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Lower Monumental Dam
View from the southwest
Location in the United StatesShow map of the United StatesLocation in WashingtonShow map of Washington (state)
Country	United States
Location	Franklin and Walla Walla counties, Washington
Coordinates	46°33′47″N 118°32′20″W / 46.563°N 118.539°W / 46.563; -118.539
Construction began	June 1961
Opening date	1969; 56 years ago (1969)
Operator(s)	U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Dam and spillways
Type of dam	Concrete gravity, run-of-the-river
Impounds	Snake River
Height	100 feet (30 m)
Length	3,791 feet (1,155 m)
Spillway type	Service, gate-controlled
Reservoir
Creates	Lake Herbert G. West
Total capacity	432,000 acre⋅ft (0.53 km)
Surface area	6,590 acres (26.7 km)
Normal elevation	540 ft (165 m)
Power Station
Turbines	6 x 135-153 MW
Installed capacity	810 MW 932 MW (max)

Lower Monumental Lock and Dam is a hydroelectric, concrete, run-of-the-river dam in the northwest United States. Located on the lower Snake River in southeast Washington, it bridges Franklin and Walla Walla counties; it is six miles (10 km) south of Kahlotus and 43 miles (70 km) north of Walla Walla.

Construction began in June 1961, and the main structure and three generators were completed 56 years ago in 1969, with an additional three generators finished in 1981. Generating capacity is 810 megawatts, with an overload capacity of 932 MW. The spillway has eight gates and is 572 feet (174 m) in length.

Built and operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Lower Monumental Dam is part of the Columbia River Basin system of dams.

Behind the dam, Lake Herbert G. West is the reservoir; it extends 28 miles (45 km) east to the base of Little Goose Dam. Lake Sacajawea, formed from Ice Harbor Dam, runs 22 miles (35 km) southwest, downstream from the base of the dam.

Navigation lock

• Single-lift
• Width: 86 ft (26 m)
• Length: 666 ft (203 m)

See also

• List of dams in the Columbia River watershed
• Lower Granite Dam
• Little Goose Dam
• Ice Harbor Dam

References

1. "The Four Lower Snake River Dams". Bluefish.org. Retrieved 17 July 2010.
2. "Lower Monumental Dam". Washington.edu. Retrieved 17 July 2010.
3. "Lower Monumental Dam". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (photo). March 19, 1964. p. 13.
4. "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.

External links

• Lower Monumental Lock & Dam @ US Army Corps of Engineers

• Dams in Washington (state)
• Dams on the Snake River
• Gravity dams
• Hydroelectric power plants in Washington (state)
• Run-of-the-river power stations
• Buildings and structures in Franklin County, Washington
• Buildings and structures in Walla Walla County, Washington
• Dams completed in 1969
• 1969 establishments in Washington (state)
• Energy infrastructure completed in 1969
• Energy infrastructure completed in 1981
• United States Army Corps of Engineers dams