Water Power

Between Thompson Falls, Montana and Lake Pend d’Oreille (pronounced ponderay) there are 3 dams with hydroelectric generation.  One is at Thompson Falls (with the little park where we most often get our internet “fix”).  The next one down is the Noxon Rapids Dam, not far from the Montana-Idaho state line.  The third one is the Cabinet Gorge Dam in eastern Idaho.  The Noxon Rapids and Cabinet Gorge dams are part of a huge project by the Washington Power Company (now Avista) to provide power to the Pacific Northwest.

Behind each of these dams are miles of long narrow lakes, with lots of fishing and boating opportunities with some picnicking and camping, as well.

At one time, long ago during the last Ice Age, much of this region was covered in ice or water.  A huge ice dam at the eastern end of what is now Lake Pend d’Oreille would flood hundreds of square miles of land, backing water 200 miles into Montana.  Occasionally, water would breach the dam and tremendous flood waters would form river gorges, scour flat areas and move enormous boulders hundreds of miles.  They say ancient Lake Missoula was 800 to 1000 feet deep when the ice dam was holding.  That’s a lot of water.

Cabinet Gorge Dam

Noxon Rapids Dam