Robert Moses Niagara Power Plant

The Robert Moses Niagara Power Plant is a hydroelectric facility in Lewiston, New York, that generates electricity through thirteen turbines driven by water from the Niagara River. The structure includes underground conduits that carry water from the river to the turbines, along with two large reservoirs that regulate water volume.

Construction began in March 1957 following the collapse of the Schoellkopf Power Station and required three years of work to prepare the site. The facility went into operation after a 1960 court decision allowed the acquisition of land from the Tuscarora.

The plant draws water under agreements with Canada that affect flow over Niagara Falls, altering how the falls appear at different times of day. The two reservoirs help regulate water flow while shaping the natural landscape of the surrounding area.

Access for visitors is limited because the site remains an active production facility, but viewpoints nearby provide an overview of the complex. The grounds sit along the Niagara River, allowing you to appreciate the scale of the project from outside.

The conduits run about 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) underground and carry water volumes that connect the entire system invisibly to the river. The intake structures sit below the water surface, so you see only the result, not the buried infrastructure itself.