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Box Canyon Hydroelectric Project Nestled in the Selkirk Mountain Range in the northeast corner of Washington State, the Box Canyon Hydroelectric Project produces low-cost electricity from water, a clean and renewable energy source. Flanked by steep rock cliffs and situated in a narrow portion of the state’s second largest river, the Pend Oreille (Pond-er-ray), Box Canyon operates in a “run-of-the-river” mode, using water as it is available. The Box Canyon Hydroelectric Project is owned by the people of Pend Oreille County and operated by Pend Oreille Public Utility District. Construction of the project began in 1952 and was completed in 1956. Pend Oreille Public Utility District was the first PUD in the state to build its own dam. There were no local, state, or federal tax dollars used in its construction. Today, as it has since generation first began in 1956, the Box Canyon Hydroelectric Project provides its customers with clean, reliable, and competitively priced energy. Power from Box Canyon is transmitted along Pend Oreille PUD’s transmission line for distribution to its customers.
Box Canyon Dam Tours Box Canyon Dam’s Visitor Center is open Monday-Friday, 7:00am to 3:30pm year round. During the summer months, our staff would be glad to discuss our facility with you. Tours begin in the Visitor Center with an explanation and demonstration of how electricity is generated at Box Canyon Dam. Just outside the building, the tour will continue with a narrative description of specific points of interest. Also available to visitors are many interesting historical photos and videos of the dam’s construction. Directly south of the dam structure is our Viewpoint which offers picturesque views of Box Canyon Dam and the Pend Oreille River. Recreation along the Pend Oreille River Discover the beauty of the Pend Oreille River. The 55-mile reservoir between Newport and Box Canyon is a gateway for visitors to enjoy the splendor of this natural wonderland. Campbell Park, at Box Canyon, provides a beautiful campground, swimming, and other outdoor activities for travelers and local outdoor enthusiasts. Boat launches at Ione, Cusick, and Newport provide easy access to the river. Boaters enjoy mile after mile of clear, sparkling water and panoramic views. Resorts and campgrounds along the river provide year-round accommodations for visitors. Pend Oreille PUD’s Stewardship and Habitat Enhancement Efforts Continue As part of its continuing stewardship and commitment toward preserving the environment and beauty of the river, Pend Oreille PUD participates in many collaborative environmental efforts, including fish net pens located with the local Chamber at Metaline and Metaline Falls, where over 45,000 trout are released into the river each year; and with Pend Oreille County, the Milfoil Control Project, the goal of which is the removal of milfoil near for safety and aesthetic reasons near boat ramps and swimming areas and to provide pathways in other areas to provide varied habitat for fish. In recent years, Pend Oreille PUD purchased over 750 acres along the Pend Oreille River, which are maintained for wildlife habitat. Continual efforts to enhance the habitat of these properties are being made by the PUD. Cattle, which had overgrazed the lands, have been fenced out, allowing the natural grasses to return; hazardous materials, old buildings, and tons of debris have been removed; and riparian corridor tree planting is ongoing. |