October, 2025
Ok, back on track here! 🙂 Break time is over! Back to this camping trip to Beacon Rock State Park in Washington.
Let’s go take a look at the Washington State side of the huge Bonneville power dam on the Columbia River. There are TWO dams and powerhouses, hence the “double wide” in the name of this blog post. The two dams together are a major source of electricity hereabouts, for both Washington and Oregon. The older dam is on the Oregon side of the river … the newer dam is on the Washington side of the river … with a spillway in between them that regulates the flow and height of the river.
I’ve been to the Oregon dam on the Columbia, built a long time ago, with access to the dam only from the Oregon side. Access to and information about that dam was limited. So I was interested to find out if I might be able to see a little more of the newer dam on the Washington side of the Columbia River, and learn more. Wow, yes!
I took almost 300 photos today. Eeek. 🙂 I’ll do my best to whittle them down to a reasonable number. I will share my photos of the informational signs, since those signs tell the tale … and then I won’t have to write a script of words to tell the tale. But I also want to share some of my own photos from my visit here. Ok, let’s go take a look!
First up, always, is a map or Google Earth image of the area we’ll be visiting. In the image below, the big RED circle on the left is where I’m camped. The big RED arrow points to the two dams. You can see that I didn’t have far to drive on highway 14 to get where I wanted to go. 🙂
Regarding the image below, from Google Maps, I will explain more down below, but for now … A is the older power-producing dam on the Oregon side of the river. B is the spillway that simply regulates the flow and height of the Columbia River. C is the newer power-producing dam on the Washington side of the river. And D is the locking system for boats heading upriver or downriver … both commercial and pleasure boats. The signage that you’ll see in the photos below in this blog will tell you that C and the water around C didn’t even exist to start with … there was no river up there … it was land, with a town on it! But they dredged it to make more river, and then the town that was on that land was moved. Adding the second dam to this river was a big deal! [Click on photos to enlarge them.]
Ok, let’s go visit this place on the Washington side of the river and the dam that I’ve labeled “C“. See? 🙂
There are more than 60 photos on this blog post. Yikes. So please feel free to read the information that is on the signs that are in my photos, or simply skip on by them. And, if you’d like some relaxing music to listen to while reading along here, quiet guitar … with an image of a small wooden boat on the water in the evening … with candles around … then this might be a video you enjoy. I sure do. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZW5e13UhnVY. I have included two videos below from my visit to the Washington side of the Bonneville Dam … you can turn the sound off temporarily on the guitar music or turn the sound off on my video. I’d suggest turning the sound off on my video!
Ok, let’s go! Let’s take a look at this new Bonneville dam and the power plant.
After entering that 5-6 story administration building above, the route for visitors led across this long ramp, overpass, over the water below.
Signs there told me lots of things. This one told me about the fish ladder.
But I liked my photo of the fish ladder better. 🙂
Another photo below of some of the infrastructure here at this new dam.
Including a closeup of the fish ladder. Notice the curved water stains along the side, created during times of higher water levels.
And here’s a video of the fish ladder. Feel free to turn the sound off on this video if you are listening to that guitar music (or any other music), although the sound of the water in the fish ladder is spectacular. Water is flowing westward, down river … adult spawning fish are swimming eastward, up river, up this ladder.
Below, a quieter part of the channels and canals and waterways here.
The image below is of the initial construction of the base of one of the huge turbine-generators, which you’ll see below.
And now, NOW, let’s get back to my photos from today. Below … I was allowed into a room where I could look out over all eight power turbine-generators that create electricity in this new power station. With current concerns about safety, the signs on the doors said “stay out”. But an employee there saw me looking through a small window and took the time to chat with me … and then she let me in that viewing room. Look at this, below … it is the power station of the new dam on the Washington side of the Columbia River! And I was standing there, trusted not to do harm.
I certainly didn’t do harm! I just took photos.
In fact, I zoomed in on the first turbine-generator, the one closest to me, and into that dark doorway with a white fence in front of it, to find this ….
Zoomers! Power happening! Power that feeds my home and yours. Each turbine-generator produces approximately 60,000,000 watts of power … that’s constant production, not annual, monthly, weekly or daily, or even hourly. Each turbine is producing about 60 million watts of power as each is running, in that moment. The Bonneville “double wide” dam produces more power than any other dam in the USA. In 2025, all 11 power dams in the Columbia River basin produced 44% of the total electricity used in all of the USA, with Bonneville “double wide” producing by far the most of that.
So then on I went through the buildings, taking photos of information signs.
Here are my photos of that channel and the tunnel with the lights … used even in bright sunshine because the tunnel is so dark.
And then … on to yet another building here. This building was designed more for the tourist. The artwork outside was stupendous. Especially here in the Pacific Northwest of the USA, where there are native Orcas who don’t travel outside the islands of the Pacific Northwest.
On both of my boats, over the years, I’ve come across a number of pods of these local, calm, peaceful Orca. They seek fish, to feed themselves, same as many of us do. They are no danger to humans. It was really nice to see this artwork of the Orcas.
And then … into the next building for us! It was again another wonderful place. It shared native fishing practices and how those people respected the fish and cared for the habit of the fish, and still do.
The lower level of that exhibit had a wall with several windows that were built right into the wall of one of the fish ladders.
Photo below … the official fish count of 2024. Hmmm, almost double the number of Sockeye than is usual, but way less Shad than is usual.
And here are two photos looking through those windows at the fish ladder.
There was lots more information in that room (above). But I chose to head back outside and look around at still more things.
Photo below … outside, looking north towards Washington.
Photo below … looking south towards Oregon.
There were a number of rock sculptures and wood carvings around the property. My favorite work was the one below, made of metal.
The US Army Corps of Engineers works in many locations all over the USA. And obviously, they too like to drive big white trucks. 🙂
As I drove west, back towards Beacon Rock State Park, I pulled off the road and snapped the photo below, looking east, upstream. You can see every bit of the center huge spillway and a little bit of the new dam (on the far left), but you can’t see any of the old dam (out of the photo on the right.
These last three photos (below) were at the location where I was standing when I took the photo above. I know that adult fish going UP stream use the fish ladders, but I’d never thought about how the fry (the young fish … or small fry) get DOWN stream, and back to the ocean. These three signs explained some of that, but it also led me to even more questions! I’ll come back up here and learn more tomorrow, then I’ll share that with you folks in the next blog post.
My very best to all of you who read along on my blog. You’re the best. Here’s to all of our travels, wherever they have taken us and wherever they may take us in the future.
Here’s to the US Army Corps of Engineers and all they do for us. And here’s to the employees of Bonneville Power and all they do for us. And here’s to native Tribes, to the people who created such a beautiful world to live in.
Stay tuned for the story about the “small fry” returning to the ocean and how they get DOWN past these sorts of dams. Best wishes everyone!
Wow, super blog post! I need to read the whole thing again. I thought I knew all about Bonneville dam since I used to live not far from there, but your blog shows me so much more, it’s really fascinating. I never knew there were so many power producing dams on the Columbia. Fun stuff. thank you!
LOTS of power producing dams on that Columbia River. You need to get back up here and take a look. 🙂 Thanks, Nevada, really appreciate your comments.
Nevada you beat me again. 🙂 I don’t have any personal experience with the Columbia River, but I’m surely impressed. I’ve looked online and Ann’s info is spot on. The output of just ONE of those turbines is unbelievable to me, but that’s what they do. The people that work there, that built that, and anyone who helps continue to finance that are to be commended and thanked. I heard the Trump folks have criticized the Bonneville organization and reduced their funding. I have a few CONCISE words for the Trump folks, but won’t write them here. I like that metal bird, doesn’t seem to be an eagle, what is it?
Yikes, yes Nebraska, the Trump organization “laid off” or “fired” more than 400 employees of the larger Bonneville power program. A very good friend of mine had recently retired from Bonneville, and reported that those folks who were “laid off” were truly “fired” so they lost all benefits, medical, retirement, everything. AND most of the people who were laid off were the front-line mechanics and technicians, not the managers, so the maintenance of our electrical system is in danger. That friend of mine warned me that in 2 or 3 years all of us west of the Mississippi could be experiencing major power outages. Thanks Trump!
And yet … things like that metal bird sculpture sure make me smile … the work of human beings that add to our lives, that makes me smile. Here’s to that bird, eagle? whatever. Let’s take care of each other.
Great come-back from a week off. 🙂 Tho it sounds like you probably spent MORE time on the garage sale than you would have on this blog. Great blog post! I too have spent time in the area, and all along the Columbia River, especially in the mountains around the river. But I didn’t know half of what you’ve shown us. I really like the info, but I also like the kindness you show to employees of Bonneville who sometimes take some flack for being a BIG business even tho they supply power to all of us. And I like the kindness you show to native people who could teach as many things about caring for this planet. And to the fish. 🙂 We all thank you.
Oh that garage sale took HOURS! But I ended up with $933 in my pocket and I then didn’t have to load up that “stuff” and drive it to a donation spot.
Kindness. Thanks Steve. It really matters.
The best way is to work together. You are a voice that knows that, that supports that, out of so many voices who don’t. Other readers here too know that and it makes my heart a bit lighter with those words from your friends. Most dams should be removed, but at least this Bonneville dam does provide a way for the young fish to return to sea when most dams do not do that.
Indeed, Mary, I was impressed too that the new, second Bonneville dam provides a way for young fish to return to the sea. I’ve been involved with dam removal projects. But it seems like maybe people are learning. Thank you for your voice.
Great information that I bet most people who visit any dam don’t get. So glad that woman let you in to see the generators, and to be positioned where you could see directly into one of them, while it was spinning! You find the best stuff. But you also talk with people, so they trust you. Seems I think they are busy at their jobs so don’t want to talk with me, and would be upset if I spoke to them. Maybe I’ll re-think that. 🙂
Ruth, I was surprised she let me in too. But yes, I was just being myself, and she was too. So I liked that two “real” human beings connected and found comfort in that.
Don’t think that people are too busy … because they TOO might think they don’t want to bother YOU! When, in fact, they might love to have just a really nice conversation with you, and they would feel really good to know that you want to learn and appreciate what they do. Yep, re-think that. 🙂
Fabulous! I don’t know what that bird is either, an eagle? but that’s not quite right. Hmmm.
I’ve looked online for a description of that bird, Fran. Can’t find anything. I guess it’s just a bird. But it sure is handsome.
I love the music video you shared. I have some temporary pain/injury stuff happening and that music really makes me relax. Don’t know anything about dams, but I sure liked learning. I liked the information about how the second dam was created. I finally figured out that the photo where all of those guys are sitting or standing, they are ON the fins or paddles of a turbine-generator. Those generators are HUGE!! That’s how they each can produce so much power. That was great. 🙂 Thanks.
Kinny, I heard from another friend where I live that he too found a bit of help from relief of pain while listening to that music. I didn’t think about how the music might help that, I just love the music. But I’m really glad it helped.
And YES, those guys were standing/sitting ON the paddles of a turbine. Fascinating stuff yes? 🙂 You’re welcome.
Really great research and visit to that dam, and to/with the people who work there. I learned a lot! Thank you.
You bet Rob. Fair winds.
We heard about the reduction in funding, and a huge reduction in employees, firing them. I think it was the entire Bonneville Power Administration, not just this dam. But it’s troubling that a service, a utility, that is so important to us, and is so cost effective and doesn’t pollute is being reduced. That being said, I really enjoyed your info and photos. We’ve driven the Oregon side of the Columbia but we didn’t stop to see the dam, shoulda woulda. So thanks for taking us there. Now we can say we’ve been there! 🙂
Hi Tim, check out my reply to Nebraska above.
If you and your wife ever get back over here, even by car, do let me know.
There’s so much to see! I’d be happy to help in any way I can.
That is one heck of a dam! Our lake house is on a lake that is really a dammed up river. The dam (I have only been once) was very old, all the buildings were made of red brick, and looked like something that maybe was built with program dollars after WWII. I should go look. One moment while I look that up…well I was wrong…Lake Martin Dam was built between 1923 and 1926! The only other dam of consequence I’ve seen is Hoover Dam out near Las Vegas. We were out there a few years after 9/11 and they had only just started letting people drive across, but they weren’t doing tours yet.
This dam you got to see…wow! That was pretty amazing. Also amazing that an employee let you in to look at parts of it! Cool!
Ah “one heck of a dam”, no kidding Dawn. I’m told there are higher dams, or wider dams, but nothing like these two dams together on the might Columbia River. Interesting about your experience with dams where you are. I hadn’t thought about other dams in the USA that are older. More stuff for me to go see in the future. 🙂