Grand Coulee: Columbia River, WA

Grand Coulee Dam is owned and operated by the Bureau of Reclamation in Grand Coulee, WA. As the largest producer of hydropower in the United States, Grand Coulee Dam produces an average of 21,000,000,000 kWh of power each year. There are four powerhouses with a total of 33 generating units which supply power to 11 western states. Construction of the dam began in 1933 and was completed in 1941. The dam was key to the development of the Columbia Basin Project. Today, Grand Coulee Dam provides irrigation water to over 600,000 acres in the Columbia Basin. Flood control for the Columbia River is also a major function of the dam. In addition, Franklin D. Roosevelt Lake, which is the 151 mile reservoir created by Grand Coulee Dam, provides 9.5 million acre-feet of water storage for the Columbia River in the United States and provides recreation to over 1 million visitors per year.