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| Reservoirs in Washington (state) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Columbia River reservoirs |
| Location | Washington (state), United States |
| Type | Artificial lakes |
| Inflow | Columbia River, Snake River, Yakima River, Spokane River |
| Outflow | Columbia River, Snake River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Managed by | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bonneville Power Administration, Bureau of Reclamation |
Reservoirs in Washington (state) are artificial lakes created by dams across major rivers including the Columbia River, Snake River, Yakima River, and Spokane River. They serve multiple purposes including hydroelectric generation, irrigation, flood control, navigation, municipal supply, and recreation. Reservoir development in Washington is intertwined with regional agencies such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation, and energy entities like the Bonneville Power Administration.
Washington's reservoir system spans the Columbia Plateau, Cascade Range, and Okanogan Highlands, integrating facilities on tributaries such as the Wenatchee River, Methow River, Palouse River, and Klickitat River. Major reservoirs include impoundments formed by landmark projects like Grand Coulee Dam, Chief Joseph Dam, Ice Harbor Dam, and Wanapum Dam. Reservoirs support sectors served by the Port of Seattle, Port of Vancouver (Washington), and urban centers including Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma, and Vancouver, Washington. Federal entities including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, and state agencies such as the Washington State Department of Ecology regulate many aspects of reservoir operation.
Large-scale reservoir construction accelerated during the New Deal and World War II eras with projects like Grand Coulee Dam initiated under the Bureau of Reclamation and authorized by acts such as the Rivers and Harbors Act. The Bonneville Power Administration and the Tennessee Valley Authority—while distinct—served as models for multipurpose dam programs that influenced Washington planning under policymakers including proponents like Harold L. Ickes and engineers from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Postwar projects such as Chief Joseph Dam and Ice Harbor Dam were shaped by interstate compacts and litigation involving tribes including the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation and the Yakama Nation. Environmental legal milestones—litigation invoking the Endangered Species Act and negotiations following decisions by the United States Supreme Court—affected salmon mitigation strategies connected to reservoirs.
Major Columbia Basin impoundments include Lake Roosevelt (behind Grand Coulee Dam), Banks Lake, Lake Chelan (behind Wells Dam), Rufus Woods Lake (behind Wells Dam), Lake Pateros (behind Wells Dam/Rock Island Dam operations), Lake Sacajawea (behind Ice Harbor Dam), and Lake Wallula (behind McNary Dam). On the Snake River, important reservoirs include Lower Monumental Lake (behind Lower Monumental Dam), Little Goose Lake (behind Little Goose Dam), and Lake Herbert G. West (behind Ice Harbor Dam complex). The Yakima Basin contains Cle Elum Lake (behind Cle Elum Dam), Bumping Lake (behind Bumping Lake Dam), and Kachess Lake (behind Kachess Dam). Smaller but notable impoundments include Ross Lake (behind Ross Dam), Ross Lake National Recreation Area sites, Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area, and reservoirs created by projects like Chief Joseph Dam that formed Fort Spokane-area waters. Many reservoirs are integral to contemporary projects administered by the Columbia Basin Project and the Yakima Project.
Reservoir operations coordinate hydroelectric scheduling by the Bonneville Power Administration with irrigation deliveries under the Bureau of Reclamation for agriculture in the Columbia Basin Project and the Yakima Basin. Navigation on the Lower Columbia River and Lower Snake River is enabled by locks associated with reservoirs at McNary Dam and Ice Harbor Dam; this supports commodities handled by ports such as the Port of Portland and the Port of Pasco. Municipal water suppliers in the Seattle Public Utilities and the Tacoma Public Utilities regions interact with watershed protections like those enforced by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources and the Washington State Department of Ecology. Water rights adjudications have involved parties including the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation and industries represented by organizations such as the Washington Farm Bureau.
Reservoir creation altered habitats for anadromous species like Chinook salmon, Sockeye salmon, Coho salmon, and Steelhead trout, prompting mitigation measures including fish ladders, hatchery programs by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and litigation invoking the Endangered Species Act. Reservoirs affect sediment transport along the Columbia River Gorge and influence Columbia River Basalt Group shoreline dynamics; cultural sites of tribes including the Nez Perce Tribe and the Colville Confederated Tribes were inundated or reshaped. Hydropower facilities operated by entities such as Avista Corporation and Puget Sound Energy must balance energy markets coordinated by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation and regional transmission organizations. Climate-driven changes monitored by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the United States Geological Survey influence inflow patterns, snowpack in the Cascade Range, and reservoir storage strategy.
Reservoirs provide boating, angling, camping, and wildlife viewing at sites administered by the National Park Service at Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area and by state parks like Riverside State Park and Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park. Lakes such as Ross Lake, Lake Chelan, and Banks Lake host recreational economies serving towns like Leavenworth, Chelan, Washington, and Wenatchee. Conservation and tourism agencies including the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission collaborate with local chambers of commerce and tribal tourism arms such as the Swinomish Tribe cultural programs.
Dam safety and inspection involve the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and state regulators like the Washington State Emergency Management Division. Major rehabilitation projects have been undertaken on structures such as Grand Coulee Dam and Wells Dam with funding mechanisms involving the Water Resources Development Act and congressional oversight by committees including the United States House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Emergency response plans coordinate with agencies including Federal Emergency Management Agency and local county authorities (e.g., King County, Spokane County). Long-term infrastructure programs address seismic retrofitting in regions near the Seattle Fault and the Cascadia Subduction Zone, reservoir sedimentation monitored by the United States Geological Survey, and relicensing processes led by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission involving stakeholders such as the National Marine Fisheries Service.
Category:Reservoirs of Washington (state)