Corps meeting offered little peace of mind
If you missed the Army Corps of Engineers presentation Thursday night at the Ponderay Event Center, here is a brief summary what we learned about the conditions at Albeni Falls Dam which are causing the lake to remain below full pool:
There are 10 spillway gates and one spare. They are 32 feet tall and made of steel. The width was not specified but the photos showed they are wider than they are tall. The gates regulate the water level in the lake by raising or lowering them.
The gates are all original equipment, installed in 1955. Their original projected lifespan was 50 years. For those of us who went to public schools, all the gates are 19 years beyond their designed endurance. There is no plan to replace them.
The spokesperson pointed out that infrastructure, nationwide, is failing. The situation at Albeni Falls Dam is not unique.
One year ago, ACE contracted to refurbish some or all of the gates, but the information regarding the contract was guarded. The spokesperson refused to divulge the name of the contractor or where they were from.
Although the contract was issued in June 2023, it wasn't until April of this year that one gate, Gate 3, was removed. The paint was sandblasted off to reveal “delamination” of the steel.
No explanation was offered for why the contracted work was not completed during the winter months when we were at low pool. However, it was apparent that ACE is concerned with the contractor’s less-than-optimal performance.
Gate 3 is in danger of failure and has been moved off-site for further evaluation. Photos of the damaged gate were shown. We learned that an entourage of state and local officials had toured the dam recently and viewed the situation for themselves.
The spokesperson said that ACE believes the metal was defective when it was originally installed. There is concern that the remaining gates are similarly compromised. The extent of the damage won’t be known until all the gates are removed, sandblasted and inspected.
The question as to why such an effort is being made when all the gates are well beyond their useful lifespan went unanswered. But, we did learn that the Bonneville Power Administration, the quasi-governmental authority that financially benefits from the electric power generated by the dam, is responsible for 92% of the operational expenses of the dam.
Due to the risk of gate failure, the dam is operating on a restricted basis. The gates are opened and closed by a mechanical crane that moves across the dam on a bridge above the gates. The crane is operated by one person. The greatest potential for failure is when a gate is opened due to the forces exerted at that time. The crane operator is endangered. As a result, minimal manipulation of the gates is the current practice.
ACE is currently assessing its options. One of which is determining if Gate 3 can be sufficiently rehabilitated to return to service.
We may have full pool by the end of June or we may have flooding. ACE has permission to exceed full pool. The short-term future is uncertain. The long term is bleak. Nothing is in place to replace the failing gates. Because the gates are in danger of failure, one can only conclude that it won’t be long until they are all removed. With no replacements on hand, it doesn’t take a PhD to recognize we will be at low water for a long time.
The presentation was well attended. The room was standing room only. A collective sense of disgust was expressed. Little peace of mind was instilled despite the well-intended efforts of the presenters. One exasperated member of the audience suggested that perhaps it’s time that we consider turning over the operation of the dam to someone other than the Army Corps of Engineers. Sadly, BPA was not in attendance.
WIN TAYLOR
Sagle