BOULDER CANYON PROJECT — NELSON 451 



Erection was started in April 1934 and by January 2, 1935, was 

 in progress in all four tunnels. At the present rate of installation, 

 the entire program of erection will be completed before the end of 

 1936. 



Owing primarily to the progressive manner of its installation, 

 the Bureau of Keclamation elected to place most of the intricate 

 mechanism of the power-plant machinery with its own forces. Four 

 of the 115,000 horsepower units, and one of 55,000 will be placed in 

 the powerhouse, starting in 1935, and two more of 115,000 horse- 

 power in 1936. The other eleven 115,000 horscjjower units and one 

 of 55,000 horsepower are expected to be installed within the next few 

 years in accordance with the power contracts. 



Although of predominant interest at this time, the activities of 

 construction will soon be nearly forgotten in the all-absorbing in- 

 terest in the results being obtained from the project and those 

 anticipated. 



Today the massive structure of the dam boldly fills the gap be- 

 tween canyon walls. Upstream from the dam, the four spires of 

 the intake towers rise from the reservoir, and on each side of the 

 canyon the large spillways occupy basinlike depressions. Immedi- 

 ately downstream from the dam is the U-shaped powerhouse, and in 

 niches in the cliffs farther downstream are the valve houses of the 

 canyon wall outlet works. Adit portals are visible at the down- 

 stream ends of the powerhouse wings and a short distance upstream 

 from the canyon wall valve houses, through which steel pipes are 

 being taken into the penstock tunnels. Down the canyon a few 

 hundred feet, the diversion tunnels open into the river channel, the 

 outer Nevada one now carrying the entire discharge from the 

 reservoir. 



Already the blue-green reservoir has filled the canyons for 80 miles 

 where the river long held sw^ay, and lines of tall towers are marching 

 across the desert, soon to carry millions of watts of power to southern 

 California cities. 



Imperial Valley needs no longer fear drought and flood, for an 

 entire year's supply of irrigation water is already in the reservoir, and 

 floods above Boulder Dam may be shut off entirely if found necessary. 

 Reports are also received of a considerable lessening of the silt content 

 at downstream points, and the reservoir back of the dam is clear for 

 25 miles upstream. Boating and swimming are becoming more pop- 

 ular, and the first bass have been placed in the reservoir by the Bureau 

 of Fisheries Hatchery of Dexter, N. Mex. 



The Bureau of Power and Light of the city of Los Angeles is erect- 

 ing two 3-conductor 287,500-volt transmission lines to Los Angeles. 



36923—36 30 



