COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN: DAMS AND HYDROELECTRICITY The power of falling water can be converted to hydroelectricity A Powerful River Major mountain ranges and large volumes of river flows into the Pacific—make the Columbia precipitation are the foundation for the Columbia one of the most powerful rivers in North America. River Basin. The large volumes of annual runoff, The entire Columbia River on both sides of combined with changes in elevation—from the the border is one of the most hydroelectrically river’s headwaters at Canal Flats in BC’s Rocky developed river systems in the world, with more Mountain Trench, to Astoria, Oregon, where the than 470 dams on the main stem and tributaries. Two Countries: One River Changing Water Levels Most dams on the Columbia River system were built between Deciding how to release and store water in the Canadian the 1940s and 1980s. They are part of a coordinated water Columbia River system is a complex process. Decision-makers management system guided by the 1964 Columbia River Treaty must balance obligations under the CRT (flood control and (CRT) between Canada and the United States. The CRT: power generation) with regional and provincial concerns such as ecosystems, recreation and cultural values. 1. coordinates flood control 2. optimizes hydroelectricity generation on both sides of the STORING AND RELEASING WATER border. The ability to store water in reservoirs behind dams means water can be released when it’s needed for fisheries, flood control, hydroelectricity, irrigation, recreation and transportation. Managing the River Releasing water to meet these needs influences water levels throughout the year and explains why water levels The Columbia River system includes creeks, glaciers, lakes, change frequently. ponds, reservoirs, rivers, streams and wetlands. It connects hundreds of communities, seven states and two countries. POWER AND WATER LEVELS Decisions about how much water flows, and when, can affect As the need for hydroelectricity increases during the winter communities, upstream and downstream. Canada and the months, water stored in reservoirs behind dams is released. This U.S. manage the trans-boundary Columbia River system by water flows downstream and generates hydroelectricity each coordinating the storage and release of water that is stored in time it passes through a generating station at a dam. Waneta Expansion reservoirs behind dams built in accordance with the CRT. PEAK WATER FLOWS The volume of water in the Columbia River varies seasonally, In the past, this powerful river flooded many times over the depending on the timing and volume of melting snowpack and years, impacting communities and people on both sides of the precipitation. In Canada, the highest flows occur between May border. Today, the Columbia River system is managed to reduce and August; the lowest between December and February. In the the likelihood of major floods. In addition to flood control and U.S., peak flows typically occur between April and June; the hydroelectricity generation, both countries cooperate to manage lowest also occur between December and February. the volume and timing of water flows for other uses, including fisheries, irrigation, recreation and transportation. However to, IT’S A CYCLE gain these benefits and manage flows in the Columbia River, In winter, reservoirs are drawn down and water is released to there were many negative impacts resulting from the creation of meet the need for hydroelectricity. By spring freshet, reservoir large reservoirs throughout the system. levels are much lower and the cycle begins again as melting snowpack refills the reservoirs. Water level information Fortis BC – fortisbc.com BC Hydro – bchydro.com Fish Passage The completion of Grand Coulee Dam in Washington State in 1941 blocked salmon and other species from getting to the upper Columbia River. Fish passage exists on dams downstream from Grand Coulee, with the exception of Chief Joseph Dam, which is now the first barrier for fish heading upstream from the Pacific Ocean. Many dams in the U.S. have fish ladders that enable fish to swim upstream, plus screens or bypass systems, so fish swimming downstream avoid turbines. In Canada, Arrow Lakes Generating Station, Waneta Expansion and Brilliant Expansion will be able to accommodate upstream fish passage in the future. Columbia River Glossary FRESHET A sudden rise in a stream or river due to heavy rain or melting ice or snow. GENERATING STATION A building where electricity is generated. Also known as a powerhouse. GENERATOR A device that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy. HYDROELECTRICITY Electric power generated through Waneta Expansion use of the gravitational force of falling water. KILOWATT HOUR (KWH) Used to express power consumption. One kilowatt hour equals the amount of power a 1,000-watt appliance would use if How Does a Dam Generate Power? kept running for an hour. 1. Water flows into a generating station, also known as a powerhouse, where MEGAWATT (MW) energy from the water is converted into hydroelectricity. Used to express generating 2. A tube, known as a penstock, carries water to the turbine. capacity. One megawatt equals one million watts. 3. The water spins large turbine blades. 4. The spinning turbine blades rotate a turbine shaft. SUBSTATION A building where voltage is The shaft is connected to a generator that spins. 5. transformed from high to low, or 6. The generator rotates and converts mechanical energy into electrical energy. the reverse. 7. Water flows back into the river and continues downstream, where it may repeat TRANSFORMER this cycle many times. Transfers electrical energy from one circuit to another. Melting snow-pack TRANSMISSION eventually flows into lakes and The average household in BC uses The bulk transfer of electrical reservoirs. 10800kwh of hydroelectricity per year. energy from generating stations to Water storage dam substations located near demand centres. Substation TURBINE River feeds A mechanism in a generating into reservoir. station that rotates with the force Transfer of water and is attached to a Substation generator that produces electricity. Generating Station/ WATER STORAGE DAM Powerhouse Water flows into A dam used to collect or store powerhouse. water for later use. Turbine Columbia Wetlands Columbia Basin Trust and Columbia Basin Trust Power Projects Columbia Basin Trust supports the ideas and efforts Together with Columbia Power Corporation, we own of the people in the Columbia Basin. We take our and operate four power projects in the southwestern lead from residents and communities. The Trust Basin: Arrow Lakes Generating Station, Brilliant Dam, is here to offer resources and support to all Basin Brilliant Expansion and Waneta Expansion which is also residents. While our range of services, programs, co-owned by Fortis Inc. initiatives and financial investments is extensive, our purpose is straightforward: we exist and act for the social, economic and environmental well-being of the Basin—now and for generations to come. ourtrust.org/crt C ol u C m o Valemount b lum i Legend BRITISH Kinbasket ALBERTAa COLUMBIA Reservoir Columbia River Treaty Dams Revelstoke Dam bCanadian Dams/Generating Stations 10 R The Columbia MICA DAM i Damsa in the U.S. C Revelstoke i River Basin olu Direction of Water Flow v C R Revelstoke m o Communities The Columbia River Basin is the sixth Reservoir b lum Golden e i i Headwaters of largest river basin by area in North a Columbia Basin Trustv Region Revelstoke Dam b the Columbia River 11 R i r America, and the fourth largest river in Revelstoke a at Columbia Lake. i 14 Columbia River Basin ine Canada v R Invermere North America by volume, surpassed 16 e iv r e r only by the Mississippi, Mackenzie and r Invermere Columbia River Basin in the U.S. Arrow LakesArrowDuncan Lakes St. Lawrence. The Columbia River Reservoir Reservoir DuncanNAD 83 Lambert Conformal Conic is a snow-charged river that relies Central Meridian: -117 Nakusp Reservoir6 Standard Parallel 1: 45 on melting snow and precipitation, K Canal Flats Reservoir o Standard Parallel 2: 49 DUNCAN o especially from the high-elevation t 18 e Features on the map have been generalized for illustrative purposes. DAM n a y 0 100 200 reaches of the Upper Columbia in BC. R km iv It cuts through five mountain ranges e Nelson Cranbrook r Nakusp in Canada and the U.S.—the Cascades, Arrow Lakes 1 Generating Station Fernie Monashees, Purcells, Selkirks and Kootenay Canal 7 Castlegar Koocanusa K Canal Flats Rockies—and picks up water from 10 HUGH KEENLEYSIDE DAM Reservoir Canada Trail Creston o major tributaries, making the Columbia P K e n o r BoundaryDam o o d DUNCAN e t e v 1,042 MW one of the most powerful rivers in d n i a United States ' y t R O Box Canyon R North America. n r iv e a Dam 69 MW e e g i r a r ll Hungry Horse n n e Libby a e Dam 428 MW k Ri DAM O v a v er % lum i y Co b R Albenie Falls LIBBY DAM ia Dam 43 MW R W ena Chief Joseph S an Noxon Rapids Dam tc pok e R h Dam 2,614 MW 481 MW 50 Grand i i e v e Coulee Dam er v Wells Dam River Basin generates R 774 MW 6,620 MW Coeur d’Alene iv e e approximately 50 per cent of the r Rocky Reach Dam Spokane r 1,300 MW total hydroelectricity produced 5 Rock Island Dam 15 in BC, producing low-cost, zero- 624 MW 3 9 carbon electricity. 2a Missoula13 Nelson WASHINGTON Wanapum Dam 2b 8 1038 MW Y Little Goose Snake Riv a er 4a 4b k Dam 810 MW Lower Granite Dam i m Priest Rapids 810 MW Co a Dam 956 MW wlitz River R Lower Monumental Castlegar iv Koocanusa Astoria er Dam 810 MW Dworshak Dam 400 MW Ice Harbor Dam 603 MW iver Reservoir Lewis R olum River Trail 12 C bia John Day Dam McNary Dam 2,160 MW 991 MW 17a 17b P The Bonneville K Portland Dam 1,067 MW The Dalles e Columbia Dam 1,807 MW Pacific Ocean n o River flows into MONTANA er r o Hells Canyon Dam d iv the Pacific Ocean r e 450 MW t R e e v t i e t at Astoria, e v R Oxbow Dam d n m s i Oregon.