Links

Plans

Grand Coulee Dams plans were started in 1904. But it wasn't started until December 1933. The plan was first proposed by attorney William M. Clapp in 1917. This project was started by the US Bureau of Reclamation. The dam was both built and designed by them. $377,000 was committed to the project and $63 million was promised. The dam was the cheif engineering feature of the Columbia Basin Project. The dam was designed to provide irrigaion. It is the greatest single source of water power in the US.

Construction

Grand Coulee Dam sits across the Columbia River, 90 miles. It is also behind Franklin D. Roosevelt Lake. According to the World Book Encyclopedia, the dam is 5,223 feet long, it has a 500 feet thick base, and is 550 feet high. Grand Coulee is abut 12 million cubic yards of concrete. Grand Coulee dam is the largest concrete dam in North America. The dam has three power plants. Three plants, house 24 main generators and three smaller generators. The total generating capacity is 6,494,000 kilowatts.

Today

Grand Coulee Dam is now like the eighth world wonder. The dam is a very tourist place. Many people go for the wonderful sight of the dam. But they also go for the hunting and fishing. Fishing is permitted all year! Lake Roosevelt is the Columbia River backed up behind the dam. It is over 150 miles long, 630 miles of shore lines. A wonderful place for friends and family! The dam has a vistiors center that is opened daily from 9am to 5pm. There is also tours to see the 3rd power house everyday and 10am, 12pm, 2pm, and 4pm.

 

Bibliography

Pritchett, Edward C. "Grand Coulee Dam."World Book. 2002 ed. 2002.

"The GCD Area Chamber." Grand Coulee Dam. 2008. 6 Mar 2008 <http://www.grandcouleedam.org/>.

Hubbard, Charles. "Grand Coulee Dam Columbia Basin Project." 27 Jan 1997. 11 Mar 2008 <http://users.owt.com/chubbard/gcdam/>.

 

 

 

 

Created by Narda Covarrubias