Swan Falls Project
The Swan Falls Project operates under a license issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or FERC. Swan Falls is also the oldest hydroelectric generating site on the Snake River and a historical point of interest.
Location
The Swan Falls Project is located on the Snake River about 40 miles southwest of Boise.
Swan Falls lies within the Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area and is home to many bird species including falcons, eagles, owls, and hawks. Visit the Bureau of Land Management Web site for more information about this extraordinary area.
Construction
Built in 1901 to provide electricity to nearby mines, a new power plant was built in the mid-1990s. Idaho Power then decommissioned the old plant and converted it into a historical display. Tours of the facilities are available by appointment only by calling 208-736-3458.
The following facilities are associated with the project:
- Concrete dam
- A concrete spillway section having 12 spillway gates
- A concrete powerhouse
- Switchyard
- Gantry crane
- Two 138 kV transmission lines.
Generating Capacity
The Swan Falls Project has a Nameplate capacity of 25 MW and is located 34 miles downstream from the C.J. Strike Project.
Project Status
Idaho Power is currently working through the process to renew the Swan Falls Project license, which expires June 30, 2010.
On March 26, 2009, the State of Idaho and Idaho Power announced a proposed settlement and reaffirmed the 1984 Swan Falls water agreement. According to a Governor’s Office news release, the proposed settlement resolves litigation by “clarifying that the water rights held in trust by the State are subject to subordination to future upstream beneficial uses, including aquifer recharge. It also commits the State and Idaho Power to further discussions on important water management issues concerning the Swan Falls agreement and management of water in the Snake River Basin.”
© 1995-2010 Idaho Power Company.
