The Lower Granite Lake was created in 1975. Since the Interstate Highway Bridge between Lewiston, Idaho and Clarkston, Washington was high enough, the new lake did not overwhelm the bridge.[1] Lower Granite Lake is a reservoir created by Lower Granite Dam . The dam is a concrete gravity run-of-the-river dam in the northwest United States . On the lower Snake River in southeastern Washington , it bridges Whitman and Garfield counties.[2] Opened 49 years ago in 1975,[1] [3] [4] the dam is located 22 miles (35 km) south of Colfax and 35 miles (56 km) north of Pomeroy .
Lower Granite Dam is part of the Columbia River Basin system of dams, built and operated by the United States Army Corps of Engineers ; power generated is distributed by the Bonneville Power Administration .
Behind the dam, Lower Granite Lake extends 39 miles (63 km) east to Lewiston, Idaho and Clarkston, Washington , and allowed the Lewiston–Clarkston metropolitan area to become a port.[1] [5] The first barge to Portland on the 374-mile (602 km) navigation route was loaded with wheat and departed Lewiston on August 9, 1975.[6] [7] '
Bridges
Photos Another photo of the lake from Lewiston Hill , which shows the Clearwater River to the left (in Idaho) and the Snake River in the center. Washington state is to the right. commons:Category:Confluence of the Snake River and the Clearwater River
References ^ a b c Harrell, Sylvia (June 20, 1975). "Dedication: Andrus brings a warning". Lewiston Morning Tribune . (Idaho). p. 1. ^ "The Columbia River System Inside Story" (PDF) . BPA.gov. pp. 14–15. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 May 2010. Retrieved 17 July 2010 . ^ Bunning, Paul (June 20, 1975). "Andrus salutes dam project". Spokesman-Review . (Spokane, Washington). p. 6. ^ Dullenty, Jim (June 19, 1975). "Idaho's link to the sea is acclaimed by Andrus". Spokane Daily Chronicle . (Washington). p. 1. ^ "Snake River link to sea nearly complete". Ellensburg Daily Record . (Washington). UPI. March 6, 1975. p. 3. ^ "First wheat heads downriver". Lewiston Morning Tribune . (Idaho). August 10, 1975. p. 10A. ^ "Grain barge nears Portland". Ellensburg Daily Record . (Washington). UPI. August 11, 1975. p. 10.