kerr Dam)	205 ft (62 m)	188	Montana	47°40′38″N 114°14′02″W / 47.67722°N 114.23389°W / 47.67722; -114.23389 (Seli’š Ksanka Qlispe’ Dam)	1938	Energy Keepers, Inc.	Raised Flathead Lake 10 ft (3.0 m)

Deschutes River dams

These dams are listed from the river's start (Little Lava Lake, Oregon) to its end (Columbia River, Washington/Oregon).

Name	Height	Capacity (MW)	Province/State(s)	Coordinates	Year of completion	Owner	Reservoir formed	Image
Round Butte Dam	440 ft (130 m)	247.12	Oregon	44°36′0″N 121°16′12″W / 44.60000°N 121.27000°W / 44.60000; -121.27000 (Round Butte Dam)	1964	Portland General Electric Company, Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon	Lake Billy Chinook
Pelton Dam	204 ft (62 m)	100.8	Oregon	44°41′24″N 121°13′48″W / 44.69000°N 121.23000°W / 44.69000; -121.23000 (Pelton Dam)	1957	Portland General Electric Company, Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon	Lake Simtustus

Yakima River dams

These dams are listed from the river's start (Keechelus Lake, Washington) to its end (Columbia River, Washington).

Name	Height	Capacity (MW)	Province/State(s)	Coordinates	Year of completion	Owner	Reservoir formed	Image
Keechelus Dam	128 ft (39 m)	0	Washington	47°19′20″N 121°20′22″W / 47.32222°N 121.33944°W / 47.32222; -121.33944 (Keechelus Dam)	1917	USBR	Raised Keechelus Lake
Easton Diversion Dam	66 ft (20 m)	0	Washington	47°14′30″N 121°11′17″W / 47.24167°N 121.18806°W / 47.24167; -121.18806 (Easton Diversion Dam)	1929	USBR	Lake Easton
Roza Diversion Dam	67 ft (20 m)	12	Washington	46°44′56″N 120°27′56″W / 46.74889°N 120.46556°W / 46.74889; -120.46556 (Roza Dam)	1939	USBR
Wapato Dam	19 ft (5.8 m)	0	Washington	46°31′27″N 120°28′37″W / 46.52417°N 120.47694°W / 46.52417; -120.47694 (Wapato Dam)			Wapato Reservoir
Sunnyside Dam	8 ft (2.4 m)	0	Washington	46°29′52″N 120°26′41″W / 46.49778°N 120.44472°W / 46.49778; -120.44472 (Sunnyside Dam)	1907	Sunnyside Valley Irrigation District
Prosser Dam	9 ft (2.7 m)	0	Washington	46°12′45″N 119°46′22″W / 46.21250°N 119.77278°W / 46.21250; -119.77278 (Prosser Dam)	1904	USBR
Wannawish Dam	6.6 ft (2.0 m)	0	Washington	46°22′43″N 119°25′02″W / 46.37861°N 119.41722°W / 46.37861; -119.41722 (Horn Rapids/Wannawish Dam)	1892

Cle Elum River dams

These dams are listed from the river's start (near Mount Daniel, Washington) to its end (Yakima River, Washington).

Name	Height	Capacity (MW)	Province/State(s)	Coordinates	Year of completion	Owner	Reservoir formed	Image
Cle Elum Dam	165 ft (50 m)	0	Washington	47°14′49″N 121°4′23″W / 47.24694°N 121.07306°W / 47.24694; -121.07306 (Cle Elum Dam)	1933	USBR	Raised Cle Elum Lake

Kachess River dams

These dams are listed from the river's start (Three Queens, Washington) to its end (Yakima River, Washington).

Name	Height	Capacity (MW)	Province/State(s)	Coordinates	Year of completion	Owner	Reservoir formed	Image
Kachess Dam	115 ft (35 m)	0	Washington	47°15′53″N 121°12′9″W / 47.26472°N 121.20250°W / 47.26472; -121.20250 (Kachess Dam)	1912	USBR	Raised Kachess Lake

Naches River dams

Tieton River dams

These dams are listed from the river's start (Goat Rocks, Washington) to its end (Naches River, Washington).

Name	Height	Capacity (MW)	Province/State(s)	Coordinates	Year of completion	Owner	Reservoir formed	Image
Tieton Dam	319 ft (97 m)	0	Washington	46°39′26″N 121°7′41″W / 46.65722°N 121.12806°W / 46.65722; -121.12806 (Tieton Dam)	1925	USBR	Rimrock Lake

Willamette River dams

These dams are listed from the river's start (where the Middle Fork Willamette River and Coast Fork Willamette River meet, Oregon/Washington) to its end (Columbia River, Oregon).

Name	Height	Capacity (MW)	Province/State(s)	Coordinates	Year of completion	Owner	Reservoir formed	Image
Willamette Falls Dam	20 ft (6.1 m)	15.18	Oregon	45°21′11″N 122°37′04″W / 45.35306°N 122.61778°W / 45.35306; -122.61778 (Willamette Falls Dam)	1888	Portland General Electric

Santiam River dams

These dams are listed from the starts of each fork (North Santiam and South Santiam rivers) to where they meet. There are no dams between this meeting point and the Santiam's end (Willamette River, Oregon).

Name	Height	Capacity (MW)	Province/State(s)	Coordinates	Year of completion	Owner	Reservoir formed	Image
North Santiam
Detroit Dam	463 ft (141 m)	100	Oregon	44°43′18″N 122°15′01″W / 44.72167°N 122.25028°W / 44.72167; -122.25028 (Detroit Dam)	1953	Army Corps of Engineers	Detroit Reservoir
Big Cliff Dam	191 ft (58 m)	18	Oregon	44°45′03″N 122°16′59″W / 44.75083°N 122.28306°W / 44.75083; -122.28306 (Big Cliff Dam)	1953	Army Corps of Engineers	Big Cliff Reservoir (helps control water from Detroit Reservoir)
South Santiam
Green Peter Dam	327 ft (100 m)	80	Oregon	44°27′00″N 122°32′57″W / 44.45000°N 122.54917°W / 44.45000; -122.54917 (Green Peter Dam)	1968	Army Corps of Engineers	Green Peter Reservoir
Foster Dam	126 ft (38 m)	20	Oregon	44°24′55″N 122°40′13″W / 44.41528°N 122.67028°W / 44.41528; -122.67028 (Foster Dam)	1968	Army Corps of Engineers	Foster Reservoir (helps control water from Green Peter Reservoir)

Middle Fork Willamette River dams

These dams are listed from the river's start (Timpanogas Lake, Oregon) to its end (Willamette River, Oregon).

Name	Height	Capacity (MW)	Province/State(s)	Coordinates	Year of completion	Owner	Reservoir formed	Image
Hills Creek Dam	304 ft (93 m)	30	Oregon	43°42′33″N 122°25′26″W / 43.70917°N 122.42389°W / 43.70917; -122.42389 (Hills Creek Dam)	1961	USACE	Hills Creek Reservoir
Lookout Point Dam	276 ft (84 m)	150	Oregon	43°54′48″N 122°45′09″W / 43.91333°N 122.75250°W / 43.91333; -122.75250 (Lookout Point Dam)	1954	USACE	Lookout Point Lake
Dexter Dam	93 ft (28 m)	15	Oregon	43°55′22″N 122°48′23″W / 43.92278°N 122.80639°W / 43.92278; -122.80639 (Dexter Dam)	1954	USACE	Dexter Reservoir

Spokane River dams

These dams are listed from the river's start (Lake Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) to its end (Columbia River, Washington).

Name	Height	Capacity (MW)	Province/State(s)	Coordinates	Year of completion	Owner	Reservoir formed	Image
Post Falls Dam	64 ft (20 m)	15	Idaho	47°42′31″N 116°57′13″W / 47.70861°N 116.95361°W / 47.70861; -116.95361 (Post Falls Hyrdoelectric Development)	1908	Avista	Raised Lake Coeur d'Alene
Upriver Dam		17.7	Washington	47°41′09″N 117°19′43″W / 47.68583°N 117.32861°W / 47.68583; -117.32861 (Upright Dam)	1894 / 1933	City of Spokane	Upriver Dam Reservoir
Upper Falls Dam	35 ft (11 m)	10	Washington	47°39′46″N 117°24′55″W / 47.66278°N 117.41528°W / 47.66278; -117.41528 (Upper Falls Dam)	1922	Avista	Upper Falls Reservoir
Monroe Street Dam	24 ft (7.3 m)	15	Washington	47°39′42″N 117°25′31″W / 47.66167°N 117.42528°W / 47.66167; -117.42528 (Monroe Street Dam)	1890	Avista
Nine Mile Dam	58 ft (18 m)	26	Washington	47°46′30″N 117°32′38″W / 47.77500°N 117.54389°W / 47.77500; -117.54389 (Nine Mile Dam)	1908	Avista	Nine Mile Reservoir
Long Lake Dam	213 ft (65 m)	71	Washington	47°50′14″N 117°50′23″W / 47.83722°N 117.83972°W / 47.83722; -117.83972 (Long Lake Dam)	1915	Avista	Long Lake
Little Falls Dam	57 ft (17 m)	36	Washington	47°49′57″N 117°55′04″W / 47.83250°N 117.91778°W / 47.83250; -117.91778 (Little Falls Dam)	1911	Avista	Little Falls Pool

Cowlitz River dams

These dams are listed from the river's start (where the Ohanapecosh River and Clear Fork of the Cowlitz River meet, Washington) to its end (Columbia River, Washington).

Name	Height	Capacity (MW)	Province/State(s)	Coordinates	Year of completion	Owner	Reservoir formed	Image=
Cowlitz Falls Dam	140 ft (43 m)	70	Washington	46°27′59″N 122°06′33″W / 46.46639°N 122.10917°W / 46.46639; -122.10917 (Cowlitz Falls Dam)	1994	Lewis County Public Utility District	Lake Scanewa
Mossyrock Dam	606 ft (185 m)	300	Washington	46°32′04″N 122°25′29″W / 46.53444°N 122.42472°W / 46.53444; -122.42472 (Mossyrock Dam)	1968	Tacoma Public Utilities	Riffe Lake
Mayfield Dam	250 ft (76 m)	162	Washington	46°30′10″N 122°35′18″W / 46.50278°N 122.58833°W / 46.50278; -122.58833 (Mayfield Dam)	1963	Tacoma Public Utilities	Lake Mayfield

Lewis River dams

These dams are listed from the river's start (Adams Glacier, Mount Adams, Washington) to its end (Columbia River, Washington).

Name	Height	Capacity (MW)	Province/State(s)	Coordinates	Year of completion	Owner	Reservoir formed	Image
Swift Dam	512 ft (156 m)	240	Washington	46°04′48″N 122°12′36″W / 46.08000°N 122.21000°W / 46.08000; -122.21000 (Swift Dam)	1958	PacifiCorp	Swift Reservoir
Yale Dam	323 ft (98 m)	134	Washington	45°58′48″N 122°20′24″W / 45.98000°N 122.34000°W / 45.98000; -122.34000 (Yale Dam)	1953	PacifiCorp	Yale Lake
Merwin Dam	313 ft (95 m)	136	Washington	45°59′24″N 122°28′48″W / 45.99000°N 122.48000°W / 45.99000; -122.48000 (Merwin Dam)	1931	PacifiCorp	Lake Merwin

Chelan River dams

These dams are listed from the river's start (Lake Chelan, Washington) to its end (Columbia River, Washington).

Name	Height	Capacity (MW)	Province/State(s)	Coordinates	Year of completion	Owner	Reservoir formed	Image
Lake Chelan Dam	40 ft (12 m)	59.2	Washington	47°50′04″N 120°00′45″W / 47.83444°N 120.01250°W / 47.83444; -120.01250 (Lake Chelan Dam)	1892–1903 / 1927	Chelan County Public Utility District	Raised Lake Chelan

Images for kids

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  Dams of the Columbia River Basin. Click to view higher resolution and read legend.

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  Hydroelectric generators in the basin sized by capacity. 17 dams on the British Columbia side of Canada-US border not shown.

See also

• List of lakes in Washington (state)
• List of tallest dams in the world
• Dams in the Colorado River system
• List of reservoirs and dams in the United States
• Columbia River Treaty (US–Canadian treaty regulating hydroelectric development)