OLDTOWN, Idaho. — Spill operations remain restricted at Albeni Falls Dam during a major rehabilitation project initiated in 2023.
According to the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), there are base metal flaws and defects on a spillway gate. The gates are to the original dam built in 1955, using the same type of steel. USACE said they will develop a schedule to evaluate all gates to determine if similar defects exist.
“We need to keep storage space available to guard against the potential for rain or snow events that can lead to sudden spring high inflows,” said Albeni Falls Dam Operating Project Manager Amanda Smith. “The basin is extremely large so there is a lot to consider when monitoring the conditions. These rain events can happen in any year, so we are being cautious during refill operations.”
USACE said the warmest temperatures of the year so far will hit this weekend, allowing more clarity on snowpack runoff.
“The Corps continues to closely monitor upstream storage projects, streamflow, snowpack and weather forecasts,” said Smith. “We are adjusting our operations in real-time as conditions allow.”
