Mossyrock Dam

Mossyrock Dam is a concrete arch-gravity dam on the Cowlitz River near Mossyrock in Lewis County, Washington, United States. The reservoir created by the dam is called Riffe Lake. The primary purpose of the dam is hydroelectric production while flood control is a secondary function.[1] The dam is the tallest in Washington state[3] and its hydroelectric power station supplies 40% of Tacoma Power's electricity.[4]

Mossyrock Dam
LocationLewis County, Washington, U.S.
Coordinates46°32′4″N 122°25′43″W
Construction began1965 (1965)
Opening date1968 (1968)[1]
Construction cost$117,769,400[2]
Operator(s)City of Tacoma[1]
Dam and spillways
Type of damConcrete, arch-gravity
ImpoundsCowlitz River
Height606 feet (185 m)[1]
Length1,648 feet (502 m)[1]
Spillway typeService, gate-controlled
Reservoir
CreatesRiffe Lake
Total capacity1,685,000 acre-feet (2.08 km3)[1]
Catchment area1,042 square miles (2,700 km2)[1]
Surface area11,830 acres (4,790 ha)[1]

History

Planning for the Mossyrock Dam began in the 1940s but opposition from local fishers and Washington State's Fish and Wildlife Department delayed construction. During World War II, the city of Tacoma, Washington purchased its electricity from the Bonneville Power Administration and from Seattle, with costs of up to $1 million/year. To generate its own electricity, Tacoma City Light (now Tacoma Power) built several dams, including the Mossyrock Dam. Plans for the Mossyrock Dam were announced in 1948 but met stiff opposition. The Washington State Legislature enacted a fish sanctuary on the Cowlitz River that initially blocked the project. Tacoma City sued, with its suit being raised to the US Supreme Court a total of three times. After that, construction of the dam was approved. Construction began in 1965 and ended in 1968. On October 13, 1968, the dam's power plant generated its first electricity.[2] Several towns were forced to evacuate ahead of the rising dam waters including Riffe, Nesika, and Kosmos.[5][6]

Tacoma City Light originally proposed naming the facility the "Homer T. Bone Dam", in honor of Senator Homer Bone of Tacoma.[7]

Power plant

The Mossyrock Dam's power plant contains two Francis turbine hydroelectric generators, each rated at 150 MW, or 300 MW total capacity. They are fed by three penstocks ranging from 248 – 285 feet in overall length. One of the three penstocks is presently unused, awaiting possible future installation of a third turbine.[8]

Power plant upgrade

In 2006, GE Energy was selected to upgrade the two turbines. The $50 million project included replacing the turbines, stators, wicket gates and transformers.[9] Installation of the first generator began in 2008; it began operation in 2009.[10] Replacement of the second generator was completed in late 2010. The power plant upgrade increased the total capacity by 70 MW, with an expected overall energy conversion efficiency of near 95 percent.[4]

See also

References
  1. Mossyrock Dam Archived July 16, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, NPDP Dam Directory
  2. Wilma, David (December 16, 2002). "Tacoma City Light's Mossyrock Dam on the Cowlitz River generates electricity on October 13, 1968". History Link.org. Archived from the original on July 26, 2011. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
  3. Vander Stoep, Isabel (December 28, 2022). "Resident, Utility Clash Over Riffe Lake Amplified by Boat Launch Closures Due to Low Water Levels". The Chronicle. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  4. "TURBINE GENERATOR UPGRADE TACOMA PUBLIC UTILITIES MOSSYROCK DAM CENTRALIA, WA" (PDF). NAES Power Contractors. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 26, 2010. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
  5. Underwater Towns of the Cowlitz River
  6. Remembering RIFFE
  7. Mittge, Brian (June 12, 2015). "Underwater Towns of the Cowlitz River: A Look Back at Kosmos, Nesika and Riffe". The Chronicle. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
  8. Cowlitz River Project Statistics Archived October 24, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, Tacoma Power
  9. "Tacoma Power's Mossyrock Dam up for renewable energy award". Tacoma Power. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
  10. "WEEKLY REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL 2 April 2009)" (PDF). City of Tacoma. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 25, 2012. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
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