View source for Rocky Reach Dam

{{Use American English|date=July 2025}}
{{Infobox dam
| name                 = Rocky Reach Dam
| image                = RockyReachDam.jpg
| image_caption        = 
| name_official        = 
| dam_crosses          = [[Columbia River]]
| res_name             = [[Lake Entiat]]
| location             = [[Chelan County, Washington|Chelan]] / [[Douglas County, Washington|Douglas]] counties, [[Washington (state)|Washington]]
| operator             = [[Chelan County Public Utility District]]
| dam_length           = 
| construction_began   = 1956 (Phase One)<br />1969 (Phase Two)
| opening              = 
| demolished           = 
| cost                 = $273.1 million
| res_capacity_total   = {{convert|382000|acre feet|km3|abbr=on}}
| res_catchment        = 
| res_surface          = 
| plant_turbines       = 11 <ref name=DOE>{{Cite web|url=http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/page/capacity/capacity.html|title = Preliminary Monthly Electric Generator Inventory (Based on Form EIA-860M as a supplement to Form EIA-860) - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)}}</ref>
| plant_capacity       = 1299.6 MW <ref name=DOE/>
| plant_annual_gen     = 
| coordinates          = {{coord|47|32|00|N|120|17|44|W|type:landmark_region:US-WA|display=inline,title}}
| extra                = 
}}
[[File:Juvenile fish bypass.jpg|thumb|right|225px|Army Corps of Engineers illustration of juvenile fish bypass]]
[[File:RockyReachDam-FishLadder.jpg|thumb|right|225px|Salmon ladder below dam]]

'''Rocky Reach Dam''' is a [[run-of-the-river]] [[hydroelectric]] [[dam]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Washington (state)|Washington]] owned and operated by [[Chelan County Public Utility District]]. It has 11 generators rated in total 1300 MW. The project is on the [[Columbia River]] in north central Washington state about {{convert|7|mi|km|spell=in}} upstream from the city of [[Wenatchee, Washington|Wenatchee]]. The dam is {{convert|473|mi|km}} above the mouth of the Columbia. The [[reservoir]] impounded by the dam is [[Lake Entiat]]. The project provides energy for more than 7 million people throughout the [[Pacific Northwest]].

Rocky Reach is nationally recognized for efforts to protect the environment.<ref name=OfficalWEB>
{{cite web
|url= http://www.chelanpud.org/rocky-reach-hydro-project.html
|title= Rocky Reach Hydro Project
|accessdate= 2008-03-13
|publisher= Chelan County [[Public utility district]]
}}</ref> A first-of-its-kind juvenile fish bypass system was completed in 2003 to help young salmon and steelhead on their way to the ocean.<ref>
{{cite web
|url=http://www.fluent.com/about/news/newsletters/01v10i2/a14.htm
|title= Pumps Assist Migrating Salmon on the Columbia River
|work= Fluent NEWS
|accessdate= 2007-10-11
|date= Winter 2001
|publisher= Fluent
|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070912185126/http://www.fluent.com/about/news/newsletters/01v10i2/a14.htm |archivedate = 2007-09-12}}</ref> A major powerhouse upgrade started in 1995 includes new turbines that are more fish friendly.<ref>McKee, C, and G. Rossi, "Rocky Reach Kaplan Turbines: Development of Fish-Friendly
Runners," Hydropower into the Next Century, Barcelona, Spain, 1995, as cited in www.tva.gov/environment/pdf/rri_aree.pdf.</ref> Improvements to turbines and generators are also designed to improve efficiency and reliability.<ref name=OfficalWEB/>

==Tourism ==
The project is located on the Columbia River on Highway 97A, {{convert|7|mi|km|spell=in}} north of Wenatchee. The visitor center shows films describing the Columbia River. The "Look a Salmon in the Eye" exhibit from (May–September) is a fish viewing room. The Powerhouse includes exhibits on the fourth floor. The Rocky Reach dam is near the [[Lincoln Rock State Park]] a short distance upriver. The Rocky Reach Dam was featured on an episode of [[Discovery Channel]]'s ''[[Dirty Jobs]]'', hosted by [[Mike Rowe]].

==History==
In 1934 the [[United States Army Corps of Engineers]] first reported on the hydroelectric potential of this site. By the 1950s, studies were carried out by the Chelan County P.U.D. for detail design of the project. The present site is about {{convert|1|mi|km|spell=in}} downstream of the site investigated by the Corps of Engineers, due to better conditions for foundations. A preliminary permit was issued in 1954. In 1956 construction of the powerhouse and the first seven generating units began. Four more generators were installed starting in 1969, increasing nameplate capacity to 1287 megawatts. The original project cost was US $273.1 million, financed by bonds sold by the PUD. Project costs included relocation of highways and railroad, land acquisition, and relocation of the town of [[Entiat, Washington|Entiat]]. Repayment of bonds was through revenues from long-term sales contracts between Chelan County Public Utility District and local industrial and distribution customers. The facility has been re-licensed until 2052.<ref name=OfficalWEB/>

The powerhouse now has seven Westinghouse generators and four Allis-Chalmers generators. The turbines are adjustable-blade [[Kaplan turbine|Kaplan]] type to allow for efficient production of energy at varying water levels. Water flows through each of the first seven turbines at a rate of 116 thousand gallons per second and 145 thousand gallons per second through each of the remaining four turbines.

==See also==
[[File:Pacific Northwest River System.png|thumb|200px|Columbia River Basin]]
{{Portal|United States|Water|Renewable energy}}
*[[List of dams in the Columbia River watershed]]
*[[Hydroelectric dams on the Columbia River]]
*[[List of reservoirs and dams in the United States]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.chelanpud.org/rocky-reach-hydro-project.html Rocky Reach Dam Website]

{{Chelan County PUD Hydro Projects}}
{{Columbia River dams |dam=Rocky Reach Dam| downriver=[[Rock Island Dam]]|upriver=[[Wells Dam]]}}
{{Crossings navbox
|structure       = [[List of crossings of the Columbia River|Crossings]]
|place           = [[Columbia River]]
|bridge          = Rocky Reach Dam
|bridge signs    =
|upstream        = [[Beebe Bridge]]
|upstream signs  =
|downstream      = [[Richard Odabashian Bridge]]
|downstream signs = }}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Buildings and structures in Chelan County, Washington]]
[[Category:Dams on the Columbia River]]
[[Category:Dams in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Douglas County, Washington]]
[[Category:Hydroelectric power plants in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:United States local public utility dams]]
[[Category:Dams completed in 1969]]
[[Category:Energy infrastructure completed in 1956]]
[[Category:Energy infrastructure completed in 1969]]
[[Category:Gravity dams]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Chelan County, Washington]]