Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers
on Civil Works Activities
Fiscal Year 1987
Department of the Army Corps of Engineers
Extract Report of Walla Walla District

Lucky Peak Lake, Idaho

Location. On Boise River in southwestern Idaho about 10 miles southeast of city of Boise, Idaho.

Existing project. A rolled-earthfill dam about 250 feet high above streambed and 1,700 feet long at crest, with a lake providing a total storage at upper operating lake level of 306,000 acre-feet. Project provides for flood control, irrigation, and recreation. (For details, see page 2000 of Annual Report for 1962.)

Construction of existing project was initiated November 1949 and completed June 1961. A feasible method of achieving better flood control through diversion into New York Canal, through Lake Lowell, and into the Snake River was developed but rejected by local interests due to the projected infrequent use of this diversion method. Since 1961, $118,468,600 in potential flood damages have been prevented by the project. Final Environmental Impact Statement on the initial project was filed with the Council on Environmental Quality on November 29, 1976. A revised draft Environmental Impact Statement for the modification work was filed with the Council on Environmental Quality on September 18, 1978.

During the detailed investigation of outlet capacity and the potential for adding hydropower to the existing project, a need for an auxiliary outlet became apparent. Construction of an auxiliary outlet was authorized in the Water Resource Development Act of 1976. In FY 1978, an Interim Feasibility Report on Modification of Lucky Peak Dam and Lake (power facilities) was submitted to the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors and approved. States, agencies, and the Chief of Engineers have commented on the report to the Secretary of the Army. The report was forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget in February 1982.

A license to construct and operate power facilities at the project was issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Project #2832) to the Boise Project Board of Control on June 10, 1980, and modified on October 9, 1980 and 1982. Construction of the auxiliary outlet facility began in May 1984 and was completed in August 1986. Construction of modifications to the existing outlet tunnel and powerhouse excavation began in August 1986 and was completed January 1987. Powerhouse general contract construction began in April 1986. The project is scheduled for completion in April 1988.

Local cooperation. None required.

Operations during fiscal year. Maintenance: A contract to repair outlet gates was completed in FY 1987.