Expansion of the Clackamas River Hydroelectric Project

1940s - 1980s

A fourth new hydroelectric power plant is being constructed along the Clackamas River, uniquely different from the other three, and extensive updates to the Oak Grove Hydroelectric Project provide increased capacity. PGE also looked to reinvest in the community by providing camping and recreation opportunities along the Clackamas River, a program that continues as a core PGE commitment today.

1948

1956

1958

North Fork Powerhouse & Reservoir

North Fork Hydroelectric Plant & Reservoir was completed on the Clackamas River. The dam is a concrete arched variable radius dam, thickness varies from 32 feet at the base to 8 feet at the crest with a 200-foot-long spillway. At a height of 206 feet, it is the tallest of the five arched concrete dams in Oregon.

1948

1956

1958

Portland General Electric (PGE) Returns

PGE emerged as an independent investor-owned utility after PEPCO was dissolved.

1953

PGE Parks & Recreation

PGE launched its extensive program to provide parks and recreational facilities near each of the hydro generating sites. Still loved today by millions of Oregonians, the parks program earned PGE its first Edison Award for leadership in developing parks and conserving natural resources around the dams.

Learn more about North Fork Hydroelectric Plant

Additional Resources:

Learn more about PGE Parks

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North Fork Dam and Powerhouse

Frog Lake & Dam completed to expand capacity of the Oak Grove Hydro Project. Timothy Lake Lodge was constructed followed by Timothy Meadows Reservoir, later renamed Timothy Lake and Dam. Timothy Lake was created to provide a seasonal storage reservoir for all the PGE hydroelectric plants on the Clackamas. Water is released from the reservoir during months when lack of rain or freezing weather reduces natural stream flow to levels below peak operation. When Timothy Lake was completed, it was the largest water body in the Mount Hood National Forest.

Timothy & Frog Lake

(Oregon Encyclopedia)

Additional Resources:

Clackamas River Hydroelectric Project

(Oregon Encyclopedia)

Oak Grove Powerhouse (Station P) & Three Lynx Village

Station P, named “Oak Grove Hydroelectric Plant” was constructed in 1924. Water diverted into a flowline from dammed Lake Harriet travels approximately 7 miles along the surface through a series of gate house portal structures before dropping 800 feet to the powerhouse. This sharp drop in elevation allows water to flow into the powerhouse at a very fast speed, generating enough electricity to power more than 24,000 homes. This design makes it PGE’s most efficient hydro facility. To help support development of the project, Three Lynx Village was constructed. It was later expanded to serve as permanent housing for PGE operators and their families from the 1920’s through 2020, giving it a history and significance of its own.

River Mill Hydroelectric Plant

Station M, named “River Mill Hydroelectric Plant,” forms Estacada Lake and remains operational today. River Mill, an Ambursen style dam, began generating power in 1911. It’s on the National Register of Historic Places and generates enough power for more than 10,000 homes!

Electric Building

PGE builds its corporate headquarters in downtown Portland, named the “Electric Building.” Built between 1909 and 1910, PGE’s brand-new Electric building had the distinction of being the first building in Portland to feature permanent exterior lighting – lit up with over 1,100 light bulbs to remind downtown shoppers to buy electrical service for their homes. The building served as the company’s central headquarters and housed its main electricity generating station.

Faraday Powerhouse (Station G)

Station G was originally named “Cazadero” after the location of the nearby station on the Estacada interurban railway line of the Portland Railway Light & Power Company. In 1937 it was renamed “Faraday” after Michael Faraday, who was known as the father of electricity for his invention of the electric generator in 1831. When the powerhouse became operational in 1907, it was the first hydroelectric facility completed on the Clackamas River. It was demolished in 2019 to make way for a new facility. The legacy continued when the newly constructed Faraday power plant became operational in 2023.

1924

1911

1909

1907

Constructing Hydropower on the Clackamas River

The Clackamas River has provided PGE with more than 130 years of innovation and sustainable energy production – enough to power 78,000 homes! The hydropower plants along the Clackamas River are an emissions-free, local source of electricity that draws its energy from the natural power of the regional water cycle. The hydropower facilities here don’t just provide a reliable, clean source of energy, their reservoirs provide Oregonians with a great place for outdoor recreational activities like swimming, boating and fishing, making them a significant part of PGE’s history.

1860s - 1930s

Additional Resources:

Thomas W. Sullivan

Learn more about Station B

History of PGE

Electrifying Oregon

Powering Progress

A Thoughtful Transition

History of PGE

Electrifying Oregon

Powering Progress

A Thoughtful Transition

History of PGE

Electrifying Oregon

Powering Progress

A Thoughtful Transition

Forever Evolving

Powering the Future

A Thoughtful Transition

Clackamas Project Expansion

Building Reliable Power Plants

Powering Progress

Willamette Falls

Clackamas River Construction

Electrifying Oregon

History of PGE

2007 | Port Westward

Forever Evolving

Learn about Port Westward

2007 | Biglow Canyon Wind Farm

Powering the Future

Learn about Biglow Canyon Wind Farm

2016 | Carty Generating Station

Forever Evolving

View the 1990s - Present Timeline

2020 | Wheatridge Renewable Energy Facility

Powering the Future

View the 1990s - Present Timeline

2014 | Tucannon River Wind Farm

Powering the Future

Learn about Tucannon River Wind Farm

1974 | Beaver Combustion Plant

Building Reliable Power Plants

Learn about Beaver Combustion Plant

1976 | Trojan Nuclear Power Plant

Building Reliable Power Plants

Learn about Trojan Nuclear Power Plant

1980 | Boardman Coal Power Plant

Building Reliable Power Plants

Learn about Boardman Coal Power Plant

1958 | North Fork Hydroelectric Plant

Expansion of the Clackamas River Hydroelectric Project

Learn about North Fork Hydroelectric Plant

1964 | Round Butte Dam & Powerhouse

Building Reliable Power Plants

View the 1940s - 1980s Timeline

1958 | Pelton Dam & Powerhouse

Building Reliable Power Plants

View the 1940s - 1980s Timeline

1965 | Bethel-Round Butte Transmission Line

Building Reliable Power Plants

Learn about Bethel-Round Butte Transmission Line

1956 | Timothy Lake

Expansion of the Clackamas River Hydroelectric Project

View the 1940s - 1980s Timeline

1956 | Frog Lake

Expansion of the Clackamas River Hydroelectric Project

View the 1940s - 1980s Timeline

1953 | PGE Parks & Recreation

Expansion of the Clackamas River Hydroelectric Project

View the 1940s - 1980s Timeline

1909 | Electric Building

Constructing Hydropower on the Clackamas River

View the 1860s - 1930s Timeline

1911 | The Milliken Transmission Line

Constructing Hydropower on the Clackamas River

Learn about The Milliken Transmission Line

1907 | Faraday Powerhouse (Station G)

Constructing Hydropower on the Clackamas River

View the 1860s - 1930s Timeline

1911 | River Mill Powerhouse (Station M)

Constructing Hydropower on the Clackamas River

View the 1860s - 1930s Timeline

1924 | Three Lynx Village

Constructing Hydropower on the Clackamas River

Learn about Three Lynx Village

1924 | Oak Grove Powerhouse (Station P)

Constructing Hydropower on the Clackamas River

View the 1860s - 1930s Timeline

1895 | T.W. Sullivan Powerhouse (Station B)

Willamette Falls: the birthplace of an electric Oregon & PGE

Learn about Station B

1889 | Willamette Falls Powerhouse (Station A)

Willamette Falls: the birthplace of an electric Oregon & PGE

Learn about Station A

1868 | Willamette Falls Canal and Locks Company

Willamette Falls: the birthplace of an electric Oregon & PGE

View the 1860s - 1930s Timeline

2007 | Port Westward

Forever Evolving

Learn about Port Westward

2007 | Biglow Canyon Wind Farm

Powering the Future

Learn about Biglow Canyon Wind Farm

2016 | Carty Generating Station

Forever Evolving

View the 1990s - Present Timeline

2020 | Wheatridge Renewable Energy Facility

Powering the Future

View the 1990s - Present Timeline

2014 | Tucannon River Wind Farm

Powering the Future

Learn about Tucannon River Wind Farm

1974 | Beaver Combustion Plant

Building Reliable Power Plants

Learn about Beaver Combustion Plant

1976 | Trojan Nuclear Power Plant

Building Reliable Power Plants

Learn about Trojan Nuclear Power Plant

1980 | Boardman Coal Power Plant

Building Reliable Power Plants

Learn about Boardman Coal Power Plant

1958 | North Fork Hydroelectric Plant

Expansion of the Clackamas River Hydroelectric Project

Learn about North Fork Hydroelectric Plant

1964 | Round Butte Dam & Powerhouse

Building Reliable Power Plants

View the 1940s - 1980s Timeline

1958 | Pelton Dam & Powerhouse

Building Reliable Power Plants

View the 1940s - 1980s Timeline

1965 | Bethel-Round Butte Transmission Line

Building Reliable Power Plants

Learn about Bethel-Round Butte Transmission Line

1956 | Timothy Lake

Expansion of the Clackamas River Hydroelectric Project

View the 1940s - 1980s Timeline

1956 | Frog Lake

Expansion of the Clackamas River Hydroelectric Project

View the 1940s - 1980s Timeline

1953 | PGE Parks & Recreation

Expansion of the Clackamas River Hydroelectric Project

View the 1940s - 1980s Timeline

1909 | Electric Building

Constructing Hydropower on the Clackamas River

View the 1860s - 1930s Timeline

1911 | The Milliken Transmission Line

Constructing Hydropower on the Clackamas River

Learn about The Milliken Transmission Line

1907 | Faraday Powerhouse (Station G)

Constructing Hydropower on the Clackamas River

View the 1860s - 1930s Timeline

1911 | River Mill Powerhouse (Station M)

Constructing Hydropower on the Clackamas River

View the 1860s - 1930s Timeline

1924 | Three Lynx Village

Constructing Hydropower on the Clackamas River

Learn about Three Lynx Village

1924 | Oak Grove Powerhouse (Station P)

Constructing Hydropower on the Clackamas River

View the 1860s - 1930s Timeline

1895 | T.W. Sullivan Powerhouse (Station B)

Willamette Falls: the birthplace of an electric Oregon & PGE

Learn about Station B

1889 | Willamette Falls Powerhouse (Station A)

Willamette Falls: the birthplace of an electric Oregon & PGE

Learn about Station A

1868 | Willamette Falls Canal and Locks Company

Willamette Falls: the birthplace of an electric Oregon & PGE

View the 1860s - 1930s Timeline

Show All

A Thoughtful Transition

1990s - Present

Powering Progress

1940s - 1980s

Electrifying Oregon

1860s - 1930s