Ice Harbor Lock and Dam

Ice Harbor Lock and Dam
This congressionally authorized project consists of Ice Harbor Dam, powerhouse, navigation lock, two fish ladders, a removable spillway weir and a juvenile fish bypass facility. It provides navigation, hydroelectric generation, recreation and incidental irrigation.Located upstream of McNary Lock and Dam and Lake Wallula, Ice Harbor Dam is 2,822 feet long with an effective height of 100 feet. It is a concrete gravity type dam, with an earthfill embankment section at the north abutment. It includes a navigation lock with clear dimensions of 86 by 675 feet. The dam has a 10-bay spillway that is 590 feet long and includes ten 50 foot tainter gates.

Project Information

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 Project Fact Sheet

 

Authorization

The project was authorized by the River and Harbor Act of 1945.

 

Progress

Construction of the Ice Harbor project began in January 1956. Generators one through three were put in operation in December 1961. Powerhouse units four through six were later installed, with all units producing power by January 1976. The entire project including recreational facilities is now complete.

 

Project

This project consists of Ice Harbor Dam, powerhouse, navigation lock, two fish ladders, a removable spillway weir and a juvenile fish bypass facility. It provides navigation, hydropower, flood risk management, fish and wildlife habitat, recreation and incidental irrigation.

 

Ice Harbor Lock and Dam

Located upstream of McNary Lock and Dam and Lake Wallula, Ice Harbor Dam is 2,822 feet long with an effective height of 100 feet. It is a concrete gravity type dam, with an earthfill embankment section at the north abutment. It includes a navigation lock with clear dimensions of 86 by 675 feet. The dam has a 10-bay spillway that is 590 feet long and includes ten 50-foot tainter gates.

 

Reservoir

Lake Sacajawea, created by Ice Harbor Dam, extends upstream about 32 miles to Lower Monumental Lock and Dam and has a surface area of 9,200 acres.

 

Navigation Lock

This is a single-lift lock, 86 feet wide by 675 feet long, with a 100-foot vertical lift. In fiscal year 2021, traffic through the navigation lock consisted of grains, petroleum products, fertilizer, wood products, and miscellaneous cargo that amounted to 3,504,819 tons.

 

Hydropower Generators

The powerhouse has three 90,000-kilowatt units and three 111,000-kilowatt units – 603-megawatt total powerhouse capacity. The first of three new, advanced-technology turbine runners designed to improve fish passage was installed and became operational in 2018. The work also includes structural modifications to the turbine draft tube exits, wicket gates and stay vanes to improve hydraulic conditions for fish. Small-scale model testing of the new fixed-blade runner design indicate increased power generation by 3 to 4 percent. During fiscal year 2017, 1.93 billion kilowatt hours of electricity were produced.

 

Fish Passage

Two fish ladders provide adult fish upstream passage through Ice Harbor Lock and Dam. In 2005, a spillway weir was also installed to improve passage conditions for juvenile salmon downstream outmigration. Modifications to a lamprey fish ladder entrance were made in 2018, and lamprey passage orifices, and installation of metal plating have been made to assist adult lamprey upstream passage. Juvenile fish survival is anticipated to improve further with completed installation new turbine runner installation in unit 2 during 2018.

 

Lands

There are 7,446 acres of project lands surrounding Lake Sacajawea. These project lands include fee lands that are federally owned and managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), as well as easement lands to which USACE has specific rights or easements (i.e., flowage or access). The USACE-managed lands at Ice Harbor are used for public recreation, wildlife habitat, wildlife mitigation and water-connected industrial development. The project maintains four intensively-managed habitat management areas, four developed recreation areas and three public access areas. Public boat launching facilities are available at seven locations around the lake. In 2020, Ice Harbor recreation areas hosted more than 205,918 visits.

 

People

More than 80 Walla Walla District employees work at the Ice Harbor project. They serve as electricians, mechanics, lock operators, welders, riggers, painters, utility workers, heavy equipment operators, park rangers, environmental resource specialists, biologists, administrative support staff, engineers and maintenance workers. Together, they manage the safe and continuous operation of the project.

 

Recreation

Ice Harbor project lands provide opportunities for all sorts of recreational activities, including fishing, hunting, hiking, birding, camping, swimming and horseback riding. The Ice Harbor Visitor Center is open April through October and offers fish viewing, dam tours, and wildlife displays, as well as movies and information about the dam. Amenities within the parks include camping sites, volleyball, horseshoe pits, playgrounds, swim beaches, picnic shelters, restrooms, and boat launches.

 Project Pertinent Data

 

General State - Washington
County - Franklin and Walla Walla
River - Snake
River Mile - 9.7
Drainage area above Ice Harbor Dam - 109,000 square miles
Owner - U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District
Authorized Purposes - Inland Navigation and Power Generation
Other Uses - Fishery and recreation
Type of Project - Run-of-river

Real Estate:
Fee acquisition land above pool elevation 440 - 7,830 acres

Reservoir
Name - Sacajawea
Elevations (Feet Mean Sea Level)
Maximum at dam for spillway design flood - 446.4
Normal operating range gauged at dam - 437 to 440
Length - 31.9 miles
Average width - 0.4 miles
Maximum width - 1.0 miles
Surface area at elevation 440 (low flow-flat pool) - 8,375 acres
Storage between elevation 437 and 440 - 24,900 acre feet

Dam (General)
Powerhouse, overall length - 671 feet
Spillway, total length - 590 feet
Navigation lock, overall width - 173 feet
Concrete non-overflow sections:
Navigation lock to spillway (length) - 154 feet
Spillway to powerhouse (length) - 40 feet
Powerhouse to south shore embankment (length) - 560 feet
Earth embankment, north shore (length) - 624 feet
Total length of dam - 2,822 feet
Maximum height of concrete sections (foundations deck) - 213 feet
Maximum height of abutment section (north shore foundation to top) - 123 feet
Deck elevation - 453 feet msl

Spillway
Type - Ogee, concrete, gravity, gate controlled
Maximum width at base, elevation 392 feet msl - 139 feet
Maximum height, foundation to deck - 141 feet
Number of bays 10
Overall length, (abutment centerlines) 590 feet
Clear length - 500 feet
Crest elevation - 391 feet above sea level
Gate seal elevation - 389.07 feet above sea level
Top of gate in closed position - 442 feet above sea level
Deck elevation - 453 feet above sea level
Gate lip elevation at maximum opening - 436 above sea level
Control gates:
Type - Tainter
Size - 50'W x 52.9'H
Method of operation - individual electric hoists, remote and manually controlled

Maintenance closure for spillway bays - Stoplogs

Spillway design flood:
Peak discharge - 850,000 cfs
Pool elevation - 446.4 feet above sea level
Tailwater elevation - 374 feet above sea level
Gross head - 72.4 feet

Maximum flood at normal pool elevation 440
Discharge - 685,000 cfs
Tailwater elevation - 370.5 feet above sea level
Gross head - 72.4 feet above sea level

Stilling Basin
Type - Horizontal apron
Width, perpendicular to flow - 590 feet
Length, parallel to flow - 168 feet
Floor elevation - 304 feet above sea level
Height of continuous end sill - 12 feet

Powerhouse
Number of generating units 6
Spacing:
Units 1 through 5 - 90 feet
Unit 6 - 96 feet

Erection and service bay 110
Turbines:
Type - Kaplan, 6-blade
Runner diameter:
Units 1 through 3 - 280 inches
Units 4 through 6 - 300 inches
Revolutions per minute:
Units 1 through 3 - 90
Units 4 through 6 - 87.5
Generators:
Rating (nameplates):
Units 1 through 3 - 90,000 kilowatts
Units 4 through 6 - 111,000 kilowatts
Power factor - 0.95
Kilovolt ampere rating:
Units 1 through 3 - 95,00
Units 4 through 6 - 117,000
Units installed complete initially - 3
Skeleton units provided initially - 3
Total units now installed - 6
Plant rated capacity - 603,000 kilowatts
Crane capacities:
Intake (joint use with spillway) - 85 tons
Bridge - 500 tons
Draft tube gantry - 35 tons

Navigation Lock and Channels
Type - Single lift
Net clear length, lock chamber - 675 feet
Net clear width, lock chamber - 86 feet
Minimum water depth over lower sill - 16 feet
Upstream gate:
Type - Radial
Height - 25 feet
Downstream gate:
Type - Vertical Lift
Height - 91 feet
Maximum operating lock lift - 105 feet
Length of guidewalls (from face of gate):
Upstream (floating) - 746 feet
Downstream - 696 feet
Normal fill time - 11 minutes
Normal emptying time - 14 minutes

Fish Facilities
Number of fish ladders - 2
Slope:
North Shore - 1V on 10H
South Shore - 1V on 16H
Number of weirs (including orifice-control section) - 103
Overflow weirs:
Number - 97
Height - 6 feet
Orifice size:
North Shore - 18 x 18 inches
South Shore - 21 x 23 inches
Exit of ladders, invert elevation - 431 feet above sea level
Entrance of ladder, invert elevation - 332 feet above sea level
Normal fishway flow, forebay to each ladder:
North Shore - 74 cfs
South Shore - 142 cfs
Ladder, clear width:
North Shore - 16 feet
South Shore - 24 feet
Pumps for fish attraction water:
Number:
North Shore - 3
South Shore - 8
Type - Turbine
Discharge:
North Shore - 250 cfs
South Shore - 300 cfs
Fishway entrances:
North shore - 2
South shore - 3
Non-overflow - 3

Powerhouse collection system:
Number of orifice entrances - 12
Length of channel - 661 feet
Width of channel - 17.5 feet
Downstream Migrants Bypass System:
Ice-and-trash sluiceway - 1
Hydraulic capacity 2700 cfs

Hydrologic Data
(Based on streamflow data for the Snake River near Clarkston, Washington)

Drainage area - 103,200 square miles
Period of record - Oct 1915 to Sept 1972 (Discontinued in Dec 1972)
Discharges in cubic feet per second:
Instantaneous maximum of record, 29 May 1948 - 369,000
Instantaneous minimum of record, 2 Sep 1958 - 6,660
Average annual flow - 48,840
Average annual mean daily peak flow - 188,300
Extreme outside period of record:
Flood of June 1894 - 409,000
Flood of June 1894 controlled by existing projects - 295000
Standard project flood (controlled by existing projects):
Snake River below Clearwater River - 420,000
Snake River above Clearwater River - 295,000
Clearwater River above Snake River - 150,000
Spillway design flood 850,000

 

Historical Construction Photos

Ice Harbor Lock and Dam upstream of the Tri-Cities on the Lower Snake River celebrated its 50th anniversary of construction by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, June 16, 2012 at the dam. It was built from 1956 to 1962 and dedicated by Vice-President Lyndon B. Johnson on May 9, 1962. Corps of Engineers photos. (Upstream face of dam, looking NW)
Ice Harbor Lock and Dam upstream of the Tri-Cities on the Lower Snake River celebrated its 50th anniversary of construction by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, June 16, 2012 at the dam. It was built from 1956 to 1962 and dedicated by Vice-President Lyndon B. Johnson on May 9, 1962. Corps of Engineers photos. (South shore fish ladder, looking NW)
Ice Harbor Lock and Dam upstream of the Tri-Cities on the Lower Snake River celebrated its 50th anniversary of construction by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, June 16, 2012 at the dam. It was built from 1956 to 1962 and dedicated by Vice-President Lyndon B. Johnson on May 9, 1962. Corps of Engineers photos. (South fish ladder, looking South)
Ice Harbor Lock and Dam upstream of the Tri-Cities on the Lower Snake River celebrated its 50th anniversary of construction by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, June 16, 2012 at the dam. It was built from 1956 to 1962 and dedicated by Vice-President Lyndon B. Johnson on May 9, 1962. Corps of Engineers photos. (Excavation inside cofferdam, looking NE)
Ice Harbor Lock and Dam upstream of the Tri-Cities on the Lower Snake River celebrated its 50th anniversary of construction by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, June 16, 2012 at the dam. It was built from 1956 to 1962 and dedicated by Vice-President Lyndon B. Johnson on May 9, 1962. Corps of Engineers photos. (Cofferdam, Looking Southeast, showing excavation of temporary fish ladder)
Ice Harbor Lock and Dam upstream of the Tri-Cities on the Lower Snake River celebrated its 50th anniversary of construction by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, June 16, 2012 at the dam. It was built from 1956 to 1962 and dedicated by Vice-President Lyndon B. Johnson on May 9, 1962. Corps of Engineers photos. (Temporary fish ladder closeup, Looking North)
Ice Harbor Lock and Dam upstream of the Tri-Cities on the Lower Snake River celebrated its 50th anniversary of construction by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, June 16, 2012 at the dam. It was built from 1956 to 1962 and dedicated by Vice-President Lyndon B. Johnson on May 9, 1962. Corps of Engineers photos. (Powerhouse steel placement, looking SE)
Ice Harbor Lock and Dam upstream of the Tri-Cities on the Lower Snake River celebrated its 50th anniversary of construction by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, June 16, 2012 at the dam. It was built from 1956 to 1962 and dedicated by Vice-President Lyndon B. Johnson on May 9, 1962. Corps of Engineers photos. (Stilling basin, looking SE)
Ice Harbor Lock and Dam upstream of the Tri-Cities on the Lower Snake River celebrated its 50th anniversary of construction by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, June 16, 2012 at the dam. It was built from 1956 to 1962 and dedicated by Vice-President Lyndon B. Johnson on May 9, 1962. Corps of Engineers photos. (Looking SSE at South shore construction)
Ice Harbor Lock and Dam upstream of the Tri-Cities on the Lower Snake River celebrated its 50th anniversary of construction by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, June 16, 2012 at the dam. It was built from 1956 to 1962 and dedicated by Vice-President Lyndon B. Johnson on May 9, 1962. Corps of Engineers photos. (Looking NE at South shore construction)
Ice Harbor Lock and Dam upstream of the Tri-Cities on the Lower Snake River celebrated its 50th anniversary of construction by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, June 16, 2012 at the dam. It was built from 1956 to 1962 and dedicated by Vice-President Lyndon B. Johnson on May 9, 1962. Corps of Engineers photos. (Safety record sign, looking NE)
Ice Harbor Lock and Dam upstream of the Tri-Cities on the Lower Snake River celebrated its 50th anniversary of construction by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, June 16, 2012 at the dam. It was built from 1956 to 1962 and dedicated by Vice-President Lyndon B. Johnson on May 9, 1962. Corps of Engineers photos. (Looking SE at South shore construction)
Ice Harbor Lock and Dam upstream of the Tri-Cities on the Lower Snake River celebrated its 50th anniversary of construction by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, June 16, 2012 at the dam. It was built from 1956 to 1962 and dedicated by Vice-President Lyndon B. Johnson on May 9, 1962. Corps of Engineers photos. (Looking NE, power house construction)
Ice Harbor Lock and Dam upstream of the Tri-Cities on the Lower Snake River celebrated its 50th anniversary of construction by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, June 16, 2012 at the dam. It was built from 1956 to 1962 and dedicated by Vice-President Lyndon B. Johnson on May 9, 1962. Corps of Engineers photos. (Powerhouse construction, looking North)
Ice Harbor Lock and Dam upstream of the Tri-Cities on the Lower Snake River celebrated its 50th anniversary of construction by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, June 16, 2012 at the dam. It was built from 1956 to 1962 and dedicated by Vice-President Lyndon B. Johnson on May 9, 1962. Corps of Engineers photos. (Removing cofferdam, looking NW)
Ice Harbor Lock and Dam upstream of the Tri-Cities on the Lower Snake River celebrated its 50th anniversary of construction by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, June 16, 2012 at the dam. It was built from 1956 to 1962 and dedicated by Vice-President Lyndon B. Johnson on May 9, 1962. Corps of Engineers photos. (Looking West at South shore construction, dredge in background)
Ice Harbor Lock and Dam upstream of the Tri-Cities on the Lower Snake River celebrated its 50th anniversary of construction by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, June 16, 2012 at the dam. It was built from 1956 to 1962 and dedicated by Vice-President Lyndon B. Johnson on May 9, 1962. Corps of Engineers photos. (Power house intake crane, looking North)
Ice Harbor Lock and Dam upstream of the Tri-Cities on the Lower Snake River celebrated its 50th anniversary of construction by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, June 16, 2012 at the dam. It was built from 1956 to 1962 and dedicated by Vice-President Lyndon B. Johnson on May 9, 1962. Corps of Engineers photos. (Looking NW at South shore construction)
Ice Harbor Lock and Dam upstream of the Tri-Cities on the Lower Snake River celebrated its 50th anniversary of construction by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, June 16, 2012 at the dam. It was built from 1956 to 1962 and dedicated by Vice-President Lyndon B. Johnson on May 9, 1962. Corps of Engineers photos. (Looking East, North and South shores)
Ice Harbor Lock and Dam upstream of the Tri-Cities on the Lower Snake River celebrated its 50th anniversary of construction by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, June 16, 2012 at the dam. It was built from 1956 to 1962 and dedicated by Vice-President Lyndon B. Johnson on May 9, 1962. Corps of Engineers photos. (Looking West at North shore lock construction)
Ice Harbor Lock and Dam upstream of the Tri-Cities on the Lower Snake River celebrated its 50th anniversary of construction by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, June 16, 2012 at the dam. It was built from 1956 to 1962 and dedicated by Vice-President Lyndon B. Johnson on May 9, 1962. Corps of Engineers photos. (Looking NE, power house construction)
Ice Harbor Lock and Dam upstream of the Tri-Cities on the Lower Snake River celebrated its 50th anniversary of construction by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, June 16, 2012 at the dam. It was built from 1956 to 1962 and dedicated by Vice-President Lyndon B. Johnson on May 9, 1962. Corps of Engineers photos. (Lock excavation, looking West/downstream)
Ice Harbor Lock and Dam upstream of the Tri-Cities on the Lower Snake River celebrated its 50th anniversary of construction by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, June 16, 2012 at the dam. It was built from 1956 to 1962 and dedicated by Vice-President Lyndon B. Johnson on May 9, 1962. Corps of Engineers photos.
Ice Harbor Lock and Dam upstream of the Tri-Cities on the Lower Snake River celebrated its 50th anniversary of construction by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, June 16, 2012 at the dam. It was built from 1956 to 1962 and dedicated by Vice-President Lyndon B. Johnson on May 9, 1962. Corps of Engineers photos.
Ice Harbor Lock and Dam upstream of the Tri-Cities on the Lower Snake River celebrated its 50th anniversary of construction by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, June 16, 2012 at the dam. It was built from 1956 to 1962 and dedicated by Vice-President Lyndon B. Johnson on May 9, 1962. Corps of Engineers photos. (Navigation lock construction, looking east or upstream)
Ice Harbor Lock and Dam upstream of the Tri-Cities on the Lower Snake River celebrated its 50th anniversary of construction by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, June 16, 2012 at the dam. It was built from 1956 to 1962 and dedicated by Vice-President Lyndon B. Johnson on May 9, 1962. Corps of Engineers photos. (Lock and north fish ladder construction, looking NW)
Ice Harbor Lock and Dam upstream of the Tri-Cities on the Lower Snake River celebrated its 50th anniversary of construction by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, June 16, 2012 at the dam. It was built from 1956 to 1962 and dedicated by Vice-President Lyndon B. Johnson on May 9, 1962. Corps of Engineers photos. (Lock construction, looking SE)
Ice Harbor Lock and Dam upstream of the Tri-Cities on the Lower Snake River celebrated its 50th anniversary of construction by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, June 16, 2012 at the dam. It was built from 1956 to 1962 and dedicated by Vice-President Lyndon B. Johnson on May 9, 1962. Corps of Engineers photos. (Looking downstream, lock and spillway)
Ice Harbor Lock and Dam upstream of the Tri-Cities on the Lower Snake River celebrated its 50th anniversary of construction by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, June 16, 2012 at the dam. It was built from 1956 to 1962 and dedicated by Vice-President Lyndon B. Johnson on May 9, 1962. Corps of Engineers photos. Looking upstream from North short/from Franklin County