Print this page Print this page

Roll Columbia

 J.M. Syken

Course Outline

Through the viewing of several archival/documentary films produced in the 1940s/80s/90s, we will examine the history, development and control of the Columbia River System in the Pacific Northwest and the work of the Bureau of Reclamation in the western states.

Furthermore, we will examine the two main dams on the river; the Grand Coulee and the Bonneville Dam/s. This will include the means by which the dams provide flood control, irrigation and hydroelectric power generation under the auspices of the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA).

This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of the course materials.

Learning Objective

At the conclusion of this course, the student will:

Intended Audience

This course is intended for architects, engineers, contractors and other design/construction professionals.

Benefit to Attendees

The attendee/s will gain an intimate knowledge and insight into the taming of the Columbia River for flood control, irrigation and power generation.

Course Introduction

The course incorporates the viewing of several archival/documentary films broken down as follows;

Part 1 examines the great work of the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation in the seventeen western states for harnessing the native rivers and supplying the region with sufficient fresh water. Part 2 examines the four great river systems of the Pacific Slope inclusive of the Columbia. Part 3 examines the Columbia River from its source in the Canadian Rockies to its outlet to the Pacific Ocean. Part 4 examines the history of the development of the Pacific Northwest and the critical role of the Columbia in that development. Part 5 examines the operations of the Grand Coulee Dam on the upper Columbia River.

Course Content

Part 1 – Reclamation Works;
TITLE: Western World of Water (1990)
LINK: http://archive.org/details/gov.ntis.ava19490vnb1.5
DURATION: 05:38
Part 2 – Rivers of the West;
TITLE: Rivers of the Pacific Slope (1947)
LINK: http://archive.org/details/Riversof1947
DURATION: 10:38
Part 3 – The Columbia River System;
TITLE: The Mighty Columbia River (1947)
LINK: http://archive.org/details/MightyCo1947
DURATION: 09:58
Part 4 – America’s Greatest Power Stream;
TITLE: The Columbia (1949)
LINK: http://archive.org/details/gov.fdr.353.3.4
DURATION: 21:09
Part 5 – Grand Coulee;
TITLE: Powering One Corner of the World (1987)
LINK: http://archive.org/details/gov.ntis.ava19490vnb1.3
DURATION: 07:49

Course Summary

When Thomas Jefferson sent Lewis and Clark on their famous expedition, he foresaw a land that would provide a fresh start for settlers brave and daring enough to make the difficult journey west. They discovered a vast country with wide rivers that led to the sea, the greatest of which was the Columbia. Navigable deep into the interior, it was ideal for exporting the main industries of the Pacific Northwest; lumber and fish. But the river was wild in places and dams would be needed if floods were to be controlled and the dry land irrigated well enough to bear fruit. The dams tamed the river, irrigated the farmer’s fields and provided abundant power, enough to supply major industries such as Aluminum with inexpensive, plentiful electricity without which they could not function. The Columbia still rolled to the sea, but by the middle of the 20th Century it was “America’s greatest power stream,” worthy of the title: Great River of the West.

Related Links

For additional technical information related to this subject, please visit the following websites:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbia_River

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Coulee_Dam

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonneville_Dam

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nsHKl5LpzI
(Film: Look to the River - 20.33)

Quiz

Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.

DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.