It may not be a patriotic duty, but it certainly is a patriotic privilege to attend the Festival of America this Friday and Saturday, July 4-5, 2014, at the park below the Visitor Center.
For the complete schedule, see The Star’s Festival of America special section below. Or pick one up at any store or the Chamber of Commerce’s booth in the park.
There’s a little bit of everything for everyone and a whole lot of fun for the lot, in the two-day celebration.
The festival offers free music, food, a craft fair, a new laser light show and on Friday night, fireworks over Grand Coulee Dam.
The craft and food fair kicks off each day from 11 a.m. and continues to 9:45 p.m.
Free, live music on both days starting at 5 p.m. and going until 9:30 p.m.
Fireworks will light up the sky over Grand Coulee Dam at 10:30 on July 4.
All posts by Scott Hunter
Lake will be coming up over 4th of July weekend
With Lake Roosevelt about 4 feet from being full, the Bureau of Reclamation expects the lake to rise starting July 3 by up to a half foot each day through the weekend.
Filling the lake lifts accumulated debris off the shores and into the water where it can be dangerous to boaters.
The Bureau of Reclamation is advising people camping along the Lake Roosevelt shoreline over the July 4 weekend to be aware of potential dangers that could exist due to rapidly rising lake levels.
“When camping along the shoreline, it is recommended that tents and other belongings be kept well away from the water’s edge,” said Public Affairs Officer Lynne Brougher. “Although the lake is a popular vacation spot, it is also a working reservoir that supplies water for hydroelectric facilities at Grand Coulee Dam which can result in rapid fluctuations.”
Brougher says campsites that are too close to the water’s edge could potentially become flooded and boats that are not properly anchored or secured could drift out into the lake and become a safety hazard.
Reclamation must adhere to the court-ordered 2008/2010 FCRPS Biological Opinion requiring the lake to be at the full pool elevation of 1,290 feet above sea level between late June and early July. It was at 1,286 feet above sea level Tuesday evening.
Ranch rodeo to show the real stuff Saturday
Ever wonder what a real cowboy does?
You can find out Saturday evening when the Ridge Riders hold their Ranch Rodeo in Delano. Action begins at 7 p.m.
It’s the second year that the Ridge Riders have brought ranch rodeo action to Grand Coulee.
Saturday’s program is an excellent time to bring the family because children 10 and under can attend free.
Team contestants will compete in the following categories: 1) Team branding; 2) Trailer loading; 3) Pasture gathering, and a special individual category: bronc riding.
Buckles and money are in line for the cowboys and cowgirls in the various categories, where time is the deciding factor.
A ranch rodeo circuit exists from Tonasket to Republic and Winthrop to Grand Coulee.
Last year the Ridge Riders staged a pair of ranch rodeos.
Teams are made up of three men and one woman, and spectators can get a good idea of what a true cowboy/cowgirl will do in today’s ranch world.
Teams can be made up from individual ranches or a combination of members.
Magic and fun festival coming up for kids
The upcoming weekend’s Koulee Kids Fest offers a passport for fun that will keep parents and kids entertained for hours, plus offer a chance to win some really great prizes.
To participate this Saturday, June 14, kids pick up passports at the Grand Coulee Dam Visitor Center, Saturday Market or Coulee Hardware. All the information will be provided when they pick up their passport.
Kids and their parents take part in at least six featured events and show up at the Grand Gallery Theatre at 3 p.m. for the drawing for a Kindle Fire, an iPod and a lot more. Winners must be present and 12 or under to win.
And they can stay for a free magic show, starring Dick Frost, a 45-minute event billed to fascinate young and old alike.
At last count, venues for passport entries included:
• catching a fish at the huge tribal tank next to the museum;
• riding a paddle boat at Coulee Playland;
• stopping by the Coulee Cruizers’ Car Show and Shine event at North Dam Park to vote on your favorite car;
• buying a burger or hot dog at the Lions Club BBQ at North Dam Park;
• visiting the Visitor Center at Grand Coulee Dam, finding “Rosie” and coloring your favorite quilt blocks;
• playing disc golf at North Dam Park;
• geocache fun at Funzee’s in Grand Coulee;
• creating chalk art at the Skate Park;
• checking out the inside of a fire truck;
• getting free ice cream from the Coulee Creamery at North Dam Park between noon and 3 pm;
• slingshoting a stuffed pig at the Tropical Pig in Electric City;
• stopping by Saturday Market for a free cookie; and
• playing a round of mini-golf at Sunbanks Lake Resort in Electric City.
Here’s a link to a map of events
For more on the Koulee Kids Fest, see the Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce’s website.
How much water is coming out of that hole?
For several weeks, a powerful flow of water has been pounding the river below the dam, rushing from one outlet tube in the dam.
It causes a very slight vibration in my nearby home, so that the door between the kitchen and garage emits a high-pitched squeak. I can’t feel it or otherwise detect the vibration, but when I hear that squeak, I know that if I walk out my front door I’ll see that gigantic, thundering water spout.
So how big is it that water spout?
Flow records indicate there’s about 3.9 kcfs shooting out of that tube. That’s 3,900 cubic feet per second, or 29,000 gallons. Every second.
Water weighs something like 8 pounds per gallon, depending on the temperature, so that comes out to 232,000 pounds per second of water, under pressure, pounding the river 150 feet (guessing) below.
That’s impressive, but when you consider the total flow of the river is right now about 160 kcfs you’re only looking at about 2 percent of the river squeezing through that tube. The rest is making power through the generators.
The funny thing is that just watching 2/100ths of the river make an impressive show of power helps me appreciate the tremendous energy of the river tapped by the dam and sent out into the nation.