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Construction of Ruby Dam at the Rip Raps below Ruby Creek began in 1937. This dam was renamed Ross Dam after the death of James
Delmage Ross (1872–1939), the superintendent of the Skagit River Project. Construction of Ross Dam was to take place in three stages and the first stage was completed
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to control access to the area. After the railroad reached the site above
Newhalem, a two-mile tunnel was dug between the dam and the powerhouse. Work was frequently delayed by floods, mudslides, and avalanches. The schedule was further delayed by workers leaving to hunt for gold, labor troubles, a
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Construction of Gorge Dam began in 1921 and the first power was delivered to
Seattle in 1924. The cost of the dam was $ 13 million ($ 153,339,181 in 2006 dollars). In 1961 a new Gorge High Dam was completed (300 feet (91 meters)) to replace the original Gorge Dam. This dam was featured in Alan
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In 2012, hydro-electric dams provided approximately 89.8 percent of the electricity used in
Seattle. The Skagit Hydroelectric Project alone accounts for about 20 percent of Seattle City Light's electricity.
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to the top of the dam. Next, they rode a barge or tour boat to Ruby Creek, then returned to
Rockport. Over 100,000 people visited the Skagit Project by 1941. After the war, shortened tours resumed.
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Construction of Diablo Dam was begun in 1927, five miles upstream from Gorge Dam. Diablo Dam was completed in 1930, and at that time was the tallest dam in the world at 389 feet (119 meters) until
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forest fire, and a shortage of electricity. Although Ross had estimated that the Skagit River operation would provide electricity to
Seattle by 1921, those various delays pushed the date to 1924.
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In August 2021 Seattle City Light announced that it will undertake a study of the possibility of removing one or more of the Skagit dams for environmental reasons.
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in 1940. The second and third stages were completed in 1953 when the dam was built to its final height of 540 feet (160 meters).
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in August 2023, which prompted the evacuation of City Light facilities in the area and reduction in output for the dams.
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Current tours sponsored by City Light include a boat tour, a walking tour, and a combination walking-and-van tour.
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650:. Seattle, Washington: History Ink, in association with University of Washington Press. pp. 41–43.
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Industrial buildings and structures on the
National Register of Historic Places in Washington (state)
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Guide to the
Seattle City Light Gorge Development Project Photographs and Photograph Albums 1948-1962
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Historical Record of Dam
Building and their Impacts on Floods of the Skagit River: 1924 through 1968
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Guide to the
Seattle City Light Skagit Project: Diablo Dam Construction Photograph Albums 1919-1936
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377:. The total cost of the Skagit River Hydroelectric Project was $ 250 million over 50 years.
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delayed building the powerhouse, so the dam produced no electricity for Seattle until 1936.
911:", 31 photos, 3 measured drawings, 99 data pages, 3 photo caption pages
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Seattle Power and Water Supply Collection, images of Skagit River Hydroelectric Project
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681:"Seattle City Light commits to studying impacts of removing Skagit River dams"
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Uhden hired contractors to build a 25-mile rail line to Gorge Creek, allowing
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Tour boat on the lake formed by the Diablo Dam, during the construction era
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The three major dams in the Skagit River Project are (from lower to upper)
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Nearby construction era photo, as the Ross Dam was being completed in 1956
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was built. Although the dam was complete, financial problems due to the
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268:, superintendent of lighting for Seattle, obtained approval from the
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881:
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Guide to the Seattle City Light Ross Dam Photograph Albums 1938-1948
708:"North Cascades highway reopens as Sourdough fire continues to burn"
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National Register of Historic Places listings in Washington (state)
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Guide to the Seattle City Light Skagit Youth Camp Records 1991-1996
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National Register of Historic Places in Whatcom County, Washington
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Dollar worth calculator at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis
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Energy infrastructure on the National Register of Historic Places
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904:(HAER) documentation, filed under Newhalem, Whatcom County, WA:
558:, City Light offered guided tours of the Skagit Project. From
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Hydroelectric Power Plants in Washington State, 1890–1938 MPS
611:"Fuel Mix - How Seattle City Light electricity is generated"
648:
Power for the people : a history of Seattle City Light
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Historic American Engineering Record in Washington (state)
78:
229:
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Buildings and structures in Whatcom County, Washington
29:
Skagit River and Newhalem Creek Hydroelectric Projects
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Skagit Power Development, Newhalem Powerhouse and Dam
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above the town of Newhalem, which lies just west of
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History of the National Register of Historic Places
291:The Gorge Dam generators were formally started by
1269:Hydroelectric power plants in Washington (state)
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280:, giving the unincorporated community its name.
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898:- University of Washington Digital Collection
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839:Construction photo of what became Ross Dam
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341:, which is 20 miles upriver from the dam.
248:to provide electric power for the City of
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1299:1917 establishments in Washington (state)
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37:U.S. National Register of Historic Places
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244:. The project is owned and operated by
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587:"National Register Information System"
545:Gorge Powerhouse, Newhalem, Washington
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902:Historic American Engineering Record
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592:National Register of Historic Places
375:National Register of Historic Places
761:Richardson, Vince (July 21, 2013).
687:from the original on August 8, 2022
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343:Ross Lake National Recreation Area
337:, formed by Ross Dam extends into
240:in the north of the U.S. state of
226:Skagit River Hydroelectric Project
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679:Susannah Frame (August 6, 2021).
373:All three dams are listed in the
236:power-generating stations on the
1264:United States power company dams
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706:Phair, Vonnai (August 9, 2023).
301:The dams were threatened by the
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798:Seattle City Light Skagit Tours
767:McClatchy-Tribune Business News
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554:From 1928 until the start of
252:and surrounding communities.
212:Gorge Dam on the Skagit River
381:Hydroelectric power capacity
331:North Cascades National Park
220:Ross Dam on the Skagit River
18:United States historic place
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1190:National Historic Landmarks
10:
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1249:Dams in Washington (state)
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355:, starring Warren Beatty.
325:. The dams are located in
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96:Whatcom County, Washington
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293:President Calvin Coolidge
270:Department of Agriculture
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167:NRHP reference
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914:HAER No. WA-24-A, "
909:Skagit Power Development
136:Architectural style
1259:Seattle City Light dams
888:Renewable energy portal
349:Pakula's 1974 thriller
308:
295:on September 17, 1924.
115:42 acres (17.0 ha)
1208:Keeper of the Register
907:HAER No. WA-24, "
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503:48.73167°N 121.06722°W
463:48.71417°N 121.13111°W
423:48.69778°N 121.20833°W
221:
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199:Boundary increase
46:U.S. Historic district
1228:Contributing property
646:Wilma, David (2010).
597:National Park Service
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272:to build dams on the
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860:United States portal
508:48.73167; -121.06722
468:48.71417; -121.13111
428:48.69778; -121.20833
345:surrounds the lake.
106:Newhalem, Washington
1195:Bridges and Tunnels
499: /
459: /
419: /
763:"Powerful history"
750:Seattle City Light
737:2008-01-15 at the
615:Seattle City Light
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285:Seattle City Light
266:James Delmage Ross
246:Seattle City Light
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148:American craftsman
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1223:Historic district
712:The Seattle Times
657:978-0-295-98576-3
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352:The Parallax View
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202:February 11, 2011
186:Significant dates
140:Classical Revival
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1093:Pend Oreille
1038:Grays Harbor
874:Water portal
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715:. Retrieved
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689:. Retrieved
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618:. Retrieved
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564:incline lift
556:World War II
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274:Skagit River
263:
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238:Skagit River
225:
223:
150:, Industrial
102:Nearest city
15:
1183:Other lists
1143:Walla Walla
506: /
494:121°04′02″W
466: /
454:121°07′52″W
426: /
414:121°12′30″W
1243:Categories
775:1406052087
691:August 10,
573:References
491:48°43′54″N
451:48°42′51″N
411:48°41′52″N
391:Power (MW)
360:Owyhee Dam
319:Diablo Dam
242:Washington
1138:Wahkiakum
1118:Snohomish
1048:Jefferson
965:by county
717:August 9,
666:613433169
620:March 11,
394:Location
335:Ross Lake
315:Gorge Dam
264:In 1917,
128:Architect
1133:Thurston
1113:Skamania
1103:San Juan
1083:Okanogan
1063:Kittitas
1028:Garfield
1023:Franklin
1003:Columbia
771:ProQuest
735:Archived
685:Archived
560:Rockport
323:Ross Dam
179:11000016
174:96000416
144:Bungalow
92:Location
1153:Whitman
1148:Whatcom
1128:Stevens
1123:Spokane
1088:Pacific
1073:Lincoln
1013:Douglas
1008:Cowlitz
993:Clallam
786:Sources
550:Tourism
260:History
250:Seattle
1158:Yakima
1108:Skagit
1098:Pierce
1058:Kitsap
1043:Island
988:Chelan
983:Benton
978:Asotin
773:
664:
654:
439:Diablo
321:, and
1078:Mason
1068:Lewis
1033:Grant
1018:Ferry
998:Clark
973:Adams
963:Lists
525:711.1
520:Total
482:352.6
442:159.3
402:199.2
399:Gorge
232:with
120:Built
1053:King
719:2023
693:2021
662:OCLC
652:ISBN
622:2014
479:Ross
309:Dams
230:dams
224:The
123:1917
112:Area
388:Dam
169:No.
156:MPS
1245::
769:.
765:.
710:.
660:.
630:^
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595:.
589:.
333:.
317:,
142:,
947:e
940:t
933:v
777:.
721:.
695:.
668:.
624:.
530:—
146:/
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
