Wells Dam is a

hydroelectric Hydroelectricity, or hydroelectric power, is electricity generated from hydropower (water power). Hydropower supplies one sixth of the world's electricity, almost 4500 TWh in 2020, which is more than all other renewable sources combined and ...

embankment dam located on the

Columbia River The Columbia River (Upper Chinook: ' or '; Sahaptin: ''Nch’i-Wàna'' or ''Nchi wana''; Sinixt dialect'' '') is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, C ...

, downstream from the confluence of the

Okanogan River The Okanogan River (known as the Okanagan River in Canada) is a tributary of the Columbia River, approximately 115 mi (185 km) long, in southern British Columbia and north central Washington. It drains a scenic plateau region called th ...

Methow River The Methow River ( ) is a tributary of the Columbia River in northern Washington in the United States. The river's watershed drains the eastern North Cascades, with a population of about 5,000 people. The Methow's watershed is characterized by re ...

, and the Columbia River in

Washington state Washington (), officially the State of Washington, is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. Named for George Washington—the first U.S. president—the state was formed from the western part of the Washington ...

. The dam, associated structures, and machinery make up the Wells Hydroelectric Project. It is owned and operated by

Douglas County Public Utility District The Douglas County Public Utility District, or Douglas County PUD, is a public co-operative energy district providing service to Douglas County, Washington. It is owned by its customers and governed by a Board of Commissioners elected by the custom ...

. It has produced electricity since August 22, 1967. Its operating license from the US

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is the United States federal agency that regulates the transmission and wholesale sale of electricity and natural gas in interstate commerce and regulates the transportation of oil by pipeline in ...

is next up for renewal in 2052. The Wells project has ten generating units rated at a combined 840 megawatts. In addition to the Douglas County and Okanogan County public utility districts, the project provides electricity to Puget Sound Energy,

Portland General Electric Portland General Electric (PGE) is a Fortune 1000 public utility based in Portland, Oregon. It distributes electricity to customers in parts of Multnomah, Clackamas, Marion, Yamhill, Washington, and Polk counties - 44% of the inhabitants ...

PacifiCorp PacifiCorp is an electric power company in the western United States. PacifiCorp has two business units: # Pacific Power, a regulated electric utility with service territory throughout Oregon, northern California, and southeastern Washington. ...

Avista Corporation Avista Corporation is an American energy company which generates and transmits electricity and distributes natural gas to residential, commercial, and industrial customers. Approximately 1,550 employees provide electricity, natural gas, and other ...

, and the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. Its reservoir is named

Lake Pateros Lake Pateros is a reservoir on the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington. It was created in 1967 with the construction of Wells Dam. The reservoir lies almost entirely in Douglas and Okanogan counties, although the dam itself lies part ...

. Just below and adjacent is Carpenter Island boat launch and fish hatchery river access. Lake Pateros is not deep but a high volume of water moves through it. Thus, low-head, high-volume

Kaplan turbine The Kaplan turbine is a propeller-type water turbine which has adjustable blades. It was developed in 1913 by Austrian professor Viktor Kaplan, who combined automatically adjusted propeller blades with automatically adjusted wicket gates to ach ...

runners drive generation.

References

{{Crossings navbox , structure = Crossings , place =

, bridge = Wells Dam , bridge signs = , upstream =

Brewster Bridge The Brewster Bridge, officially the Columbia River Bridge at Brewster, is a two-lane highway bridge crossing the Columbia River at Brewster, Washington. It is part of State Route 173 and is west of Bridgeport. The original bridge, constructed ...

, upstream signs = , downstream =

Beebe Bridge The Beebe Bridge ( ) is a two-lane, steel through arch bridge crossing the Columbia River at Chelan Falls, Washington. Located three miles east of Lake Chelan, the bridge is part of U.S. Route 97 and averages 5000 vehicle crossings per day. The ...

, downstream signs = Buildings and structures in Chelan County, Washington Dams on the Columbia River Dams in Washington (state) Buildings and structures in Douglas County, Washington Hydroelectric power plants in Washington (state) United States local public utility dams Dams completed in 1967 Energy infrastructure completed in 1967 Gravity dams 1967 establishments in Washington (state)

See also

References