cover.html

Newspaper unknown, March 5, 1957, page __

RIVER TO COVER CELILO FALLS SUNDAY

Celilo Falls will be completely covered by The Dalles dam reservoir Sunday, March 10, and on the same day the first water will flow over the spillway at the dam, project Resident Engineer H.B. Elder reports.
Earlier planning by the Corps of Engineers had indicated that The Dalles dam would be closed Saturday, March 9, but flow of the Columbia river and coordination of releases at McNary and Bonneville projects have brought about a revision of previous closure plans.
Elder yesterday said it is still too early to say exactly at what hour Sunday water will start coming over the spillway but that it is expected to be late Sunday afternoon.
Sunday morning all powerhouse tunnels will be closed and the flow of the river will start piling up to create The Dalles dam reservoir and by late that afternoon water will have risen enough to start flowing over the spillway. The reservoir Sunday will be raised to 130 feet mean sea level and maintained at that level throughout the week by releases over the spillway. On the following Saturday the spillway will be closed and the remainder of the reservoir created up to 155 feet mean sea level shortly before the opening up of navigation lock ceremony starting at 1 p.m.
Elder made arrangements yesterday with a navigation ceremony committee to have water going over the spillway on Saturday, March 16, at the time the governors of Washington and Idaho and their official party are touring the project as an added attraction for the event.
When all gates at the dam are closed Sunday morning, the river will gradually rise and slowly back up to cover Celilo Falls. At full reservoir the Columbia river behind the dam will appear much the same as it does during flooding conditions except there will not be the force of current that is noticeable during flooding conditions.