Gorge Dam is one of three along the upper Skagit River in Whatcom County, Washington, and part of the Skagit River Hydroelectric Project that supplies Seattle with some of its power needs. Construction on the original wooden Gorge Dam began in 1921, with its generators formally started by President Calvin Coolidge on September 17, 1924.[1] In 1961, a new Gorge High Dam, made of concrete, was completed to replace the original.[2]
| Gorge Dam | |
|---|---|
 Gorge Dam on the Skagit River in Washington State. | |
| Official name | Gorge Creek High Dam |
| Location | Whatcom County, Washington, USA |
| Coordinates | 48°41′52″N 121°12′30″W / 48.69778°N 121.20833°W |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Concrete arch-gravity |
| Impounds | Skagit River |
| Height | 300 feet (91 m) |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Gorge Lake |
| Website http://www.seattle.gov/city-light/energy-and-environment/power-supply-and-delivery/hydroelectric-resources#skagitriverhydroelectricproject | |
A pivotal scene in the 1974 Warren Beatty film, The Parallax View, was shot at this location.
In 2020, the Upper Skagit Indian Tribe created an online petition calling for the removal of the Gorge Dam.[3]
See also
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References
edit- ^ Wilma, David (2010). Power for the people : a history of Seattle City Light. Seattle, Wash: History Ink, in association with University of Washington Press. pp. 41–43. ISBN 978-0-295-98576-3. OCLC 613433169.
- ^ Wilma, David (July 5, 2000). "Seattle City Light completes Gorge High Dam on January 6, 1961". HistoryLink.org. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
- ^ Mapes, Lynda V. (December 6, 2021). "Fish passage, dam removal studied as Seattle City Light aims to relicense three Skagit River dams". The Seattle Times. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
External links
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- Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) documentation, filed under Newhalem, Whatcom County, WA:
- HAER No. WA-24-B, "Skagit Power Development, Gorge Powerhouse", 29 photos, 3 measured drawings, 3 photo caption pages
- HAER No. WA-24-C, "Skagit Power Development, Gorge High Dam", 29 photos, 3 measured drawings, 3 photo caption pages
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