21 – Hells Canyon Dam

Hells Canyon Dam, the third and final hydroelectric dam in the Hells Canyon Project, is a concrete gravity dam located on the Snake River along the Idaho-Oregon border, impounding Hells Canyon Reservoir. [1, 2, 3]

Key Features and Details: [1, 2]

• Location: Mile 247.0 of the Snake River, on the IdahoOregon border. [1, 2]
• Purpose: Part of the Hells Canyon Project, which aims to generate electricity, create reservoirs for irrigation and flood control. [1, 4]
• Construction: Completed in 1967 by Idaho Power Company as the last of three hydroelectric dams in the Hells Canyon Complex. [1, 4]
• Other Dams in the Complex: Brownlee Dam and Oxbow Dam. [1, 3, 4]
• Height: Approximately 350 feet tall. [2]
• Switchyard: The switchyard is built directly on the face of the dam due to the rugged terrain of the canyon. [2]
• Hells Canyon Creek Visitor Center: Located right below the dam, offering information about the area and its history. [3]
• Recreation: The area offers opportunities for fishing in the Hells Creek Reservoir and scenic views of the Snake River. [3, 5]
• Part of the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway: The dam is a major site off the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway. [1]

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More Information

[1] https://traveloregon.com/things-to-do/destinations/parks-forests-wildlife-areas/hells-canyon-dam/

[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKGp_DF8MK8

[3] https://www.allmccall.com/hells_canyon/hells_canyon_dam.php

[4] https://hellscanyon.tours/2024/06/12/a-look-at-the-history-of-hells-canyons-dam-system/

[5] https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/wallowa-whitman/recarea/?recid=51941

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