Meyers Falls Dam - Kettle Falls, WA
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T0SHEA
N 48° 35.687 W 118° 03.478
11U E 421992 N 5382951
Built in 1961 on the Colville River, this small dam provides a reservoir for a small hydroelectric station of about 59 MW output at Meyers Falls, south of the City of Kettle Falls.
Waymark Code: WMJAX9
Location: Washington, United States
Date Posted: 10/21/2013
Views: 4
This 24.5 foot high dam replaced the original timber-crib dam built in
1915 which failed in 1961, necessitating the construction of this dam.
The first hydro station, near the dam, was built in 1903, with upgrades taking place in 1910 and 1915, with further development taking place at later dates. It is still operational and supplies power equivalent to that required by about 1,000 homes. A second generating station was added across the river in 1915 and both continue to produce power.
In 1830 a gristmill was built by the Hudson's Bay Company on the river above the dam and continued in use until after the first generating station was built. Interestingly, this early use of the Colville River, makes it the oldest source of water power in continual use west of the Mississippi River.
The Meyers Falls Power Plant was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 29, 1995.
Coordinates for the dam were taken at a viewing area to the southeast.