Franklin D. Roosevelt Lake

Before we begin, a quick refresher on Lake Roosevelt  the lake is formed by the waters of the Columbia River restricted behind Grand Coulee Dam. The full name of this 150 mile long body of water is Franklin D. Roosevelt Lake. The lake has approximately 500 miles of shoreline consisting of indented coves, sandy beaches, towering cliffs, and broad bays. The Lake Roosevelt watershed drains 44,969 square miles, almost 88% of which originates in Canada. The water in Lake Roosevelt comes from glacial ice, lakes and precipitation base made up of mostly melting snow pack in the spring. Close to 89% of Lake Roosevelt’s water comes from the Columbia River.   There are four additional rivers joining this inland waterway within the confines of the lake. They are, in order of occurrence; the Kettle River, the Colville River, the Spokane River and the San Poil River, with the Spokane being the largest of the four. Of the remaining water flow 7% comes from the Spokane River and 4% comes from a combination of the Kettle, Colville, and Sanpoil Rivers. Lake Roosevelt is a long, narrow lake spanning two distinctly different environs.



Map showing Ferry County and all of Franklin D. Roosevelt Lake

The entire eastern boundary of Ferry County is waterway. Starting from the north, at the Canadian border the Kettle River forms the 27 mile long demarcation between Ferry and Stevens Counties, with the lower 8 miles of that stretch being with the Lake Roosevelt National Recreational area. At the southern point of Kamloops Island the Kettle River joins the Columbia, which waters are impinged behind Grand Coulee Dam forming Lake Roosevelt. Including the lower reach of the Kettle River that is within the Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area there is 26 miles of shoreline managed by the National Park Service within Ferry County. Above the village of Inchelium near Barnaby Island the shoreline of the lake forms not only the eastern boundary of Ferry County but the eastern line of the Colville Confederated Tribal lands for another 84 miles downstream. In the southern portion of the county Lake Roosevelt is the line between Lincoln and Ferry Counties. All told Lake Roosevelt forms 110 miles of Ferry County's eastern and southern boundary.

GRAND COULEE DAM

Grand Coulee Dam is one of the largest concrete structures in the world. It contains nearly 12 million cubic yards of concrete and  is the largest hydropower producer in the United States, generating more than 21 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity each year.
  

The Grand Coulee Dam: Looking upstream from below the dam. J. Foster Fanning photography

Keller Ferry Crossing

Looking north from the upper Wilbur Grade down to the Keller Ferry Crossing area of Lake Roosevelt. Mouth of the San Poil River, also known as the San Poil Arm is waterway in middle ground. Southern Kettle River Range are the background mountains. J. Foster Fanning photography

Lake Roosevelt Watershed
The Lake Roosevelt watershed drains 44,969 square miles, almost 88% of which originates in Canada. The water in Lake Roosevelt comes from glacial ice, lakes and precipitation base made up of mostly melting snow pack in the spring. Close to 89% of Lake Roosevelt’s water comes from the Columbia River.   There are four additional rivers joining this inland waterway within the confines of the lake. They are, in order of occurrence; the Kettle River, the Colville River, the Spokane River and the San Poil River, with the Spokane being the largest of the four. Of the remaining water flow 7% comes from the Spokane River and 4% comes from a combination of the Kettle, Colville, and Sanpoil Rivers.
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The M/V SAN POIL approaching landing on the Ferry County side of Franklin D. Roosevelt Lake.
J. Foster Fanning photography

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