SEVEN MILE RESERVOIR – PEND D’OREILLE RIVER

The 209 km Pend Oreille River flows through north Idaho, into NE Washington and then crosses into Canada for several kilometres before joining the Columbia River just above the US/Canada border. After the Snake River, it is the largest tributary of the Columbia.

Seven Mile Dam Reservoir. Above the Seven Mile Dam, the reservoir can be kayaked or canoed. Launch at the Skipping Rock Beach on the river in Fruitvale.

Seven Mile Dam is a concrete gravity-type hydroelectric dam on the Pend d’Oreille River 15 km SE of Trail, 18 km downstream from Boundary Dam just before the US/Canada border in Washington State, and 9 km upstream from the Waneta Dam. The power plant has a capacity of 848 MW and generates 3200 GWh per year. The May, June and early July flow of the river in most years is greater than the plant’s capacity. During these times water is spilled and not used to generate power. The reservoir is 420 ha (1,040 acres), which includes 170 ha (425 acres) of flooded river channel. Under the Canal Plant Agreement operations are coordinated with Waneta Dam.

Pend Oreille River Trail. The Pend Oreille River Water Trail is above the Boundary Dam in Washington State extending to the Box Canyon Dam and the town of Metaline Falls. See https://www.ronperrier.net/2020/08/30/pend-oreille-canyon/