POCATELLO As the dam containing the largest reservoir on the Snake River loomed behind him, the governor of Idaho praised the state’s efforts to fortify its water supply.
During a Monday afternoon visit to eastern Idaho, Governor Brad Little gave this address, praising initiatives that have improved or would improve deteriorating water infrastructure. He went there to specifically promote two projects: the American Falls Dam Spillway Rehabilitation project and a project to update the Falls Irrigation District pumphouse.
According to Little, we are making significant strides in bolstering the resilience of our water system, which is widely acknowledged to be the vitality of the state of Idaho.
Falls Irrigation District pumphouse
Near the Falls Irrigation District’s main pumping station, which recently received brand-new equipment as part of an effort to update it to modern standards, the governor gave his thoughts.
Pumping more than 25,000 acre-feet of water annually to Power County’s 12,621 irrigated farms, the pumphouse was well past its useful life. It was first constructed in the late 1950s, and the equipment was so old that it might potentially fail each irrigation season, according to a statement from the Idaho Department of Water Resources.
The announcement states that the numerous farmers who depend on Falls Irrigation District water for their livelihoods would suffer greatly if the equipment failed during the irrigation season.
Furthermore, the infrastructure of the pumphouse needed yearly winter servicing due to rising maintenance costs. Additionally, when portions of the equipment failed or broke, special production was needed.
It started upgrading the pumphouse’s electronics and pumping equipment in October of last year in order to continue pumping water to the district’s users, and it completed the job this month.
The Idaho Water Resource Board and a BOR WaterSmart award provided funding for this $9.8 million project.
The much-needed modifications were referred to as upgrades by Falls Irrigation District manager Shawn Tischendorf.
American Falls Dam Spillway Rehabilitation
The American Falls Dam, which is 94 feet high, was only a short stroll from Little’s location. Since January, a long-term project to restore the dam’s spillways has been under progress.
Following the governor’s speech, Ryan Bliss, the Operations and Maintenance manager for the Upper Snake Field Office, led a group of elected officials and water authorities on a tour of the dam. Before entering the vast outlet gallery and completing the trip by ascending the access stairs to the top of the dam, the group climbed up to obtain a look of the spillway.
Originally completed in the late 1920s, the American Falls Dam was enlarged and rebuilt in the late 1970s. A project to replace some of its outdated equipment is presently in progress, more than forty years after that reconstruction.
The trunnion pins and bushings, which are essential to the functioning of the dam’s five radial gates that control the flow of water into the American Falls Reservoir, will be replaced as part of the Spillway Rehabilitation project. Another IDWR announcement stated that when the dam was improved, these parts were expected to be self-lubricating.
However, the announcement states that the pins had to be changed because they had become lodged in place over time.
Until all five gates are completed, one will be renovated annually. Every year, one of the dam’s nine guard gates will also be fixed. In 2023, both of these project components got underway.
The power plant’s intake gates, which were initially installed when the dam was built, have started to leak oil and have drifting closure problems. The enhancements’ design will be finished by 2028, and building will begin in 2030.
In 2033, the Spillway Rehabilitation Project will be finished in its entirety.
The governor s remarks
The governor praised both of the American Falls Dam projects while emphasizing the amount of work still to be done.
The Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer Water Sustainability Projects Program, which provides $30 million annually for water projects in eastern Idaho and the Magic Valley, was passed this year with little fanfare.
According to Little, historic funding for water improvement projects is being provided by the regional water sustainability programs of the Idaho Water Resource Board.
The governor also mentioned cash that had been set aside prior to this law. Since 2023, 90 aging infrastructure projects totaling $56 million have been approved by the Water Resource Board.
According to Little, more than 20 of these projects have been constructed throughout the Snake River plain in an effort to update infrastructure, save power and water, and position our farmers for long-term prosperity.
