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U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Albeni Falls Dam
2376 E. Highway 2
Oldtown, ID 83822
208-437-3133 (Main)
208-437-4617 (Visitor Center)

 

 

Albeni Falls Dam

Albeni Falls Dam was authorized for construction under the Flood Control Act of 1950. This Act was signed by the U. S. Congress in response to a great flood that swept over the river valleys of the Columbia Basin in 1948. Albeni Falls Dam was built from January 1951 to December of 1955 at a total cost of $34 million US.

The dam is made up of two different parts: the powerhouse and the spillway. The powerhouse contains powerful turbines and generators that convert gravity-driven river water into hydroelectricity. The spillway can either store water for downstream power production and irrigation at other dams along the Pend Oreille and Columbia Rivers, or release water for upstream flood control. There is 136,000 cubic yards (61 million pounds) of concrete in the structure.

Today, it produces over 200 million kilowatt hours of electrical energy each year. When running at top capacity, the three Kaplan generators can generate 42.6 megawatts. That's enough power to supply about 15,000 homes. Bonneville Power Administration markets this electricity to customers primarily in the Pacific Northwest. This power production saves the United States from buying about 4.9 million barrels of imported oil each year.

Lake Pend Oreille (Ponderay)

Lake Pend Oreille is one of the largest and deepest natural lakes in North America. Spanning near 150 square miles, it extends through a glacially carved, U-shaped valley that separates three lofty mountain ranges-the Cabinets, Selkirks and Coeur d’ Alenes. Rimmed by these mountains that rise over 6,500 feet, the lake’s average depth is 545 feet, but in some areas plunges to a depth of 1,237 feet.

The shoreline of the combined Lake Pend Oreille and the Pend Oreille River is 226 miles. It’s length 68 miles, with a maximum width of 6 ½ miles.

The name “Pend Oreille” derives from the French name for a local tribe of Indians that wore pendant ornaments in their earlobes.

Spillway Gate Restriction and Flow Update

October 30, 2024

Current conditions:

Lake Pend Oreille Elevation at Hope: 2054.03 feet 
Albeni Falls Dam Outflow: 22,000 cubic feet per second (cfs)

Changes and Highlights:

1.    Albeni Falls Dam outflow will decrease from 22 kcfs to 20 kcfs at 11:00 PDT on Wednesday, October 30th.  
2.    Fall drawdown commenced on Monday Sept. 23 with the following elevation targets (as measured at Hope, Idaho): 
       a)    Target 2,051-2,051.5 feet no later than Nov. 15.
       b)    Hold 2,051-2,051.5 feet elevation band until Kokanee spawning is complete, generally late December. 
3.    All flows for drawdown will be passed through the powerhouse; the spillway will not be used.

Press releases for Albeni Falls Dam can be found here:
Seattle District News Releases (https://www.nws.usace.army.mil/Media/News-Releases/Tag/11960/albeni-falls-dam/)

The range of monthly inflow volume forecasts are provided by the Northwest River Forecast Center.
ESP Monthly Water Supply Volumes: PEND OREILLE - ALBENI FALLS DAM (https://www.nwrfc.noaa.gov/water_supply/monthly/monthly_forecasts.php?id=ALFW1)

 

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