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Diablo Dam

Coordinates: 48°42′51″N 121°07′52″W / 48.7143°N 121.1312°W / 48.7143; -121.1312
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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]

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]

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]48°42′51″N 121°07′52″W / 48.7143°N 121.1312°W / 48.7143; -121.1312 The dam and its original associated power generation infrastructure were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.[6]

Climate

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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 / 48.71417°N 121.14306°W / 48.71417; -121.14306 with an elevation of 891 feet (272 m).[7] The dam is in a transitional maritime-mediterranean climate (Köppen (Cfb/Csb) depending on summer rainfall isotherm.

Climate data for Diablo Dam, Washington (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1914–present)
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) 		110
(43) 		106
(41) 		106
(41) 		101
(38) 		87
(31) 		65
(18) 		59
(15) 		110
(43)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 48.4
(9.1) 		52.7
(11.5) 		63.7
(17.6) 		75.9
(24.4) 		86.4
(30.2) 		90.8
(32.7) 		95.6
(35.3) 		94.8
(34.9) 		88.4
(31.3) 		72.7
(22.6) 		55.1
(12.8) 		48.5
(9.2) 		98.3
(36.8)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 38.5
(3.6) 		43.2
(6.2) 		49.0
(9.4) 		57.2
(14.0) 		66.1
(18.9) 		70.3
(21.3) 		78.1
(25.6) 		78.8
(26.0) 		71.3
(21.8) 		57.5
(14.2) 		44.7
(7.1) 		38.1
(3.4) 		57.7
(14.3)
Daily mean °F (°C) 34.0
(1.1) 		36.7
(2.6) 		41.1
(5.1) 		47.4
(8.6) 		55.2
(12.9) 		59.8
(15.4) 		65.8
(18.8) 		66.4
(19.1) 		60.1
(15.6) 		49.5
(9.7) 		39.8
(4.3) 		34.2
(1.2) 		49.2
(9.6)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 29.5
(−1.4) 		30.3
(−0.9) 		33.1
(0.6) 		37.5
(3.1) 		44.2
(6.8) 		49.4
(9.7) 		53.4
(11.9) 		53.9
(12.2) 		48.9
(9.4) 		41.5
(5.3) 		34.8
(1.6) 		30.2
(−1.0) 		40.6
(4.8)
Mean minimum °F (°C) 17.4
(−8.1) 		21.2
(−6.0) 		25.5
(−3.6) 		30.7
(−0.7) 		35.8
(2.1) 		42.5
(5.8) 		47.3
(8.5) 		47.3
(8.5) 		41.4
(5.2) 		31.8
(−0.1) 		24.4
(−4.2) 		19.1
(−7.2) 		11.2
(−11.6)
Record low °F (°C) −2
(−19) 		0
(−18) 		9
(−13) 		24
(−4) 		28
(−2) 		33
(1) 		38
(3) 		37
(3) 		31
(−1) 		18
(−8) 		5
(−15) 		−2
(−19) 		−2
(−19)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 12.25
(311) 		7.38
(187) 		8.16
(207) 		4.60
(117) 		2.71
(69) 		2.25
(57) 		1.25
(32) 		1.51
(38) 		3.41
(87) 		8.64
(219) 		13.66
(347) 		11.57
(294) 		77.39
(1,965)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 12.2
(31) 		9.9
(25) 		4.2
(11) 		0.3
(0.76) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		3.1
(7.9) 		16.0
(41) 		45.7
(116.66)
Average extreme snow depth inches (cm) 11.0
(28) 		7.7
(20) 		4.1
(10) 		0.1
(0.25) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		1.9
(4.8) 		9.7
(25) 		16.0
(41)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 18.8 15.6 19.0 16.5 12.8 12.1 6.4 6.3 10.8 16.6 19.9 19.5 174.3
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 4.4 2.6 2.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.3 5.1 15.5
Source 1: NOAA[8]
Source 2: National Weather Service[9]

Panorama

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

See also

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References

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Diablo Dam.
  1. ^ a b c d e f "Diablo (WA00170)". National Performance of Dams Program (Stanford University). Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved March 4, 2014.
  2. ^ a b c "City Light Projects Harness Powerful Skagit River After Long, Hard Struggle" (PDF). The Concrete Herald. June 21, 1951. Retrieved September 5, 2009.
  3. ^ "Diablo". Carbon Monitoring for Action (CARMA). Archived from the original on March 3, 2016.
  4. ^ "Power Generation: Skagit Project - Diablo Dam". City of Seattle. Retrieved January 6, 2011. Includes construction photos.
  5. ^ "Washington State Tourism Diablo Dam/Lake". Retrieved September 5, 2009.
  6. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013.
  7. ^ "Washington Station Inventory". Western Region Climate Center. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  8. ^ "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Diablo Dam, WA". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  9. ^ "NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Seattle". National Weather Service. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
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