Bonneville Dam

While in the Portland, Oregon area, we drove east on I-84, through the Columbia River gorge, to Bonneville Dam.  This dam was built during the depression and prompted by President Roosevelt.  The facility also has the largest fish hatchery in the Northwest.  We toured the fish hatchery and enjoyed learning all the processes that lead to populating fish throughout the northwest.

A Sturgeon fish is a huge fish that can grow to 10 feet long and weigh over 450 pounds.  These fish are related to fish from the dinosaur age.  When looking at the Sturgeon fish, with bony skeleton that protrudes to the side of the fish, it is understandable how the fish could have survived throughout the ages.  The hatchery has a sturgeon fish they call "Herman" in a large tank.  He is over 10 feet and weighs 450 pounds.  He is over 70 years old.  What an animal!
The Bonneville Dam also has a Power House that uses water behind the dam to spin huge electric generators that provide power for the northwest.  The power house has a capacity of over 525 megawatts.  The powerhouse has been upgraded over the years to its current capacity.  The visitor center also had fish ladders for several varieties of fish that migrate to the upper levels of the lake behind the dam.

The fish hatchery and dam are open year-round from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. It is best to visit the dam in the months of April through September when the salmon are more abundant.

There are fish viewing windows and visitors' centers on both the Oregon and Washington sides of the dam. Because of security concerns, visitors may be required to show ID, and it is not possible to cross the entire dam. During most of the year, more fish use the Washington shore fish ladders, so fish viewing may be better on the Washington side of the dam.

From I-84, we see sign for Bonneville Dam.  We had a beautiful drive through the Columbia River gorge to get to Bonneville Dam.  A great drive with wonderful views.

We found a place to park the rig for the day at Bonneville Dam.

Lee thought the flower displays in the fish hatchery grounds were beautiful.

This is a picture of Herman.  A sturgeon fish that is kept by the hatchery.  He is over 70 years old, 10 feet long and weighs over 450 pounds.  His head is over 12 inches across.

I had a telephone call while at Bonneville.  What a great place to take a call.  The temperature was 70 degrees.

Driving on the dam roadway on our way to the Bonneville Dam visitor center.  Definitely, a "concrete mans" dream.

Lee standing next to one of the water turbines that are used in the Bonneville Dam to turn one of the huge generators.

This is a "pill box" used by guards during World War II.  This dam was one of the resources used by the United States to power factories used to build the war machine.

Ten huge generator used at the Bonneville Dam.  The noise was deafening in the building.  Note the small bicycle in the front left of the first generator to see a size reference of these huge machines.

Discharge of the power house.  It should be noted that at Bonneville Dam, a powerhouse releases only a part of the water coming down the Columbia.  A separate overflow dam controls the reservoir level. 

A fish ladder used by fish to migrate to the upper levels of the reservoir.  The fish used under water holes in the ladder walls to go up.  Fish are attracted to this fish ladder by controlling the entrance flows that attract fish swimming up.