The Brownlee hydroelectric project

THE BROWNLEE PROJECT is the first step in the comprehensive development of the middle stretch of the Snake River between Weiser, Idaho, and the upstream end of the Hells Canyon gorge. The ultimate development will consist of three projects, developing a total head of 602 feet with an initial installed machine capacity of 822,000 kw. A Federal Power Commission license was issued August 4, 1955, for the construction of the three projects. Design drawings were approved by the Commission on November 3, 1955, and construction was started at Brownlee a week later. Within the short space of 32 months, the first unit was pumping power into the interconnected systems of the Northwest Power Pool At the peak of the construction effort, 3,400 workers and $7 million worth of heavy construction equipment were used.