• Home
  • Archives

Dave Knows Portland

Subscribe to Dave Knows Portland by Email

July 24, 2007: Marmot Dam Demolition Begins

July 24, 2011 by Dave Leave a Comment

Marmot Dam (photo by Dwight Tanner, USGS)The Marmot Damn on the Sandy River was built in 1913 as part of the Bull Run Hydroelectric Project.

After almost a century of service, Portland General Electric, federal and state agencies, and conservations groups settled on a plan to remove both the Marmot Dam and the Little Sandy Dam. Rising operating costs and continued environmental considerations provided the motivation.

After years of planning, Portland General Electric’s CEO, Peggy Fowler, brought down the plunger on July 24, 2007 and the first explosives blasted holes in 68 different spots on the dam.

Heavy equipment and the Sandy River did the rest (watch the video for the most excited hydrologists you’ve ever seen!):

Filed Under: History, Oregon, This Day in History

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Dave Knows Portland Archive

Copyright © 2023 · Magazine Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in