List of dams in the Columbia River watershed


There are more than 60 dams in the Columbia River watershed in the United States and Canada. Tributaries of the Columbia River and their dammed tributaries, as well as the main stem itself, each have their own list below. The dams are listed in the order as they are found from source to terminus. Many of the dams in the Columbia River watershed were not created for the specific purposes of water storage or flood protection. Instead, the primary purpose of many of these dams is to produce hydroelectricity. As can be seen in the lists, these dams provide many tens of gigawatts of power.
Major dam construction began in the early 20th century and picked up the pace after the Columbia River Treaty in the 1960s, by the mid 1980s all the big dams were finished. Including just the dams listed below, there are 60 dams in the watershed, with 14 on the Columbia, 20 on the Snake, seven on the Kootenay, seven on the Pend Oreille / Clark, two on the Flathead, eight on the Yakima, and two on the Owyhee. Averaging a major dam every, the rivers in the Columbia watershed combine to generate over 36,000 megawatts of power, with the majority coming on the main stem. Grand Coulee Dam is the largest producer of hydroelectric power in the United States, generating 6,809 megawatts, over one-sixth of all power in the basin.
In addition to providing ample power for the people of the Pacific Northwest, the reservoirs created by the dams have created numerous recreational opportunities, including fishing, boating, and windsurfing. Furthermore, by creating a constant flow and consistent depth along the river channel, the series of locks and dams have allowed for Lewiston, Idaho, to become the furthest inland seaport on the west coast of the United States. Despite the numerous benefits to humans that the dams have provided, a number of environmental consequences have manifested as a result of the dams, including a negative impact on salmonid populations of the basin.
The organization of the following lists begins with the Columbia River dams and is followed by dams on its tributaries and their respective watersheds. Additionally, the table of contents below is indented to indicate tributary status of each river.

Main stem [Columbia River] dams

Dams are listed in order from headwater to mouth.
NameHeightCapacity Province/StateCoordinatesYear of completionOwnerReservoir formedImage
Mica Dam2,8051973BC HydroKinbasket Lake
Revelstoke Dam2,4801984BC HydroRevelstoke Lake
Keenleyside Dam1851968BC HydroRaised Arrow Lakes
Grand Coulee Dam6,8091941 / 1974 USBRFranklin D. Roosevelt Lake
Chief Joseph Dam2,6201955USACERufus Woods Lake
Wells Dam8401967Douglas PUDLake Pateros
Rocky Reach Dam1,2871961Chelan PUDLake Entiat
Rock Island Dam6601933Chelan PUDRock Island Pool
Wanapum Dam1,0921963Grant PUDLake Wanapum
Priest Rapids Dam955.61961Grant PUDPriest Rapids Lake
McNary Dam1,133 /
border
1954USACELake Wallula
John Day Dam2,485 /
border
1971USACELake Umatilla
The Dalles Dam2,038 /
border
1957USACELake Celilo
Bonneville Dam1,190 /
border
1937 / 1981 USACELake Bonneville

[Snake River] dams

Dams are listed in order from headwater to mouth Columbia River, WA.
NameHeightCapacity Province/StateCoordinatesYear of completionOwnerReservoir formedImage
Jackson Lake Dam01911 / 1916 / 1989USBRJackson Lake
Palisades Dam176.61957USBRPalisades Reservoir
Gem State Dam22.61982City of Idaho Falls
American Falls Dam112.41927 / 1978USBRAmerican Falls Reservoir
Minidoka Dam28.51909-1942USBRLake Walcott
Milner Dam59.51905Milner Dam, Inc.Milner Lake
Twin Falls Dam52.91935 / 1995Idaho Power CompanyTwin Falls Reservoir
Shoshone Falls Dam641907Idaho Power CompanyShoshone Falls Reservoir
Upper Salmon Falls Dam34.51937 / 1947Idaho Power CompanyUpper Salmon Falls Reservoir
Lower Salmon Falls Dam601910 / 1949Idaho Power CompanyLower Salmon Falls Reservoir
Bliss Dam751950Idaho Power CompanyBliss Reservoir
C. J. Strike Dam82.81952Idaho Power CompanyC. J. Strike Reservoir
Swan Falls Dam251901Idaho Power CompanySwan Falls Reservoir
Brownlee Dam585 /
border
1959 / 1980Idaho Power CompanyBrownlee Reservoir
Oxbow Dam220 /
border
1961Idaho Power CompanyOxbow Reservoir
Hells Canyon Dam450 /
border
1967Idaho Power CompanyHells Canyon Reservoir
Lower Granite Dam9321975 / 1987 USACELower Granite Lake
Little Goose Dam9321970USACELake Bryan
Lower Monumental Dam9301969USACELake Herbert G. West
Ice Harbor Dam6931961 / 1976 USACELake Sacajawea

Salmon River">Salmon River (Idaho)">Salmon River dams

[Little Salmon River] dams
Dams are listed in order from headwater to mouth
NameHeightCapacity Province/StateCoordinatesYear of completionOwnerReservoir formedImage
Goose Lake Dam 01924Ca Campbell CompanyGoose Lake
Brundage Dam 01989Brundage Reservoir CompanyBrundage Reservoir

[Owyhee River] dams

Dams are listed in order from headwater to mouth
NameHeightCapacity Province/StateCoordinatesYear of completionOwnerReservoir formedImage
Wild Horse Dam01937 / 1969BIAWild Horse Reservoir
Antelope Reservoir Dam 01923Jordan Valley Irrigation DistrictAntelope Reservoir
Owyhee Dam5,8,21932USBRLake Owyhee
[South Fork Owyhee River] dams
Dams are listed in order from headwater to mouth
NameHeightCapacity Province/StateCoordinatesYear of completionOwnerReservoir formedImage
Wilson Reservoir Dam 0Petan CompanyWilson Reservoir
Bull Run Dam 0Petan CompanyBull Run Reservoir
Dry Creek Dam 0Petan CompanyDry Creek Reservoir
Rawhide Reservoir Dam 0Petan CompanyRawhide Reservoir
Sheep Creek Dam 01966United States Bureau of Indian Affairs, Shoshone and Paiute TribesSheep Creek Reservoir
Chimney Creek Dam 0Roaring Springs AssociatesDesert Ranch Reservoir

[Malheur River] dams

Dams are listed in order from headwater to mouth
NameHeightCapacity Province/StateCoordinatesYear of completionOwnerReservoir formedImage
Warm Springs Damproposed 2.71919United States Bureau of ReclamationWarm Springs Reservoir
Agency Valley Dam proposed 2.01935United States Bureau of ReclamationBeulah Reservoir
Harper Diversion Dam01930United States Bureau of ReclamationHarper Diversion Pool
Bully Creek Dam 01963United States Bureau of ReclamationBully Creek Reservoir
Bully Creek Diversion Dam 01964United States Bureau of ReclamationBully Creek Diversion Pool
Willow Creek Reservoir #3 Dam 01944Orchard Water CompanyMalheur Reservoir

[Grande Ronde River] dams

[Wallowa River] dams
Dams are listed in order from headwater to mouth
NameHeightCapacity Province/StateCoordinatesYear of completionOwnerReservoir formedImage
Wallowa Lake Dam01931Associated Ditch CompaniesRaised Wallowa Lake

Powder River">Powder River (Oregon)">Powder River dams

Dams are listed in order from headwater to mouth
NameHeightCapacity Province/StateCoordinatesYear of completionOwnerReservoir formedImage
Mason Damproposed 3.41968United States Bureau of ReclamationPhilips Lake
Thief Valley Dam01932United States Bureau of ReclamationThief Valley Reservoir

Blackfoot River">Blackfoot River (Idaho)">Blackfoot River dams

Dams are listed in order from headwater to mouth
NameHeightCapacity Province/StateCoordinatesYear of completionOwnerReservoir formedImage
Blackfoot Dam01911United States Bureau of Indian AffairsBlackfoot Reservoir

Henrys Fork">Henrys Fork (Snake River)">Henrys Fork dams

Dams are listed in order from headwater to mouth
NameHeightCapacity Province/StateCoordinatesYear of completionOwnerReservoir formedImage
Henrys Lake Dam01923North Fork Reservoir CompanyRaised Henrys Lake
Island Park Dam4.81938United States Bureau of ReclamationIsland Park Reservoir
Buffalo River Dam 0.251980Fall River Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc.Buffalo Dam Pool
Ashton Dam6.851913PacifiCorpAshton Dam Lake
Chester Dam 3.31938Fremont-Madison Irrigation DistrictChester Dam Pool
Fall River">Fall River (Wyoming, Idaho)">Fall River dams
Dams are listed in order from headwater to mouth
NameHeightCapacity Province/StateCoordinatesYear of completionOwnerReservoir formedImage
Grassy Lake Dam 01939United States Bureau of ReclamationGrassy Lake

Portneuf River">Portneuf River (Idaho)">Portneuf River dams

Dams are listed in order from headwater to mouth
NameHeightCapacity Province/StateCoordinatesYear of completionOwnerReservoir formedImage
Portneuf Dam01912Portneuf-Marsh Valley Canal CompanyChesterfield Reservoir

[Salmon Falls Creek] dams

Dams are listed in order from headwater to mouth
NameHeightCapacity Province/StateCoordinatesYear of completionOwnerReservoir formedImage
Salmon Falls Dam01911Salmon River Canal Company, Ltd.Salmon Falls Creek Reservoir
Cedar Creek Dam 01920Cedar Mesa Reservoir And Canal CompanyCedar Creek Reservoir

[Boise River] dams

Dams are listed in order from headwater to mouth
NameHeightCapacity Province/StateCoordinatesYear of completionOwnerReservoir formedImage
Arrowrock Dam151915United States Bureau of ReclamationArrowrock Reservoir
Lucky Peak Dam101.251955United States Army Corps of EngineersLucky Peak Lake
Boise River Diversion Dam3.31908United States Bureau of ReclamationBoise River Diversion Dam Pool
Barber Dam4.141904Ada County and Fulcrum Inc.Barber Dam Pool
[South Fork Boise River] dams
Dams are listed in order from headwater to mouth
NameHeightCapacity Province/StateCoordinatesYear of completionOwnerReservoir formedImage
Anderson Ranch Dam401947United States Bureau of ReclamationAnderson Ranch Reservoir
Little Camas Dam 01912Mountain Home Irrigation DistrictLittle Camas Reservoir

Goose Creek">Goose Creek (Snake River)">Goose Creek dams

Dams are listed in order from headwater to mouth
NameHeightCapacity Province/StateCoordinatesYear of completionOwnerReservoir formedImage
Oakley Dam01916Oakley Canal CompanyLower Goose Creek Reservoir

[Weiser River] dams

Dams are listed in order from headwater to mouth
NameHeightCapacity Province/StateCoordinatesYear of completionOwnerReservoir formedImage
Lost Valley Dam 01929Lost Valley Reservoir CompanyLost Valley Reservoir
C Ben Ross Dam 01937Little Weiser River Irrigation DistrictBen Ross Reservoir
Crane Creek Dam 01912Crane Creek Reservoir Administration BoardCrane Creek Reservoir
Mann Creek Dam 01967United States Bureau of ReclamationMann Creek Reservoir

Burnt River">Burnt River (Oregon)">Burnt River dams

Dams are listed in order from headwater to mouth
NameHeightCapacity Province/StateCoordinatesYear of completionOwnerReservoir formedImage
Unity Damproposed 0.81938United States Bureau of ReclamationUnity Reservoir

Willow Creek">Willow Creek (Snake River)">Willow Creek dams

Dams are listed in order from headwater to mouth
NameHeightCapacity Province/StateCoordinatesYear of completionOwnerReservoir formedImage
Ririe Dam01977United States Bureau of ReclamationRirie Reservoir

[Payette River] dams

Dams are listed in order from headwater to mouth
NameHeightCapacity Province/StateCoordinatesYear of completionOwnerReservoir formedImage
Black Canyon Diversion Dam10.21924United States Bureau of ReclamationBlack Canyon Reservoir
[North Fork Payette River] dams
Dams are listed in order from headwater to mouth
NameHeightCapacity Province/StateCoordinatesYear of completionOwnerReservoir formedImage
Upper Payette Lake Dam01952Lake Reservoir CompanyUpper Payette Lake
Granite Lake Dam 01963Lake Reservoir CompanyGranite Lake
Payette Lake Dam01943Lake Reservoir CompanyRaised Payette Lake
Little Payette Lake Dam 01926Lake Fork Irrigation DistrictLittle Payette Lake
Cascade Dam12.81948United States Bureau of ReclamationLake Cascade
Sage Hen Dam01938Squaw Creek Irrigation CompanySage Hen Reservoir
Paddock Valley Dam 01949Little Willow Irrigation DistrictPaddock Valley Reservoir
[South Fork Payette River] dams
Dams are listed in order from headwater to mouth
NameHeightCapacity Province/StateCoordinatesYear of completionOwnerReservoir formedImage
Deadwood Dam 01931United States Bureau of ReclamationDeadwood Reservoir

Clearwater River">Clearwater River (Idaho)">Clearwater River dams

[North Fork Clearwater River] dams
Dams are listed in order from headwater to mouth
NameHeightCapacity Province/StateCoordinatesYear of completionOwnerReservoir formedImage
Dworshak Dam4001973Army Corps of EngineersDworshak Reservoir

Malad River">Malad River (Gooding County, Idaho)">Malad River dams

[Big Wood River] dams
Dams are listed in order from headwater to mouth
NameHeightCapacity Province/StateCoordinatesYear of completionOwnerReservoir formedImage
Magic Dam91910Magic Reservoir Hydroelectric, Inc.Magic Reservoir
Camas Creek">Camas Creek (Big Wood River)">Camas Creek
Dams are listed in order from headwater to mouth
NameHeightCapacity Province/StateCoordinatesYear of completionOwnerReservoir formedImage
Mormon Dam 01908Twin Lakes Reservoir and Irrigation CompanyMormon Reservoir
[Little Wood River] dams
Dams are listed in order from headwater to mouth
NameHeightCapacity Province/StateCoordinatesYear of completionOwnerReservoir formedImage
Little Wood River Dam31962United States Bureau of ReclamationLittle Wood Reservoir
Fish Creek Dam 01923Carey Valley Reservoir CompanyFish Creek Reservoir

[Kootenay River] dams

Dams are listed in order from headwater to mouth.
NameHeightCapacity Province/StateCoordinatesYear of completionOwnerReservoir formedImage
Libby Dam6041972USACELake Koocanusa
Corra Linn Dam511932FortisBCraised Kootenay Lake
Upper Bonnington Falls Dam531907FortisBC
Lower Bonnington Falls Dam251925FortisBC
South Slocan Dam571928FortisBC
Kootenay Canal Generating Station5831976BC Hydro
Brilliant Dam2601944 / 2007Columbia Power Corporation

Bull River">Bull River (British Columbia)">Bull River dams

Dams are listed in order from headwater to mouth.
NameHeightCapacity Province/StateCoordinatesYear of completionOwnerReservoir formedImage
Aberfeldie Dam241922 BC HydroAberfeldie Dam Pool

Elk River">Elk River (British Columbia)">Elk River dams

Dams are listed in order from headwater to mouth.
NameHeightCapacity Province/StateCoordinatesYear of completionOwnerReservoir formedImage
Elko Dam121924BC HydroElko Dam Pool

[Duncan River] dams

Dams are listed in order from headwater to mouth.
NameHeightCapacity Province/StateCoordinatesYear of completionOwnerReservoir formedImage
Duncan Dam01967BC Hydroraised Duncan Lake

Mark Creek dams

Dams are listed in order from headwater to mouth.
NameHeightCapacity Province/StateCoordinatesYear of completionOwnerReservoir formedImage
Upper Mark Creek Dam01994City of KimberleyMark Creek Dam Reservoir

[Pend Oreille River] / [Clark Fork River] dams

Dams are listed in order from headwater of Clark Fork River to mouth of Pend Oreille River.

[Flathead River] dams

Dams are listed in order from headwater to mouth.
NameHeightCapacity Province/StateCoordinatesYear of completionOwnerReservoir formedImage
Hungry Horse Dam4281953USBRHungry Horse Reservoir
Seli’š Ksanka Qlispe’ Dam 1881938CSKT's EKI: TribalRaised Flathead Lake

Deschutes River">Deschutes River (Oregon)">Deschutes River dams

Dams are listed in order from headwater to mouth.
NameHeightCapacity Province/StateCoordinatesYear of completionOwnerReservoir formedImage
Crane Prairie Dam01940USBRCrane Prairie Reservoir
Wickiup Dam01949USBRWickiup Reservoir
Round Butte Dam247.121964Portland General Electric Company, Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of OregonLake Billy Chinook
Pelton Dam100.81957Portland General Electric Company, Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of OregonLake Simtustus
Pelton Reregulating Dam18.91958Portland General Electric Company, Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon

[Yakima River] dams

Dams are listed in order from headwater to mouth.
NameHeightCapacity Province/StateCoordinatesYear of completionOwnerReservoir formedImage
Keechelus Dam01917USBRRaised Keechelus Lake
Easton Diversion Dam01929USBRLake Easton
Unnamed Diversion Dam0USBR
Roza Diversion Dam121939USBR
Wapato Dam0Wapato Reservoir
Sunnyside Dam01907Sunnyside Valley Irrigation District
Prosser Dam01904USBR
Wannawish Dam01892

[Cle Elum River] dams

Dams are listed in order from headwaters to mouth.
NameHeightCapacity Province/StateCoordinatesYear of completionOwnerReservoir formedImage
Cle Elum Dam01933USBRRaised Cle Elum Lake

[Kachess River] dams

Dams are listed in order from headwaters to mouth.
NameHeightCapacity Province/StateCoordinatesYear of completionOwnerReservoir formedImage
Kachess Dam01912USBRRaised Kachess Lake

[Naches River] dams

[Bumping River] dams
Dams are listed in order from headwaters to mouth.
NameHeightCapacity Province/StateCoordinatesYear of completionOwnerReservoir formedImage
Bumping Lake Dam01910USBRRaised Bumping Lake
[Tieton River] dams
Dams are listed in order from headwaters to mouth.
NameHeightCapacity Province/StateCoordinatesYear of completionOwnerReservoir formedImage
Clear Creek Dam 01915USBRClear Lake
Tieton Dam01925USBRRimrock Lake

[Willamette River] dams

Dams are listed in order from headwaters to mouth
NameHeightCapacity Province/StateCoordinatesYear of completionOwnerReservoir formedImage
Willamette Falls Dam15.181888Portland General Electric

[Santiam River] dams

Dams are listed in order from headwaters to mouth.
NameHeightCapacity Province/StateCoordinatesYear of completionOwnerReservoir formedImage
Big Cliff Dam 181953Army Corps of EngineersBig Cliff Reservoir
Detroit Dam201968Army Corps of EngineersFoster Reservoir
Green Peter Dam 801968Army Corps of EngineersGreen Peter Reservoir

[Middle Fork Willamette River] dams

Dams are listed in order from headwater to mouth.
NameHeightCapacity Province/StateCoordinatesYear of completionOwnerReservoir formedImage
Hills Creek Dam301961USACEHills Creek Reservoir
Lookout Point Dam1501954USACELookout Point Lake
Fall Creek Dam01966USACEFall Creek Reservoir
Dexter Dam151954USACEDexter Reservoir

McKenzie River">McKenzie River (Oregon)">McKenzie River dams

Dams are listed in order from headwater to mouth.
NameHeightCapacity Province/StateCoordinatesYear of completionOwnerReservoir formedImage
Carmen Diversion Dam01963Eugene Water & Electric BoardCarmen Reservoir
Trail Bridge Dam101963Eugene Water & Electric BoardTrail Bridge Reservoir
Smith Dam 104.51963Eugene Water & Electric BoardSmith Reservoir
Cougar Dam 251963Army Corps of EngineersCougar Reservoir
Blue River Dam 01969Army Corps of EngineersBlue River Reservoir
Leaburg Dam15.91929Eugene Water & Electric BoardLeaburg Reservoir
Walterville Dam91911Eugene Water & Electric BoardWalterville Reservoir

[Coast Fork Willamette River] dams

Dams are listed in order from headwater to mouth.
NameHeightCapacity Province/StateCoordinatesYear of completionOwnerReservoir formedImage
Cottage Grove Dam01942USACECottage Grove Lake
Dorena Dam 7.511949USACEDorena Lake

[Spokane River] dams

Dams are listed in order from headwater to mouth.
NameHeightCapacity Province/StateCoordinatesYear of completionOwnerReservoir formedImage
Post Falls Hydroelectric Development151908AvistaRaised Lake Coeur d'Alene
Upriver Dam17.71894 / 1933City of SpokaneUpriver Dam Reservoir
Upper Falls Dam101922AvistaUpper Falls Reservoir
Monroe Street Dam151890Avista
Nine Mile Dam261908AvistaNine Mile Reservoir
Long Lake Dam711915AvistaLong Lake
Little Falls Dam361911AvistaLittle Falls Pool

[Cowlitz River] dams

Dams are listed in order from headwater to mouth
NameHeightCapacity Province/StateCoordinatesYear of completionOwnerReservoir formedImage
Cowlitz Falls Dam701994Lewis County Public Utility DistrictLake Scanewa
Mossyrock Dam3001968Tacoma Public UtilitiesRiffe Lake
Mayfield Dam1621963Tacoma Public UtilitiesLake Mayfield

Lewis River">Lewis River (Washington)">Lewis River dams

Dams are listed in order from headwater to mouth
NameHeightCapacity Province/StateCoordinatesYear of completionOwnerReservoir formedImage
Swift Dam2401958PacifiCorpSwift Reservoir
Swift No. 2 Dam701959Public Utility District No. 1 of Cowlitz County
Yale Dam1341953PacifiCorpYale Lake
Merwin Dam1361931PacifiCorpLake Merwin

[Spillimacheen River] dams

Dams are listed in order from headwater to mouth.
NameHeightCapacity Province/StateCoordinatesYear of completionOwnerReservoir formedImage
Spillimacheen Dam41955BC HydroSpillimacheen Dam Pool

[Wenatchee River] dams

Dams are listed in order from headwater to mouth
NameHeightCapacity Province/StateCoordinatesYear of completionOwnerReservoir formedImage
Tumwater Canyon Dam01909Chelan County Public Utility DistrictLake Jolanda

[Chelan River] dams

Dams are listed in order from headwater to mouth
NameHeightCapacity Province/StateCoordinatesYear of completionOwnerReservoir formedImage
Lake Chelan Dam59.21892–1903 / 1927Chelan County Public Utility DistrictRaised Lake Chelan