Project History

Over 90 years ago Tacoma Power looked to the Nisqually River for its first hydroelectric power plant. When the original LaGrande Dam started generating power in 1912, it met all the electricity needs of Tacoma Power's customers. But that was in the early days of electrical power and the demand for electricity grew quickly.

By the late 1930s, Tacoma Power's engineers focused on expanding the power generation potential of the Nisqually River. They decided to replace the original LaGrande Dam with two dams. The new dams were built in 1945. Alder Dam forms Alder Lake and has its powerhouse at the base of the dam. Downstream from Alder Dam is a smaller dam, named LaGrande Dam after its predecessor. The original LaGrande powerhouse still is in operation.

Water is channeled through a pipeline from LaGrande Dam to the original (but upgraded) LaGrande powerhouse nearly two miles downstream. Combined, the facilities, reservoirs and wildlife lands associated with these dams are called the Nisqually River Project.

Tacoma Power is now busy implementing a variety of fisheries, wildlife and recreation improvements at the Nisqually River Project. A new federal license issued in 1997 is the impetus for these exciting and challenging endeavors. The new license was developed in consultation with the Nisqually Tribe and Nisqually River Council along with various agencies, including the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service.

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