Grand Coulee Dam's Third Powerhouse was renamed last week, a press release from the office of Rep. Dan Newhouse, who represents the state's 4th District in Congress, announced.

Interior Secretary David Bernhardt said the renaming is in honor of a father-son duo who were "instrumental in the conception, construction and implementation of operations at the dam."

The announcement was made during a virtual roundtable event hosted by Newhouse (R-WA) and comes on the heels of Secretary Bernhardt's visit to the dam in July. The virtual event highlighted the contributions of Nat Washington Sr. and Jr. and the benefits of Grand Coulee Dam to the Pacific Northwest region.

Interior Assistant Secretary for Water and Science Dr. Tim Petty and Bureau of Reclamation Regional Director Lorri Gray were joined by Washington State Senator Judy Warnick, Washington State Reps. Tom Dent and Alex Ybarra, Colville Business Council Chairman Rodney Cawston, and Mike Scellick, a community advocate and local historian. 

"Grand Coulee Dam is responsible for transforming our region from an arid desert to one of the most productive agricultural regions in the country, and it provides the lifeblood of the Pacific Northwest," Newhouse said. "We know that our way of life would not have been possible without the tireless advocacy and service of Nat Washington and his son, Nat Washington Jr. Until now, their story has been largely untold."  

The Washington family was an early supporter of hydropower and advocated for infrastructure investment.

"The Washington's vision and advocacy extended beyond hydropower development in the Columbia Basin," said Reclamation's Columbia-Pacific Northwest Regional Director Lorri Gray.