Albeni Falls Dam dam
Albeni Falls Dam
Constructed in 1955, the Albeni Falls Dam, also known as Pend Oreille Lake, stands as a vital hydroelectric facility on the Pend Oreille River in Newport, Idaho. With a primary purpose of flood risk reduction and hydroelectric power generation, this concrete gravity dam boasts a structural height of 180 feet and a hydraulic height of 90 feet. Managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers, the dam plays a crucial role in balancing flood risks to Lake Pend Oreille, with a maximum discharge capacity of 420,000 cubic feet per second and a storage capacity of 1,155,000 acre-feet.
Despite its high hazard potential, the Albeni Falls Dam is rigorously maintained to mitigate risks to life safety and property. Regular inspections, maintenance, and repairs are carried out to ensure the structure's reliability, especially during extreme weather events like snowmelt and heavy rainfall. The USACE continuously monitors river conditions and collaborates with local authorities to update emergency action plans, conduct emergency exercises, and engage with stakeholders to manage flood operations effectively. While the dam's risk assessment remains at a very high level, the USACE's proactive approach and risk management measures instill confidence in the dam's ability to reduce flood risks and safeguard the surrounding communities.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Albeni Falls Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Pend Oreille River At Newport Wa | 46,700 cfs | → |
| Priest River Nr Priest River Id | 3,460 cfs | → |
| Little Spokane River At Elk | 48 cfs | → |
| Priest R Outflow Nr Coolin | 2,820 cfs | → |
| Pack River Nr Colburn Id | 610 cfs | → |
| Spokane River Nr Post Falls Id | 7,870 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Albeni Falls Dam.
Boat launches
- Old Diamond Mill Road 71, Oldtown
- Us 2 Priest River
- Kaniksu Drive Pend Oreille County
- South Shore Diamond Lake Road 765-1255, Newport
- Bonner County
- Pondoray Shores Road, Newport
Campgrounds
- Albeni Cove Campground
- Albeni Cove - Oldtown
- Priest River Park
- Priest River Campgrounds
- Enchantment Camp
- Riley Creek
Paddle runs
- Forest Boundary, Sec. 34, T59n, R2w To Harrison Lake, Sec. 31, T62n, R2w
- Upper Priest River
- Segment 2 Flows For Almost 10 Miles From The Intersection With Trail 312 To Its Confluence With The Upper Priest River To Segment 2 Flows For Almost 10 Miles From The Intersection With Trail 312 To Its Confluence With The Upper Priest River
- Coeur D"Alene River, Sec. 8, T49n, R2e To Honey Mountain, Sec. 32, T53n, R1w
- Cataldo Mission To Coeur D'Alene Lake
- Segment 1 Is Classified As Wild And Flows From Its Source For Almost Five Miles To The Intersection With Trail 312 To Segment 1 Is Classified As Wild And Flows From Its Source For Almost To The Intersection With Trail 312
Track Albeni Falls Dam in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Albeni Falls Dam
Where does the data for Albeni Falls Dam come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the High hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Albeni Falls Dam.