Lake Pateros, near Pateros in north central Washington, is part of one of the most productive hydroelectric corridors in the United States. Formed by Wells Dam on the Columbia River, the reservoir combines a major power project with the scenic landscape and recreational opportunities of the upper Columbia.
Recent annual generation at Wells Dam was roughly 4.3 terawatt hours equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of approximately 415,000 average U.S. homes, using the 2024 U.S. residential benchmark of 10,356 kilowatt-hours per household.
Wells Dam is operated by Douglas County PUD and has ten generating units with roughly 840 megawatts of peaking capacity. Unlike many conventional dam designs, Wells uses a distinctive hydrocombine arrangement that integrates the generating units, spillways, switchyard equipment, and fish passage facilities into a compact structure. Commercial power production began in 1967.
The reservoir extends along the Columbia above Wells Dam, with its waters surrounded by orchards, dry hills, and steep river slopes. The landscape reflects the character of north central Washington where irrigated agricultural land meets the shrub steppe terrain of the Columbia Basin.
Lake Pateros is also closely tied to the region’s outdoor economy. Boating and fishing are popular along the reservoir, while the town of Pateros provides an accessible base for visitors exploring the Columbia River and nearby Methow Valley.
The electricity generated at Wells Dam does not serve Douglas County alone. Power is sold to utilities including Puget Sound Energy, Portland General Electric, and Avista connecting the reservoir’s river flow to electricity demand across the Pacific Northwest.
Lake Pateros therefore represents more than a scenic stretch of the Columbia River. Its waters are part of a carefully engineered system that converts the river’s enormous flow into electricity while supporting navigation, fisheries, recreation, and agriculture. At roughly 4.3 billion kilowatt hours of recent annual generation, Wells Dam demonstrates how a relatively compact hydroelectric facility can make a substantial contribution to the region’s power supply.