Diverting the Columbia River
Clip: Season 24 Episode 6 | 2m 40s
The biggest challenge in building Grand Coulee Dam was diverting the flow of the Columbia. To make this happen, the workers had to build cofferdams, temporary structures that keep the river at bay, allowing workers to dig out the mud and expose the granite bedrock on which the dam would rest. The west side cofferdam was completed on March 23, 1935. Soon after, the water level rose 32 feet.
Aired: 04/03/12
Buy Now:
![Timeline: Building the Grand Coulee Dam]()
![Photo Gallery: The Colville Indians]()
![Grand Coulee Dam: Engineering Challenges]()
Grand Coulee Dam: Engineering Challenges
The engineering challenges became apparent as soon as construction got underway.
Episode Links
Corporate sponsorship for American Experience is provided by Liberty Mutual Insurance and Consumer Cellular. Major funding by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.
