Portland, Maine (July 31, 2008) - Tthe Low Impact Hydropower Institute (LIHI) Certified Tieton Hydropower, LLC's Tieton Dam Hydroelectric Project. The Project is located at the Bureau of Reclamation's Tieton Dam and Reservoir on the Tieton River, about 21 miles upstream of a confluence with the Naches River, in Yakima County, Washington.
The Board's decision to certify the Tieton Dam Hydroelectric Project was unanimous. LIHI Certification means that the hydropower facility has been found to meet or exceed the Institute's Certification Criteria which address eight key areas: river flows, water quality, fish passage and protection, watershed protection, threatened and endangered species protection, cultural resource protection, recreation, and facilities recommended for removal. Certification is designed to provide consumers with assurance that a facility has avoided or reduced their environmental impacts pursuant to the Low Impact Hydropower Institute’s criteria.
The Tieton Hydroelectric Project is a “run-of the reservoir” facility located at the base of the U.S Bureau of Reclamation dam on the Tieton River at river mile (RM) 21.2, in Yakima County approximately 40 miles west of the city of Yakima, Washington.
The USBR’s Tieton Dam on the Tieton River was constructed during the period of 1917-25. The dam is an earth fill structure with a concrete core wall diaphragm. It created Rimrock Lake, a reservoir with a storage capacity of 198,000 acre-feet at normal water surface elevation. The dam creates 198 feet of head to drive the turbines in the powerhouse.
For more information on the Tieton Dam Hydropower Project or other LIHI certified facilities contact Fred Ayer, Executive Director, at the Low Impact Hydropower Institute, (207)-773-8190
fayer@lowimpacthydro.org