US Army Corps of Engineers Bonneville Lock and Dam — Local services in Washougal

The Bonneville Lock and Dam consists of several dam structures across the Columbia River on the border of Oregon and Washington. The Bonneville Locks and Dam is located 40-miles east of Portland, in the Columbia River Gorge. The primary functions of Bonneville Lock and Dam are electrical power generation and river navigation. The dam was built and is managed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. At the time of its construction in the 1930's it was the largest water project of its type in the nation, able to withstand flooding on an unprecedented scale. The Bonneville Dam Historic District was designated a National Historic Landmark District in 1987. The dam creates Lake Bonneville. The two Bonneville powerhouses generate about 5 billion kWh of electricity each year. The Bonneville Dam supplies nearly 500,000 homes with electricity, assuming each household consumes 10,000 kWh of electricity per year. Free tours are given daily thorough the Bradford Island Visitor Center, or you can take a much more limited...

Stopped at the Bonneville Dam on our trip from Kalama, WA and I’m so glad we did. It’s not every day you get to see a mix of massive engineering and nature up close like this. The fish ladder was my favorite part—you can actually watch salmon and other fish working their way upstream through big underwater viewing windows. It’s wild to see them up close and realize how much effort it takes for them to keep going. The turbine displays were also really cool; I never realized how much power these things generate until I saw the scale of it in person. Definitely worth a stop if you’re in the area, especially if you like hands-on history and a mix of...

Lovely place to bring your family, especially late spring & fall when temps. are cooler. Both the young & the young at heart will enjoy thier visit. Loved the Sturgeon above water & below water viewing ponds. Bring a handful of quarters to buy feed pellets for trout & salmon & a picnic to feed your family. Well kept grounds, nice lil gift shop. Good info at each exhibit. Took my 70 yr young MILaw, she really enjoyed her visit!! Paved Trails: stroller/wheelchair/walker friendly. No entry or...