Boundary Dam
Just north of Metaline Falls, Washington, a powerful dam stands on the Pend Oreille River. At 340 feet tall, the concrete double-curvature arch of Boundary Dam cuts an imposing figure. Its output is also impressive. At any given moment, Boundary Dam can generate more than 1,100 megawatts of electricity. That's enough energy to power downtown Seattle.
While most City Light customers will never visit Boundary Dam, they all benefit from this keystone piece of City Light infrastructure. Dedicated in 1967, Boundary Dam celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2017. The dam has had a significant impact on the region and will continue to provide electricity for City Light customers into the future.
This exhibit explores the herculean undertaking of building the dam, the impact of the dam over the years and facts on the dam's power and size.
Item 189915, Record Series 1204-01
from downstream, May 29, 1962
Item 182499, Record Series 1204-01
Item 149513, Record Series 0207-01
The Kalispel Tribe of Indians were the first reported people to call the area around today's Boundary Dam home. Ancestors of the modern Kalispel hunted, fished and dwelled in the region along the Pend Oreille River for more than 8,000 years.
The region as we know it today began to take shape in the mid-1800s as pioneers, fur traders and prospectors began to settle in the area around present-day Metaline Falls, Metaline and Ione. Early on, entrepreneurs recognized the vast zinc and lead deposits of the region, and the Metaline Mining District would become one of the largest domestic producers of those metals for most of the 20th century.
The potential of the Pend Oreille River to produce hydroelectricity was also recognized early on by entrepreneurs from across the United States and Canada. In 1914, renowned engineer Col. Hugh L. Cooper began surveying Z Canyon on the Pend Oreille River for a site suited to development of a large dam. Although his plan ultimately failed due to a lack of funding and an abundance of red tape, it was the first of many attempts to utilize the local landscape for hydroelectricity.
The Z Canyon site was one of many being proposed by various utilities statewide in 1944.
at Z Canyon for Col. Hugh L.
Cooper, 1916
Box 6, Record Series 1206-07
with Peewee Falls in background,
Panorama, June 1933
Box 6, Record Series 1206-07
in Washington, 1944
Seattle City Light Official Bulletin
No. 55, Record Series 1201-11
City Light announced its plan to acquire the Boundary Dam site and construct a hydroelectric power plant Oct. 27, 1953. This led to an outcry from the local mining industry, which was concerned about potential damage to the mines in the area.
Difficulties continued when the Pend Oreille County Public Utility District submitted an alternative application to construct three additional dams on the river. On July 10, 1961, City Light was finally issued a license by the Federal Power Commission, granting the utility permission to utilize a section of the Pend Oreille River and construct Boundary Dam.
the Pend Oreille River, August 29, 1962
Item 110713, Record Series 1204-01
City Light Boundary Dam Project Records,
Box 6, Record Series 1206-07
Phase one of the project included building roads to the site. In phase two, the machine hall cavern was excavated, as well as the galleries, tunnels, power waterways, gate chambers and shaft, and elevator shaft. Construction in August 1963 included carving out 500,000 cubic yards of the limestone mountain to make way for, at the time, the world's largest underground powerhouse. The machine hall, which houses the turbine-generators that generate electricity, was excavated to be 15 stories below the ground. In phase three, the dam was constructed, including architectural and structural concrete, cranes, hoists, sluices and gates. During phase four the generators, turbines, main transformers, related auxiliary mechanical and electrical equipment and finishings were installed.
A progress report from September 10, 1965 states, "Shipments of turbine parts are arriving regularly at the project site, while fabrication of generators continues at the manufacturer's plant. Virtually all major equipment items have been ordered. Arrangements to transport and store incoming materials have been completed."
at Pier 20, May 1, 1965
Item 189985, Record Series 1204-05
Item 189240, Record Series 1204-01
reloaded on work trailer for trip
to machine hall, October 3, 1966
Item 189689, Record Series 1204-05
poured on November 12, 1965
Item 183446, Record Series 1204-01
Over a million cubic yards of rock excavation was required to create the forebay from which Pend Oreille River water is admitted to plant turbines through the intake tunnels and penstocks. Another half-million cubic yards was excavated to create the machine hall. A cavern 477 feet long, 76 feet wide and 170 feet deep would contain six large turbine-generators; only four units were installed initially. Silent film shot between about 1965 and 1967 shows excavation and construction of the Boundary Project (Item 32, Record Series 1204-04, SMA).
The dam itself was built to an astounding 340 feet tall. The eggshell-like double curve of the dam's thin arch achieves great strength with exceptionally low mass. The concrete ranges from 32 feet thick at the base to only 8 feet thick at the crest. The dam has two large spillgates at the top on either side and seven sluice gates are located 200 feet below the crest of the dam. The gates enable the reservoir to be lowered, if necessary, and have the ability to drain the lake within 24 hours. The reservoir that retains the water from the Pend Oreille River is 1,794 acres and 17.5 miles long.
gallery portal, September 22, 1967
Item 183457, Record Series 1201-04
and Power Plant, 1967
Progress Report, February 28, 1967,
Record Series 1201-11
Item 183455, Record Series 1204-01
showing forebay, trashracks and
dam, August 28, 1966
Item 183461, Record Series 1204-01
On September 1, 1967, Boundary Dam produced commercial electricity for the first time. Within months of its opening, the project's four turbine generators produced as much as 600 megawatts of power, enough energy to power approximately 600,000 households. At its dedication, Seattle Mayor J.D. (Dorm) Braman lauded the dam for its immense benefit for the citizens of Seattle and northeastern Washington. All told, 1,300 workers were a part of the dam's construction. Today, it is operated by more than 40 City Light employees.
City Light has continued to improve the power production of Boundary Dam, adding to its benefits to both Seattle and Pend Oreille County. Currently, City Light provides 48 megawatts of electricity at cost to the Pend Oreille County Public Utility District, significantly reducing power costs for their customers.
dedication, September 27, 1967
Item 189927, Record Series 1204-01
Control Room, October 9, 1967
Item 190076, Record Series 1204-01
Seattle City Light's Boundary Project,
Record Series 1201-11
4th and Spokane, 1968
Item 78730, Series 1204-01
In 1986, Boundary's power output grew with the addition of two new turbine generators to the machine hall. Transformer bays, water passages and machine-hall space were provided when the dam was built so that two additional turbine-generator units could be installed in the plant without further blasting of the rock. The machine hall was designed with exposed natural rock in its walls. Along with other improvements throughout the years, the electrical capability has increased to 1,117.4 megawatts. In a short production about the Boundary Hydroelectric Project created by SCL in 2006, animation (courtesy Alweis Film "Last Place Settled") shows how the dam works and footage of the turbines (Item 5336, Record Series 1204-04, SMA). Currently, Boundary Dam generates up to 35 percent of Seattle’s energy needs.
Spillways cut into the rock are oriented in such a way that full-capacity discharges from both will meet in mid-air to dissipate the falling-water energy that might otherwise erode canyon walls. The spillways have a combined capacity of 108,000 cubic feet per second.
Item 126695, Record Series 0207-01
Item 151247, Record Series 1204-19
Item 130648, Record Series 0207-01
A portion of the film The Postman, directed by and starring Kevin Costner, was filmed on the front of the dam. For a period of time in 1997, the dam's face had a facade of a town, known as Bridge City in the film. Metaline Falls was used as a local location set for the movie. The production brought in over $11 million to the local area.
Courtesy The Cutter Theatre,
Metaline Falls, WA
Courtesy The Cutter Theatre,
Metaline Falls, WA
Courtesy The Cutter Theatre,
Metaline Falls, WA
In 2013, City Light was issued a new license to operate Boundary through 2055. The new license includes a suite of measures that mitigate for the impacts of Boundary's operations on the surrounding environment. These measures address recreation, fish and aquatic, terrestrial, cultural, and wildlife resources, and benefit the environment and the communities in and around Boundary. As part of the recreation measures, a completely renovated Forebay Recreation Area, including a campground and boat launch, will reopen in 2018. Improvements to the boat launch at Metaline Waterfront Park will take place in 2019. New canyon viewpoints, a portage trail, and a hiking trail will follow in 2020.
The Boundary Hydroelectric Project was formally listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 1, 2018. The nomination cited the dam's importance in the power generation response to the increased growth of the region in the post-World War II era as well as its lasting impact on the history and development of Pend Oreille County and the communities of Metaline and Metaline Falls. The nomination also cited the dam's distinctive characteristics of its type and period of construction. Boundary is the second tallest arch dam in Washington and its underground powerhouse is one of the largest examples in the United States.
Item 126710, Record Series 0207-01
Courtesy Nathan MacDonald, Seattle City Light
To see footage of Boundary Dam construction and more, see SMA's YouTube channel.
This exhibit was created with support and expertise from Seattle City Light and assistance from David Ross, San Jose State University intern.