Pelton Dam
| Company type | Hydroelectric facility |
|---|---|
| Industry | Energy |
| Founded | 1958 |
| Headquarters | Jefferson County , United States |
| Products | Hydroelectric power |
| Owner | Portland General Electric |
Pelton Dam is a significant hydroelectric facility located on the Deschutes River within Jefferson County, Oregon. It is owned and operated by Portland General Electric as a component of the Pelton Round Butte Project.
Completed in 1958, this concrete arch structure rises tall above the bedrock and stretches across its crest, producing an output of 110 megawatts of electrical power.
The dam forms Lake Simtustus upstream, a reservoir that extends approximately towards the Round Butte Dam, which was constructed in 1964. Covering around , Lake Simtustus has a storage capacity of . The reservoir’s name commemorates a native scout involved in the U.S. Army’s 1867–68 campaign against the Paiute people.
Approximately downstream lies a regulating dam that controls river flow into the Pelton Regulating Reservoir. In 1982, a hydroelectric turbine was installed by the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs at this site, increasing electricity production. The Tribes were instrumental in re-licensing discussions with Portland General Electric and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission from 2000 to 2005, achieving significant agreements related to environmental protection, cultural preservation, and water rights.
On June 29, 2021, Pelton Dam recorded a temperature of 119°F (48.3°C), marking Oregon’s third-highest temperature ever and equaling previous records set at Prineville and Pendleton in 1898.