Building History

The US Army Corps of Engineers' planning for the dam by Seattle officials began in the late 1940s, arousing significant opposition from local farmers and other landowners.

After a decade of discussion, the dam's operator, Seattle City Light, submitted licensing paperwork to the Federal Power Commission in Washington, DC, in 07/1957. A note in theIdaho Daily Statesman reported: "Seattle’s application for a Federal Power commission license to build the 150 million dollar Boundary dam on the Pend Orville river will be filed in Washington Monday. Paul J. Raver, superintendent of Seattle City Light, said that agency will cooperate with the Pend Orville county public utilities district in the project. He said details of the cooperative phase are to be negotiated.” (See “Seattle Set to File Boundary Dam Papers,” Idaho Daily Statesman, 07/27/1957, p. 11.)

By 09/1966, the City of Seattle filed suit in Federal Court to condemn 523 acres in connection with the Boundary Dam project. (See Legal Notice, Spokane Chronicle, 09/10/1966, p. 7.) One of the beneficiaries of this condemnation process was the Pend Oreille Mines and Metals Company. The Idaho Daily Statesman reported: "Pend Oreille Mines and Metals Co. Friday reported a first half income before depreciation, depletion and income taxes of $934,120. The income for the first six months of this year included a gain of $660,904 from condemnation of company properties for the Boundary Dam hydroelectric project, a report to shareholders showed. Otherwise, it would have been $273,216.” (See “Coeur d’Alene Firm Reports Stock Return,” Idaho Daily Statesman, 08/19/1967, p. 13.)

The dam began creating its 17-and-½-mile reservoir in 08/1967, and testing of generators began at nearly the same time. An 08/12/1967 article in the Spokane Spokesman-Review marked the near-completion of the dam: “Boundary Dam, built by Seattle City Light on the Pend Oreille River north of Metaline Falls, Wash., began impounding water Friday, R.E. Brown, project manager, said. ‘The reservoir began filling at midnight Friday and by Sunday afternoon it is estimated that the water level will be within 35 feet of its maximum,’ he said. On Monday, the first generator will be activated for testing, he indicated. Dedication of the structure is slated for Sept. 29. The Dam is in Washington State, one mile south of the Canadian border. Its completion marks the full development of the main stream of the Pend Oreille river with the United States. Box Canyon and Albeni Falls dams impound the river upstream from Boundary. The lake created by Boundary Dam will extend 17 ½ miles upstream to Box Canyon dam. The dam is 340 feet high and 740 feet long at the crest. It lies between steep rock walls. A vista house has been constructed on the east bank of the river from which visitors can view the structure. Plans call for construction of boat-launching ramps on the West Bank of the reservoir. The water wheels to be used in the power house were manufactured in Sweden, the generators in the United States and gate valves in Japan. Power produced at the site will be fed into the Bonneville Power Administration transmission grid near the plant. While the dam was built to provide power for Seattle, this will be accomplished chiefly by supplying power to the Bonneville system for use in eastern Washington and Canada. An equal amount generated from other sources will thus be made available for use in the Seattle area, Brown indicated.” (See “Reservoir Fills at Boundary Dam,” Spokane Spokesman-Review, 08/12/1967, p. 1.)

Building Notes

The Mitsubishi International Corporation of Yokohama, Japan, submitted the winning, low bid for sluice gates and intake gate hoists for the Boundary Dam in 06/1965. The Spokane Daily Chronicle reported: “Contracts for manufacture of Boundary Dam sluice gates and intake gate hoists have been awarded by Seattle’s Division of Purchases to the low bidder, Mitsubishi International Corp., Yokohama, Japan. One contract calls for manufacture of seven 17x21-foot fixed-wheel sluice gates for $652,690 before sales tax, with delivery by Sept. 1, 1966. The other is for manufacture of six 140-ton hoists for the dam’s intake gates, at a cost of $265,400 before sales tax. Delivery will be made in three monthly shipments beginning March 1, 1966. Bids of manufacture of six intake-gates will be advertised June 22. Beginning June 10, bids will be advertised for construction of the Vista House at Boundary Dam, under revised specifications.” (See “Japanese Firm Wins Boundary Contracts,” Spokane Daily Chronicle, 06/11/1965, p. 5.)

PCAD id: 24644