Army Corps of Engineers Updates Albeni Falls Dam Operations, Lake Pend Oreille on Track for Summer Pool
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers held a public meeting May 7 at the Sandpoint Center to brief residents on spring operations at Albeni Falls Dam, the ongoing spillway gate replacement project, and the seasonal refill of Lake Pend Oreille ahead of the summer recreation season.
Col. Kate Sanborn, Seattle District commander, told attendees that downstream operations would largely mirror recent years, with the lake projected to reach 2,060 feet by the end of May and summer pool elevation of 2,062 feet by June 19. As of mid-May, Lake Pend Oreille sat at approximately 2,056.6 feet and was gaining between 0.2 and 0.3 feet per day. Sanborn noted the Corps would move faster if conditions allowed. The meeting also marked Sanborn’s final public appearance in the role before a scheduled redeployment.
Spillway Gate Defects Prompt Multi-Year Replacement Project
Sanborn provided an update on the spillway gate replacement program, which was triggered when steel defects were discovered on gate No. 3 during routine maintenance inspections in 2023. After the gate was stripped of multiple layers of paint, structural flaws in the steel were identified, raising concerns that a gate failure could occur without warning — most likely during opening or closing movements — potentially injuring crane operators, damaging equipment, and causing a loss of control over lake levels.
The Corps reported that gate No. 3 has since been returned to service following a fiber-reinforced polymer rehabilitation, and now includes added sensors that allow it to move differently than the remaining gates, providing additional operational flexibility.
First replacement gates are expected to arrive at Albeni Falls Dam in mid-2027, with additional gates delivered in six-month intervals. Deer Park-based contractor Knight Construction & Supply Co. is handling the fabrication. Until all replacement gates are in place, the dam will remain under restricted operations, meaning gates will only move to fully open or fully closed positions to minimize mechanical stress. Sanborn acknowledged the timeline is lengthy. “Investing the time getting it right, right off the bat,” she said, is essential given the complexity of replacing all ten gate slots.
Below-Normal Snowpack Signals Drier Summer Ahead
National Weather Service Senior Services Hydrologist Joel Atwood followed Sanborn’s remarks with a regional water supply outlook. Atwood said snowpack across the Lake Pend Oreille watershed — a 24,200-square-mile basin roughly the size of West Virginia — is running below normal at elevations below 6,000 feet. At higher elevations, snowpack remains near average.
Water supply for the April-through-September period is estimated at around 83% of normal under one model, with a more conservative projection placing it closer to 76%. Both scenarios point to reduced runoff this summer, compounded by above-normal temperatures forecast across Idaho and western Montana. Residents around the lake should expect warmer, drier conditions heading into the recreation season.
Despite the lower snowpack, Sanborn cautioned that the watershed holds enough water that a rain-on-snow event or heavy precipitation could still generate flooding risk. “There are many lake refills worth of water in the system,” she noted, underscoring why the Corps does not proactively draw down the lake ahead of individual storm forecasts. Sanborn explained that operational standards are set in coordination with the state and shaped by public comment, and that managing a basin the scale of Lake Pend Oreille’s watershed is a multi-variable process that cannot respond nimbly to short-term weather events.
Economic Study, Public Questions Draw Corps Response
Audience members raised several pointed questions during the open comment period, including concerns about an economic impact study released by the Lakes Commission claiming the local economy lost approximately $43 million last year due to inconsistent lake levels and a shortened recreation season. Sanborn said the Corps had not yet fully reviewed the study, noting officials were not given an opportunity to comment during its preparation. She described the paper as a “single-issue” analysis focused solely on tourism benefits of maintaining summer pool elevation for six months, without accounting for flood control, environmental impacts, or erosion effects that would result from extended high-water management.
On a brighter note, Sanborn told attendees that all Army Corps recreation sites around Lake Pend Oreille will be fully staffed for the 2026 season, with Riley Creek having opened May 9 and Springy Point set to open May 16.
Bonner County residents with concerns about regional water management and environmental policy can also follow related developments, including efforts to protect the Kootenai River watershed from upstream coal mining impacts and a Utilities Commission process accepting public comments on Northern Lights’ wildfire mitigation plan.
What Comes Next
The Corps will continue monitoring lake elevation daily as runoff from the remaining snowpack enters the system. If conditions allow, officials say they will attempt to reach summer pool ahead of the June 19 target. The first replacement gate for Albeni Falls Dam is not expected to arrive until mid-2027, leaving the dam under restricted operations through at least that point. Residents and lake users are encouraged to monitor Army Corps updates as the summer season progresses and water supply conditions evolve.