Releases decrease lake's level
Albeni Falls Dam flows greatly contribute to the level of Lake Pend Oreille. Summer pool levels of 2062.5 feet elevation are typically stabilized by June 15.
(Photo courtesy U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS)
HOPE — The elevation of Lake Pend Oreille will be held within the range of 2,051-2,052 feet above sea level this weekend and next week, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said on Thursday.
Albeni Falls Dam operators decreased the elevation this week this week to 2,052 feet this week based on a Bonneville Power Administration request that the corps release water previously stored as part of Flexible Winter Power Operations.
The Pend Oreille River dam’s outflow began decreasing to 24,000 cubic feet per second over a two-hour period on Thursday.
“The lake level is expected to decrease gradually over the weekend,” Jon Moen of the corps’ Seattle District Hydraulics & Hydrology Branch said in an email advisory.
The dam is following best management practices due to cold weather and ice buildup. To prevent damage from ice downstream, release fluctuations downstream of the dam will be reduced to 5,000 cubic feet per second per day and 2,000 cubic feet per second per hour. Dam operators will continue to follow the guidelines while ice is present downstream from the facility.
The seasonal water supply forecast for April-July inflow volume is 135 percent of average and snowpack in the Pend Oreille Basin is above average.
“We are monitoring the situation for lake and downstream flood risk,” Moen said in the advisory.
Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.