HISTORY, GLEN CANYON DAM Average Air Temperature, Water Temp For more information please contact us at info@houseboatlakepowell.com  |
Glen Canyon Dam was conceived by the Bureau of Reclamation between 1946-1948. This area was ideal for the necessary conditions to create a dam, namely, the basin could contain a vast amount of water. Construction on the dam began on October 15, 1956, with the completion of the Glen Canyon Bridge in 1959. The concrete took three years to be placed, working around the clock using buckets that held 24 tons of damp concrete each. There are over five million cubic yards of concrete that make up the dam and power plant. The final three years of construction, consisted of installing the turbines and generators. The dedication of Glen Canyon Dam took place on September 22, 1966, but it took another 17 years for Lake Powell to fill in completely. When all eight generators are operating at full capacity, over 15 million gallons of water pass through the power plant’s penstocks each minute. The Glen Canyon Dam is a key part of the Colorado River Storage Project, which provides water, electricity, flood control, and recreation to millions of people. When Lake Powell is teeming the Dam can hold back 27,000,000 acre feet of water. |