Horn Rapids Dam (also known as Wanawish Dam) is a rock filled timber crib
barrage dam
A barrage is a type of low-head, diversion dam which consists of a number of large gates that can be opened or closed to control the amount of water passing through. This allows the structure to regulate and stabilize river water elevation ups ...
on the
Yakima River
The Yakima River is a tributary of the Columbia River in south central and eastern Washington state, named for the indigenous Yakama people. Lewis and Clark mention in their journals that the Chin-nâm pam (or the Lower Snake River Chamnapam Nat ...
in
Benton County, Washington
Benton County is a county in the south-central portion of the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2020 census, its population was 206,873. The county seat is Prosser, and its largest city is Kennewick. The Columbia River demarcates the coun ...
near the intersection of
SR 240 and
SR 225. The dam is not used for hydroelectric production, rather to fill irrigation canals on either bank of the river.
Permits for the dam were filed by the Yakima Irrigation and Improvement Company in 1889, and the original dam was completed in 1892. When the company went under in 1896, the dam was bought by the Northwestern Pacific Company (a subsidiary of
Northern Pacific Northern Pacific may refer to:
* Northern Pacific Airways, an upcoming airline
* Northern Pacific Field Hockey Conference
The Northern Pacific Field Hockey Conference (NorPac) was an NCAA Division I conference that only sponsored women’s fiel ...
). A more substantial dam was put in place in 1908, when the northern irrigation canal was built. The dam was damaged in a flood in 1996, but was replaced by a concrete structure in 1997.
Former
Camp Columbia (occasionally referred to as Columbia Camp) was located on the north bank of the river just above the dam. This was a prison camp during World War II for low-security prisoners; political dissidents and the like. The camp was operated from 1944 through 1947. There were barracks and a large orchard, but no perimeter fences, and inmates were allowed to move about freely.
Hanford News : 50 Years of Hanford
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The dam is still used as a historic fishing location by the Yakama Indian Nation, and traditional fishing scaffolds can be seen there year-round.
See also
*List of dams in the Columbia River watershed
There are more than 60 dams in the Columbia River watershed in the United States and Canada. Tributaries of the Columbia River and their dammed tributaries, as well as the main stem itself, each have their own list below. The dams are listed in ...
References
{{Reflist
External links
Columbia Irrigation District
OSU photo of Horn Rapids Dam in 1941
It has changed little from that time.
Buildings and structures in Benton County, Washington
Dams in Washington (state)
Dams on the Yakima River
Dams completed in 1892
Dams completed in 1908
Dams completed in 1997
1908 establishments in Washington (state)