AHSAHKA, Idaho – Water discharge from Dworshak Dam near Orofino, Idaho, was temporarily increased today to accommodate increasing inflows, according to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers water-management officials.
Discharge flows from the dam were increased at noon from approximately 10,600 c.f.s. (cubic feet per second) to about 14,100 c.f.s. to make room for anticipated inflows and will likely be sustained for at least a week or more.
“Water-management changes can be pretty dynamic this time of year as weathers systems come through the region and temperatures begin to rise,” said Jeremy Giovanado, hydraulic engineer at the Corps’ Walla Walla District. “These temporary changes in flows at Dworshak will result in changes in water depth in the Clearwater River near its North Fork confluence.”
Managing water levels throughout the reservoir system requires constant weather and snow-pack monitoring and making appropriate adjustments to ensure enough storage space is available for rainfall and snow-melt that occurs each spring. Corps officials advise boaters and other people using regulated waterways to be alert to changes in water elevation and volume of flow.
“We encourage river and reservoir users to regularly check the water management data available online,” Giovando said. “The hourly reports can help folks stay aware of changing conditions.”
Current water-management conditions can be viewed online at www.nwd-wc.usace.army.mil/nww/rreports.htm -- click on “Hourly” and look in the “TOTAL” column under the “OUTFLOW” heading on the reservoir report. Reservoir elevation is found in the “FOREBAY” column under the “EL AT POWERHOUSE” heading.
During fiscal year 2012, 1.98 billion kW hours of electrical power were produced by Dworshak Dam’s three generating units. Since Dworshak Dam became operational in June 1972, it has prevented about $2.8 million in potential local flood damages.
For more information, please call the Public Affairs Office at 509-527-7020.
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Release no. 14-013