Dworshak Dam and Reservoir

Dworshak Dam is located at the mouth of the North Fork of the Clearwater River. Construction of the dam was completed in 1972 thus ending the log drives on the North Fork in 1971. The film Last of the Log Drives tells the story of these annual drives that sent thousands of logs down the river to the Potlatch mill near Lewiston. The original name, Bruces Eddy was changed to Dworshak in honor of a former Idaho senator. At 717 ft. (crest length 3287 ft.) Dworshak Dam is the highest straight axis concrete dam in the Western Hemisphere. Hoover Dam, at a height of 728 ft. is one of only two other dams in the United States that is taller than Dworshak. The reservoir created by the dam is 53 miles long, extending into the Bitterroot Mountains of Idaho. It provides power, recreational opportunities and wildlife benefits to the communities and citizens of north central Idaho. The area drained by the North Fork River was the scene of a dramatic manhunt in the 1940's when it was discovered that Bill Moreland, locally known as the Ridgerunner, was discovered to have been living off the land  by breaking into and pilfering supplies from Forest Service cabins in the area. Moreland's story was told by Richard Ripley in the book The Ridgerunner, Elusive Loner of the Wilderness.    Dworshak National Fish Hatchery sits below the dam. The hatchery spawns steelhead and salmon.  Back to Field Trip