Marlon,

I got to take a tour once of the Holt Lock & Dam while I was in electrician's school. It was really cool getting to go down "into" the dam and seeing the power generation process.

Here's a footnote online about fishing below the dams - well said too:

Caution: The electrical generators at the powerhouse are connected to the power system and respond automatically in time of high electrical demand. When these generators start up, they can discharge a large amount of water downstream in a matter of seconds. The closer you get to the dam, the more dangerous it becomes. The changing currents and turbulent waters make boat control extremely difficult, and could cause a boat to sink. The extra yards of fishing gained by venturing too close to a dam are not worth the risk.