Lower Monumental Lock and Dam

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Lower Monumental Dam and the Snake River from the southwest, looking northeast, upstream.

Lower Monumental Lock and Dam is a hydroelectric, concrete, gravity dam on the Snake River, and bridges Franklin County and Walla Walla County, in the state of Washington. The dam is located six miles (10 km) south of the town of Kahlotus, and 43 miles (69 km) north of the town of Walla Walla.

Construction began in June 1961. The main structure and three generators were completed in 1969, with an additional three generators finished in 1981. Generating capacity is 810 megawatts, with an overload capacity of 932 MW. The spillway has eight gates and is 572 feet (176 m) long.

Lower Monumental Dam is part of the Columbia River Basin system of dams.

Lower Monumental Dam with the lock in the center of the river (far side in photo), the power generation on the northwest side of the river, and spillway in the middle of the dam, between the powerhouse and the lock.

Lake Herbert G. West, which extends 28 miles (45 km) east to the base of Little Goose Dam, is formed behind the dam. Lake Sacajawea, formed from Ice Harbor Dam, runs 35 miles (56 km) southwest, downstream from the base of the dam.

Stats:

• Location: 46.5623627 -118.5374856
  ( 46°33′44″N, 118°32′14″W)
• Altitude: 545 feet (166 m) above sea level
• Height: 100 feet (30 m)
• Length: 3,791 feet (1,155 m)
• Navigation lock:
  • Single-lift
  • 86 feet (26 m) wide
  • 666 feet (203 m) long
• Powerhouse
  • Six 135-megawatt units [1]

Columbia River Basin

[edit] External links

• Lower Monumental Lock & Dam @ US Army Corps of Engineers

• Lower Monumental Lock and Dam is at coordinates 46°33′45″N 118°32′15″W / 46.5623627, -118.5374856 (Lower Monumental Lock and Dam)Coordinates: 46°33′45″N 118°32′15″W / 46.5623627, -118.5374856 (Lower Monumental Lock and Dam)