Wells Reservoir Recreation

Local residents and tourists use the Wells Reservoir for recreational opportunities such as: boating, fishing, hiking and camping. Many sportsmen visit the area during the fall and winter months to fish for steelhead and to hunt for waterfowl, upland birds and deer.

Recreation Management Plan

Click here for printable brochure of Wells Reservoir Recreation Opportunities

Wells forebay elevations at the Project are listed hourly below.  This information should be used as a reference only, not a prediction of future levels.  The Wells Hydroelectric Project license allows for a 10 foot elevation variation of the forebay.  The normal maximum water elevation at the upstream face of the dam is 781 feet above sea level and the normal minimum elevation is 771. The forebay is usually operated in the upper elevations of the allowable range.

The Wells forebay level may fluctuate throughout the day depending on a number of factors including but not limited to:

• Amount of water released from upstream projects
• Seasonal river flows
• Power demand, prescheduled power sales
• Flows for fish protection

The elevation of the Wells Reservoir at boat launches upstream of the dam may be different than the forebay elevation at the dam, depending on Columbia River flow volumes.

The elevations below Wells Dam are influenced by both the operation of Wells Dam and Rocky Reach Dam. This area will often experience significant elevation changes over a very short period of time.

Please note: Boaters must exercise due care when launching and piloting boats in the Wells Reservoir and directly below Wells Dam.