Oak Grove Hydroelectric Project Explained

The Oak Grove Hydroelectric Project is a 44 megawatt hydroelectric plant operated by Portland General Electric (PGE) on the Oak Grove Fork Clackamas River. Water for this project is held by three lakes, built between 1923 and 1956.[1] The dam creates the impoundment Lake Harriet.

History

In 1907, the Southern Pacific Company began to acquire water rights for the Oak Grove fork.[2] These rights were transferred in 1911 to the Portland Railway, Light and Power Company,[2] which later became PGE.

In 1923, the concrete diversion dam at Lake Harriet was completed. This lake holds [3] with a surface area of 150acres.[4] A 9feet pipeline goes downstream from Lake Harriet to the powerhouse.[3] Power generation from the Oak Grove fork began in August 1924.[5]

In 1953, Frog Lake was completed, adding of storage with 13acres of surface, which was later reduced to on 6acres in 1997.[3] Finally, in 1956,[2] the compacted-earth dam for Timothy Lake was completed, creating the largest lake in the system at 1430acres and . The Oak Grove Powerhouse contains two Francis turbines.

External links

45.1226°N -122.0699°W

Notes and References

  1. http://www.portlandgeneral.com/about_pge/corporate_info/power_plants.aspx PGE power plant capacity
  2. http://www.fws.gov/pacific/Fisheries/Hatcheryreview/documents/EagleCreekNFHReview_AppendixB_27July2007_FINAL.pdf FWS: Eagle Creek: Appendix B: history
  3. http://www.ferc.gov/industries/hydropower/enviro/eis/2006/12-21-06.asp FERC EIS P-2195
  4. http://www.portlandgeneral.com/community_and_env/hydropower_and_fish/phototour/clackamas/harriet_dam.asp Photo tour: Harriet Dam
  5. Electrifying Eden: Craig Wollner, p 111