John Day Lock & Dam is located 216 miles upriver from the mouth of the Columbia River near the city of Rufus, Ore.
Dedicated in 1968, construction of John Day Lock & Dam was completed in 1971. The project, which consists of a navigation lock, spillway, powerhouse and fish passage facilities, is authorized for navigation and hydroelectric power generation. Various recreational facilities are provided along Lake Umatilla and the John Day River.