Army Corps announces Pend Oreille drawdown dates
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced the fall drawdown for Lake Pend Oreille will begin Sept. 23. Corps representatives will host a public event in Ponderay regarding gate repair and operations for the Albeni Falls Dam Oct. 7.
Photo courtesy U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
This story has been edited to feature USACE's accurate agenda for restoring function to the dam and the correct timeline of summer 2024 refill.
After receiving an informal request, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers agreed to a delayed fall drawdown schedule for Lake Pend Oreille set to begin Sept. 23.
Fall drawdown ordinarily starts the third Sunday of September or Sept. 18, whichever is later. This summer’s lower-than-average water level caused the USACE to push its schedule back.
The Corps will hold the summer pool through Sept. 22 before targeting 2,060 feet by Sept. 30 and 2,051 feet no later than Nov. 15.
Because operators use Albeni Falls Dam’s powerhouse for fall drawdown, not its gates, the unresolved gate problem will not be affected.
Metal flaws were discovered in one of the dam’s 11 gates in April after infrastructure was inspected as part of a rehabilitation project. All gates are original to the 69-year-old dam and have outlived their life expectancies.
The Corps plans to replace all 11 gates over the next 8-10 years, approximately. USACE estimates the first replacement will arrive on-site in three to five years; in the meantime, the Corps is developing an interim solution using fiber-reinforced polymer to return gate #3 to service in May 2025.
This summer, Albeni Falls Dam had restricted gate movements. Lake Pend Oreille reached a summer pool of 2061.75 feet on June 19 — the USACE’s median date for refill.
According to a USACE press release, Corps representatives will host a public meeting to discuss dam operations and the gate repair project with residents. The event is scheduled to take place 6-8 p.m. Oct. 7 at Ponderay Events Center.