Historic Hood River
Leaky Pipeline
9-18-2013
Notes
The pipeline which transported water from the Copper Dam to the Powerdale hydroelectric plant was prone to frequent failures. The one we see here apparently was due to a mudslide starting from up the bank which shifted and broke the pipeline.
l.e.
Looks like an absolutely, hopeless, miserable, cold wet, mess to try and repair.
Appears to be a creek bubbling down the hillside up in front of the pipe.
What was the distance between the dam and the Powerdale plant?
nels
For non locals, going down the private road (Jenny Copper family) to Copper Dam and then walking on the catwalk on top of the pipe was rather a local activity. If the cat walk was not there or ended, you simply balanced on top of the pipe, found a place to slide down tothe ground and walked on down towards Powerdale. There was a pretty good path there on the west side as it was a great place to fish as well. Much of that is nowturned in to a future public wildlife area when the native vegetation takes hold and the plans for public use are implemented.
Buzz
By upbringing and natural inclination, I have never considered myself to be a staunch environmentalist, particularly in my younger years. But many photos of environmental messes on this site and personal experiences over the years have driven home the fact that we could have done a better job of taking care of this planet earth
del
In the 1940’s my father worked for Pacific Power & Light and one of his many duties was to walk the length of that pipeline looking for leaks and even had to crawl inside during the winter to keep the ice factor down.
charlott
This appears to be the more modern version of the pipeline. Years ago it was wooden, at least in some areas and talk about springing leaks. They would shoot many feet into the air. One winter I am thinking somewhere around 1948 and 1950 we had a terrible cold spell, with lots of ice. My Dad hiked down in there and took the most fantastic photos of that old pipeline shooting water up into the trees where it instantly froze. He said he was slipping and sliding all the way getting down in there and back out, but he would not be daunted, he was going to get photos.
arlen sheldrake
this looks like the wood version to me….have memories of water spouts from the occasional leaks. it was interesting that pp&l had to remove the steel pipe on the MHRR right of way as the lease was good only as long as the pipe was in use. I agree Buzz, business is only kind to the planet if required by either stock holders or those with a stick.
Susan Baldwin
Jack Baldwin and his construction crew worked on the pipeline many times, replacing the wooden, waterlogged staves and tightening the round steel bands that held the pipeline together. As one might imagine it was a messy job.
MarkhamMark Anderson
Does anyone remember My Grandfather Charlie Hess who Lived in Hood River most of his life. Worked for PP&L and BPA I think .. He was also caretaker at Powerdale Dam….. A great Fisherman
Bill P.
Do we any photos of the frozen leaks in the winter? Spectaculer site.
Bill P.
Arthur
Many, many pictures of frozen leaks. I’ll put one up this winter.
Russell Senior
I recall picnicking/playing just downstream of the dam, which was an easy walk or bike ride from visits to Julie Carr’s house, near the airport. And I recall walking under the flume to get to the beach, and water dripping on us as we did so.