Robins Island

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The Bonneville Dam is a hydroelectric dam completed in 1938 and located on the Columbia River at River Mile (RM) 146. The dam complex is built across three islands - Robins, Bradford, and Cascade. When the dam construction began the Columbia River was split only by Bradford Island. As the dam went in the Spillway Dam was built between the Washington shore and the north side of Bradford Island; the powerhouse was built between the south side of Bradford Island and the north side of a newly created island named "Robins Island"; and the locks were built on the south side of Robins Island and the Oregon shore. In 1982 a second powerhouse, called the "North Powerhouse", was built. The Columbia River was re-routed and Cascade Island was created, with the North Powerhouse being built between the north side of Cascade Island and the Washington shore. The Spillway Dam was now anchored on the south shore of Cascade Island.

Robins Island was built during the initial construction of the Bonneville Dam, and was named after the chief engineer in charge of the construction, Colonel Thomas M. Robins. Robins Island is located slightly downstream of Bradford and Cascade Islands at Columbia River Mile (RM) 145. The U.S. Board of Geographic Names made the name "Robins Island" official in 1974. The first powerhouse lies on the north side of Robins Island, and the Bonneville Locks lies on the south side of Robins Island.