Diablo Dam

Diablo Dam is one of three dams along the upper Skagit River in Whatcom County, Washington and part of the Skagit River Hydroelectric Project that supplies Seattle with some of its power needs. The dam was built in Diablo Canyon, a gorge of solid granite with vertical walls rising 160 feet (49 m) from the river bed, yet were less than 100 feet (30 m) apart. Construction began in 1927, and was completed in 1930. The dam began generating electricity in 1936.[4]

Diablo Dam
LocationWashington, United States
Opening date1930
Dam and spillways
Type of damConcrete arch-gravity[1]
ImpoundsSkagit River
Height389 ft (119 m)[1]
Length1,180 ft (360 m)[1]
Reservoir
Total capacity88,500 acre⋅ft (109,200,000 m3)[1]
Catchment area1,103 sq mi (2,860 km2)[1]
Surface area990 acres (400 ha)[1]
Commission date1936
Turbines2x 64.5 MW[2]
Installed capacity129 MW[2]
Capacity factor61%
Annual generation689,400,000 KWh[3]

The result was a power-generating dam that holds a reservoir known as Diablo Lake. At the time it was completed, Diablo Dam, at 389 feet (119 m), was the tallest dam in the world.[5] Water from the dam operates two main generators, each with a capacity of 64.5 MW.[2]

Climate

The Western Regional Climate Center (WRCC) reports weather station 452157 at Diablo Dam since 1948, presently at 48°42′51″N 121°08′35″W with an elevation of 891 feet (272 m).[6]

Climate data for Diablo Dam, Washington
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 62
(17)		 63
(17)		 76
(24)		 90
(32)		 103
(39)		 101
(38)		 106
(41)		 106
(41)		 101
(38)		 87
(31)		 65
(18)		 59
(15)		 106
(41)
Average high °F (°C) 37.3
(2.9)		 42.6
(5.9)		 48.8
(9.3)		 57.1
(13.9)		 65.3
(18.5)		 70.5
(21.4)		 77.5
(25.3)		 77.6
(25.3)		 70.8
(21.6)		 57.8
(14.3)		 44.8
(7.1)		 38.4
(3.6)		 57.4
(14.1)
Average low °F (°C) 27.3
(−2.6)		 29.6
(−1.3)		 32.4
(0.2)		 36.9
(2.7)		 42.8
(6.0)		 48.2
(9.0)		 51.9
(11.1)		 52.5
(11.4)		 47.8
(8.8)		 41.0
(5.0)		 34.0
(1.1)		 29.8
(−1.2)		 39.5
(4.2)
Record low °F (°C) −8
(−22)		 0
(−18)		 9
(−13)		 24
(−4)		 28
(−2)		 33
(1)		 38
(3)		 37
(3)		 31
(−1)		 18
(−8)		 5
(−15)		 −2
(−19)		 −8
(−22)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 11.47
(291)		 8.09
(205)		 7.12
(181)		 4.59
(117)		 2.84
(72)		 2.26
(57)		 1.41
(36)		 1.46
(37)		 3.45
(88)		 8.05
(204)		 11.88
(302)		 12.46
(316)		 75.08
(1,906)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 21.2
(54)		 12.1
(31)		 7.0
(18)		 0.3
(0.76)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.1
(0.25)		 3.8
(9.7)		 16.1
(41)		 60.6
(154.71)
Source: [7]

Panorama
180° panorama from the top of Diablo Dam, Diablo Lake, Washington as seen on an early September afternoon.

See also

References
  1. "Diablo (WA00170)". National Performance of Dams Program (Stanford University). Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2014-03-04.
  2. "City Light Projects Harness Powerful Skagit River After Long, Hard Struggle" (PDF). The Concrete Herald. 1951-06-21. Retrieved 2009-09-05.
  3. "Diablo". Carbon Monitoring for Action (CARMA). Archived from the original on 2016-03-03.
  4. "Power Generation: Skagit Project - Diablo Dam". City of Seattle. Retrieved 2011-01-06. Includes construction photos.
  5. "Washington State Tourism Diablo Dam/Lake". Retrieved 2009-09-05.
  6. "Washington Station Inventory". Western Region Climate Center. Retrieved 2020-05-18.
  7. "DIABLO DAM, WASHINGTON (452157)". Western Regional Climate Center. Retrieved 2016-06-01.


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