Bull Run Hydroelectric Project
| Company type | Power generation project |
|---|---|
| Industry | Hydroelectric power |
| Founded | January 1, 1908 |
| Defunct | 2008 |
| Fate | Decommissioned and dismantled |
| Headquarters | Bull Run , United States |
Area served | Portland metropolitan region |
| Products | Hydroelectric power |
| Owner | Portland General Electric (original), later Powerhouse Re Gen LLC (powerhouse only) |
| Parent | Portland General Electric (original) |
The Bull Run Hydroelectric Project was an undertaking by Portland General Electric (PGE) located within the Sandy River watershed in Oregon. Built between 1908 and 1912 close to Bull Run, Oregon, it supplied hydroelectric energy to the Portland metropolitan region for nearly one hundred years before its dismantling during 2007–2008. The infrastructure incorporated a network of canals, tunnels, wooden box flumes, and diversion dams to channel water to a distant reservoir and generating station. Due to environmental concerns, Marmot Dam on the Sandy River was decommissioned and removed in 2007, followed by the removal of Little Sandy Dam on the Little Sandy River in 2008.
History and overview
Construction commenced in 1906 under the Mount Hood Railway and Power Company (MHR&P), also referred to as Mount Hood Company, which erected Little Sandy Dam to divert water through a wooden flume stretching approximately long toward Roslyn Lake. This dam curtailed flow along the lower section of the Little Sandy River and obstructed salmon and steelhead migration to the upper reaches. Positioned at an elevation of , Roslyn Lake functioned as a reservoir for the powerhouse completed in 1912—the same year MHR&P merged with Portland Railway, Light and Power Company (PRL&P), the predecessor of PGE.
In 1913, PRL&P constructed Marmot Dam on the Sandy River to augment water diversion alongside Little Sandy Dam. Marmot Dam stood tall and redirected water through a canal and tunnel system—including a tunnel beneath the ridge separating the two rivers—to boost flow into Little Sandy above its diversion dam. This arrangement delivered up to from Marmot and an additional from Little Sandy via the flume into Roslyn Lake.
Although Marmot Dam included a fish ladder designed to facilitate salmon and steelhead passage, it underperformed initially and required multiple enhancements throughout the 1990s. To mitigate fish hazards associated with the diversion canal, PGE installed fish screens in 1951 and subsequently implemented a bypass rescue mechanism.
The original timber crib structure of Marmot Dam was replaced by a concrete dam in 1989.
Operations
| Feature | Location |
|---|---|
| Marmot Dam | 45°23′59″N 122°07′56″W / 45.39969°N 122.13233°W |
| Little Sandy Dam | 45°24′54″N 122°10′39″W / 45.41492°N 122.17757°W |
| Roslyn Lake | 45°25′30″N 122°14′31″W / 45.425°N 122.242°W |
| Bull Run Hydro powerhouse | 45°25′44″N 122°14′02″W / 45.42901°N 122.23395°W |
The powerhouse generated up to 22 megawatts (MW), enough electricity to serve approximately 12,000 households as of 2007.
Decommissioning
Marmot Dam represented the largest concrete dam removal project undertaken in the United States, necessitating rigorous oversight. PGE received initial approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in 1999 and collaborated with RESOLVE, a nonprofit mediation organization, to create a consensus-driven decommissioning plan finalized in 2002. Primary concerns addressed included effects on salmonid populations and sediment discharge impacting river ecology. In 2004, PGE chose not to renew its license, citing that mitigation expenses surpassed financial returns. The facility operated under license extensions until final permits were granted by both the National Marine Fisheries Service and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in May 2007.
Prior to demolition commencing on July 26, 2007, a temporary coffer dam was constructed upstream. Controlled detonations followed by pneumatic hammering took place over four months to dismantle the structure. By September 30, 2007, all concrete had been cleared, and on October 20, the temporary dam was washed away, restoring uninterrupted flow to the Sandy River for the first time since its construction in 1912. This removal process was featured on National Geographic Channel's Megastructures Breakdown series.
In 2008, PGE proceeded with dismantling Little Sandy Dam, which eliminated Roslyn Lake and reopened migratory pathways for fish species. By 2009, salmon and steelhead were observed spawning upstream once again. Subsequently, PGE donated approximately 1,500 acres of former dam land to Western Rivers Conservancy for incorporation into a larger 9,000-acre natural reserve managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Water rights were transferred to state authorities while PGE continues ongoing biological monitoring efforts.
Although originally slated for demolition, PGE sold the Bull Run powerhouse in 2011 to Powerhouse Re Gen LLC, an organization dedicated to historic preservation. The property encompasses the powerhouse itself, the former Bull Run elementary school building, and portions of Roslyn Lake Recreational Area. Restoration initiatives commenced despite no finalized plans for adaptive reuse.
Powerhouse Re Gen commemorated the facility’s centennial in 2012 with an event attended by around 600 visitors and collected oral histories from former employees. The site gained cultural recognition when featured in NBC's Grimm episode titled "Leave It to Beavers."
In April 2014, Clackamas County designated this collection of structures as its first Historic District outside incorporated areas. Following an appeal process, Oregon’s Land Use Board of Appeals upheld zoning amendments permitting adaptive reuse within resource zones—setting a precedent for historic preservation within timberland and agricultural districts.
Ownership transitions in 2016 transferred stewardship of the schoolhouse and parklands to Trackers Earth, an environmental education organization. Meanwhile, management of the Powerhouse became independent under Powerhouse Center On The Bull Run, a nonprofit focused on preserving heritage while advancing environmentally responsible future uses.
Works cited
- Taylor, Barbara (1998). "A Historical Overview of Salmon and Steelhead Runs and Related Events in the Sandy River Basin". Portland, Oregon: Portland General Electric Company. Accessed January 16, 2010.
External links
- Settlement Agreement Regarding the Removal of the Bull Run Hydroelectric Project...: Agreement between PGE and involved parties, dated October 24, 2002. (1.2MB pdf)
- Clean Water Act Section 401 Certification Evaluation and Findings Report for the Decommissioning of the Bull Run Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 477), located in the Sandy River Basin, Clackamas County, Oregon (1.2MB pdf).
- Restoration Efforts in the Sandy River Basin (American Rivers)
- Dams completed in 1906
- Energy infrastructure completed in 1912
- Buildings and structures in Clackamas County, Oregon
- Dams in Oregon
- Hydroelectric power plants in Oregon
- Former hydroelectric power plants in the United States
- Portland General Electric dams
- 1912 establishments in Oregon
- Demolished buildings and structures in Oregon
- 2007 disestablishments in Oregon
- Former dams
- Buildings and structures demolished in 2007
- Former power stations in Oregon