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Grand Coulee Dam, USA/Canada
Positive sustainability aspect
Longevity of benefits
The Grand Coulee scheme provides an example of the longevity of benefits that hydropower schemes offer, as well as the significant capacity gains that can be made to existing schemes.
The Columbia River is situated in the northwest of the United States of America. It has many tributaries, several of which originate in the Canadian Rockies. The Grand Coulee scheme on the Columbia River was initiated under the “New Deal” National Industrial Recovery Act of 1933 and first commissioned in 1942. The original design called for 18 units, the last of which came on line in 1950.
One of the reasons for the project’s proposal was that it would provide jobs for the unemployed during construction.The project was designed to deliver both hydropower production and water for irrigation. The original intent was to irrigate up to one million acres - about half this area is currently irrigated. The scheme also provides recreational opportunities, flood control, fish and wildlife benefits.
Scheme Specifications
Dam Name
Scheme operator Bonneville Power Administration USA
Size of scheme (MW) Initially 1575 MW in 1941 increasing to 6500 MW today
