Seven Mile Dam - Pend d'Oreille River, BC, Canada - Hydroelectric Power Stations on Waymarking.com

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Seven Mile Dam - Pend d'Oreille River, BC, Canada

in Hydroelectric Power Stations

Posted by:  T0SHEA

11U E 462734 N 5430680

Seven Mile Dam is on the Pend d'Oreille River between the Waneta Dam and the Boundary Project in the U.S.

Here they had three of the five sluice gates partially open, creating quite a nice waterfall. It would be about the same height as the waterfall at the Waneta Dam 9 km. downriver, 150 feet or so. It's quite impressive, especially when it hits bottom and rebounds back up then down in an arch about 60 feet in height.

At the viewpoint for the dam is an informational kiosk including the following sign outlining its history and pointing out that "The Seven Mile Project has the highest power yield per acre flooded of any operational hydroelectric project in British Columbia", which makes it the most efficient in terms of land usage.

Construction

Seven Mile Dam and Generating Station is one of two Canadian and ten American hydroelectric projects on the Pend d'Oreille River. The project began in 1975 with clearing for the Pend d'Oreille Reservoir in the fall of 1976. The power plant was in service by 1979. By 1981 three generating units were operational, and in 2004 Unit 4 was added, completing the station. Four generating units in the adjoining powerhouse can provide a total of 810 MW of capacity. On average, the plant produces enough energy annually to serve 352,300 homes in B.C. The Seven Mile project has the highest power yield per acre flooded of any operational hydroelectric plant in British Columbia.

Construction on the concrete gravity dam began in 1975 and the hydroelectric plant began operation in 1979. The dam encloses 3 - 202.5 MW turbines and 1 - 210 MW Pelton Wheel, giving it a total generating capacity of 817.5 MW (Mega Watts). The dam is 65 metres (213 ft) in height and 350 metres (1,150 ft) in width at the base. Operations are coordinated with Waneta Dam, which is just 9 km downstream from the Seven Mile Dam, just above the confluence of the Pend d'Oreille and Columbia Rivers.

Coordinates are for the viewpoint and parking area just west of the dam.