Albeni Falls Dam

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) was authorized by Congress in Section 204 of the Flood Control Act of 1950, (PL 81-516, 17 May, 1950) to construct, operate, and maintain Albeni Falls Dam for multiple uses. The Corps operates Albeni Falls Dam according to its congressionally delegated authority to meet these multiple purposes which benefit the local community and regional interests, including hydropower generation, flood risk management, navigation, recreation and fish and wildlife conservation.  

The Multiple Purposes of Albeni Falls Dam:

Hydropower

As part of the Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS), Albeni Falls Dam provides storage for 15 downstream federal and non-federal hydroelectric projects on the Columbia and Pend Oreille Rivers. The top 11 feet of Lake Pend Oreille is regulated by Albeni Falls Dam, and contributes nearly 1/3 of the water found in the Columbia River. Water stored in Lake Pend Oreille during the spring and summer is later released in the fall and winter to generate hydropower during the winter when users have the highest demand for electricity.

Flood Risk Management

Prior to dam construction in the early 1950s, the natural falls located at the current site of the dam restricted flow of the river. During high spring runoff periods, this narrowed channel was unable to rapidly pass the large flows of water and thereby caused flooding upstream along the river and the lake. Construction of the dam enlarged the size of the channel at this location thereby allowing more water to pass through and reduce upstream flooding. To a lesser extent, flooding downstream on the Pend Oreille and Columbia Rivers can also be eased by the ability of Albeni Falls Dam to temporarily impound spring flows until downstream flooding has subsided – this isn’t possible in very high-flow periods. Water released in the fall and winter reduces flood risk above the dam as well as providing hydropower during the period of high electricity demand.

Recreation and Navigation

Before construction, the natural lake level annually peaked at various times and elevations during the spring runoff. This peak occurred for a brief two to three weeks before the natural lake level would then typically drop to an elevation significantly below the current summer elevation of 2062.5 feet in the summertime, still during the prime recreation season. The current regulation of the top 11 feet of the lake aims to hold lake elevation at a constant high elevation throughout the summer providing increased opportunity for safe navigation and water recreation.

The Corps also administers nine recreation areas as part of Albeni Falls Dam, including four developed campgrounds/day-use areas, two day-use only areas, and three primitive access areas. Albeni Cove, Priest River, Riley Creek, and Springy Point have developed campsites (no hookups, except at Riley Creek) with a variety of day-use facilities. The Visitor Center and Trestle Creek are day-use areas only. Morton Slough, Johnson Creek and the Driftyard (managed by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game) offer primitive camping and boat launch facilities. In fiscal year 2013 Albeni Falls Dam recreation facilities hosted 277,898 visitors.

Fish and Wildlife Conservation

Project lands in the delta regions were specifically set aside for fish and wildlife conservation. These lands are currently managed by Idaho Department of Fish & Game under license from the Corps. Albeni Falls Dam is also regulated throughout the year in consideration of fish and wildlife species.

Operations of Albeni Falls Dam are in accordance with both the water control plan detailed in the Water Control Manual and the regionally coordinated annual water management plan, and are generally as follows:

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS RELATED TO OPERATIONS: 

How do you decide the minimum control elevation each winter? 

The Minimum Control Elevation (MCE) is provided to protect kokanee spawning and egg incubation during December by not drafting Lake Pend Oreille below the MCE, preventing dewatering of the kokanee redds.  

The MCE is typically set by drafting to the 2051.0 – 2051.5 ft. range by November 15, thus setting the MCE to 2051.0 ft. If conditions are such that Lake Pend Oreille cannot be drafted to the typical elevation, then the MCE will set at an accordingly higher elevation and Lake Pend Oreille is operated in the range of MCE to MCE plus 0.5 ft. 

If Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) observes kokanee spawning before December, they may request Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District to restrict to a 0.5 ft operating range earlier. If Lake Pend Oreille fills above the December operating range, the MCE shall be reset no lower than 0.5 ft below the maximum level reached during the exceeded period and the 0.5 ft operating range reset accordingly. The 0.5 ft operating range may be lifted early if IDF&G notifies CENWS that kokanee are done spawning prior to the end of December. 

Why is the lake held low in the winter? 

The lake is held lower in the winter for many different considerations, including but not limited to: Flood risk management, providing system flexibility in meeting Endangered Species Act requirements, meeting fish and wildlife conservation needs (kokanee), to minimize soil erosion, and implement Flexible Winter Power Operations (FWPO) for the benefit of Columbia River basin hydropower customers. 

What is the reason to provide flexible winter lake levels? 

If requested by Bonneville Power Administration, FWPO allows the Corps to store water in Lake Pend Oreille in the winter within the project’s existing authorized operating limits. The Corps would then release the water days or weeks later for power generation when it is more valuable to the region, such as when a cold snap drives up energy demand. This helps BPA keep power rates lower for regional customers. 

What is flood stage for Lake Pend Oreille? 

2,063.5 feet as measured at the Hope gage. 

What is flood stage for Pend Oreille River? 

The National Weather Service indicates that Minor Flooding (defined as minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat) occurs in the Pend Oreille River downstream of Albeni Falls Dam at a flow of 95,000 cfs. Official forecasts can be found at: https://water.noaa.gov/gauges/HOPI1 

What is full powerhouse discharge capacity? 

Full powerhouse discharge capacity is between 25,000-32,000 cubic feet per second, depending upon lake and tailwater elevation. 

What is the natural lake constriction and how does it impact operations? 

The constriction is the transition from Lake Pend Oreille to the Pend Oreille River near Dover. At times flows downstream of this constriction are limited and upstream lake levels are determined by the bottom of the lake at this constriction point. This constriction can restrict/control the amount of water that can move down the river to the dam. The constriction affects the amount of water that the river can transport and level of the lake when the project is on free flow. In other words, there is a maximum amount of water that can pass over this constriction at any time.  When the flows from the lake into the river reach that maximum, for example during a heavy rain or run-off event, the dam no longer is the limiting factor determining the water level. No matter how much water the dam itself passes, flows in the river both upstream and downstream of the dam, as well as in the lake are limited by the “bottle neck” at Dover. 

What property easement does the Army Corps hold around the lake? 

Approximately 9,256 acres of flowage easements were acquired on private lands around the lake for the purpose of accommodating wave action, erosion and ground water effects that might occur as a result of the operation of the project. Easements were acquired at fair market value and allow for permanent flooding up to elevation 2,062.5 feet and intermittent flooding up to elevation 2,067.5 feet. Easement boundaries are loosely tied to the 2067.5 level, but each easement has its own legal description. Additional easements were acquired that restrict habitation below 2,067.5 feet in locations where the original easements were determined to be inadequate. There was a recognition in the mid-1990s that easements which contain a no-habitation restriction were too strict for the Pend Oreille River above the dam and below the Long Bridge, and, consequently, the Corps was authorized to release this restriction for dwellings with a first-floor elevation above 2,065 feet. Such a release includes language that will release the Corps from liability for flood events that occur where flood waters exceed the 2,065 feet elevation. 

Will you change lake operations without public comment? 

If lake operations fall within the current operating limits of the Water Control Manual for Albeni Falls Dam, the operation does not require public comment. If the operation is outside those bounds, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) may require a public comment period before undertaking the operation.  In general, however, the Corps holds annual public meetings to discuss past and future operations. To receive e-mail notifications about these meetings, please join our stakeholder list by e-mailing the public affairs office at:  DLL-NWS-PAOTeam@usace.army.mil 

How do I get more information / track operations?   

Data for recent operations can be found online at: http://www.nwd-wc.usace.army.mil/nws/hh/www/index.html 

Modeling for the next 3 - 6 months can be found at: http://www.nws.usace.army.mil/About/Offices/Engineering/HydraulicsandHydrology/OperationalProjections.aspx 

Individuals can also request to receive flow notification updates whenever Seattle District Water Management makes a change at Albeni Falls Dam. You can sign up for notifications by emailing: uppercolumbiawm@usace.army.mil 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS RELATED TO THE COLUMBIA BASIN FISH ACCORDS 

What are the Columbia Basin Fish Accords? 

The original Columbia Basin Fish Accords, signed in 2008, guaranteed Northwest states and tribes more than $900 million for salmon and steelhead restoration projects and $50 million for Pacific lamprey passage improvements in the Columbia and Snake River basins for 10 years. 

BPA, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Bureau of Reclamation, and a number of regional interests; including six tribes, an inter-tribal association, and the states of Washington, Montana and Idaho, signed seven separate agreements to assure long-term funding to address the federal government’s requirements to mitigate for the effects of the federal hydro system on fish and wildlife. The agreements have helped protect, mitigate, and enhance fish populations and fish habitat in the Columbia River basin and address the federal government’s responsibilities for fish listed under the Endangered Species Act. 

The Corps, Bonneville Power Administration, Bureau of Reclamation and Kalispel Tribe of Indians signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) in July 2012 and a subsequent renewal agreement in 2025. The MOA is available online at: https://www.bpa.gov/environmental-initiatives/efw/columbia-basin-fish-accords  

Was the MOA process conducted publicly? 

Yes. Columbia Basin Fish Accords, including the Kalispel MOA, were each negotiated among the signatories, with subsequent public review of the proposed MOAs prior to signing. Public comments were considered and reflected in the decisions to sign. The Kalispel MOA had a 30-day public comment period which ran from June 30, 2011 – August 1, 2011. Comments were received by Idaho state entities, local power entities, environmental interests, and local citizens. During this time, the Lake Pend Oreille, Pend Oreille River, Priest Lake and Priest River Commission (Lakes Commission) was not funded by the State of Idaho and did not have quarterly meetings.  The Corps and BPA briefed the Lakes Commission about the MOA and other activities once funding was restored by the State of Idaho. 

What are the Army Corps’ responsibilities when working with Tribal governments? 

The United States has a unique legal and political relationship with Indian tribal governments, established through and confirmed by the U.S. Constitution, treaties, statutes, Executive Orders, and judicial decisions. In recognition of that special relationship, the federal government is charged with engaging in regular and meaningful consultation and collaboration with tribal officials in the development of federal policies that have tribal implications. In accordance with the provisions of these treaties, laws, Executive Orders as well as principles lodged in the Constitution of the United States, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has a responsibility to meet Tribal trust obligations, protect trust resources, and obtain Tribal views regarding trust and treaty responsibilities or other actions carried out or administered by the Corps. 

OTHER FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 

How will the Columbia River Treaty (CRT) negotiations affect lake level? 

The Columbia River Treaty does not result in operations at Lake Pend Oreille outside of normal levels. 

What is the Northwest Power & Conservation Council? 

Congress passed the Northwest Power Act in 1980, which called for the establishment of an interstate compact of Idaho, Montana, Washington and Oregon. The compact, known as the Northwest Power and Conservation Council is charged with developing a Power Plan and a Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Program to serve two primary objectives: to provide an adequate, reliable, economic, and efficient power supply while protecting, mitigating, and enhancing fish and wildlife impacted by the hydro-system. For more information about the Northwest Power & Conservation Council please go to http://www.nwcouncil.org/ . The State of Idaho has two representatives on the NWPCC appointed by the Governor. 

What is “Senate Document 9?”   

The Flood Control Act of 1950 authorized the construction of the Albeni Falls Project “substantially in accordance with the recommendation of the Chief of Engineers in Senate Document numbered 9.” Senate Document No. 9 contains the Interim Report of the Chief of Engineers to the Senate Committee on Public Works regarding the proposed “Albeni Falls Project.” This document does not contain a final project design or operating plan. As with all projects, pursuant to congressional authority, the proposed operating method generally described in Senate Document No. 9 was refined upon project completion in 1955 and finalized in the 1960 Water Control Manual. Congress passed subsequent statutes which led to further changes in project operations, such as the Endangered Species Act and the Northwest Power Act. Current operations reflecting such changes are contained in the most recent Water Control Manual.   

Why isn’t USACE operating according to Senate Document 9?  

The Corps operates Albeni Falls Dam in accordance with its Congressional Authorizations, and all applicable federal laws and treaties.  Senate Document 9 contains a general description of proposed project operations discussed by the District Engineer and the Engineering Board.  This discussion presents a narrative of operational parameters to meet the spectrum of authorized project purposes. Recreation is one of the authorized project purposes, and the proposed method of reservoir operations to facilitate a stabilized lake for recreational purposes in Senate Document 9 is generalized.  The report indicates the project must balance recreation with the other authorized project purposes. However, the report makes clear the unique importance of the recreational operational component as compared with other regional multi-purpose projects.  As specified in Senate Document 9 and in the 1950 Flood Control Act authorizing the project, the project was proposed for authorization substantially in accordance with the recommendations of the Chief of Engineers and with such modifications to the project as the Corps of Engineers may advise in its discretion. Development of the specific project reservoir control manual occurred in accordance with army and engineering regulations during the completion of construction (1950-1955) and the first few years of operation (1955-1960).  Impacts to the kokanee population and to the stability of the shoreline generated significant local and regional outcry by the people of Idaho and such comments were taken heavily into consideration when the Corps finalized its initial operating plan for the project (1960) after public coordination.   As discussed in both Senate Document 9 and House Document 531, Albeni Falls Dam one of multiple projects authorized in accordance with the Congressional requirements of the Columbia River System. The project must also operate in compliance with other federal laws. The current reservoir operations of Albeni Falls reflect these requirements and are contained in the most recent Water Control Manual (2019).