LIHI Certificate #21 - Buffalo River Project, Buffalo River, Idaho (FERC #1413)
Fall River Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc. (FRREC) Certifies Second Hydro Facility.
PORTLAND, ME – The Low Impact Hydropower Institute (LIHI) announced that at their August 10, 2006 Board Meeting, the Fall River Rural Electric Cooperative (FRREC)'s Buffalo River Project (FERC No. 1413) located on the Henry's Fork River in Idaho has earned LIHI's Low Impact Certification.
Buffalo River Project Description
The existing project consists of a 142-foot-long by 12-foot-high timber-faced rock-filled diversion dam. In 2005 the upstream face of the dam was sealed to prevent leakage and entrainment of trout in the leakage openings. A new intake structure was built in 2005 with fish screens and a mechanical screen cleaner having openings of 0.25 inch and a screen approach velocity less then 0.8 feet per second. The project has two spillways, a 40-foot-long by 3-foot-high concrete slab spillway with stop logs and a small auxiliary spillway. The original fishway was replaced in 2005 with a 270-foot long fishway to pass age 0 trout as small as 100 mm. The fishway was designed in consultation with the FS, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDF&G), and Henry's Fork Foundation. The fishway was put into operation in early 2006 and has demonstrated its capability to pass age 0 trout.
The 250-kW Bouvier Kaplan inclined shaft turbine is feed by a 52-foot-long by 5-foot-diameter concrete encased steel penstock. The turbine is in a 34x22 foot masonry block powerhouse. The powerhouse has been constructed with materials that blend into the area. This material include black split face masonry block with stucco on the concrete foundation. The estimated total average annual generation is 1.9 GWh. The generation is transferred in a 1,800-foot-long underground transmission line.
Buffalo River's typical stream flow varies between 175 to 250 cubic feet per second (cfs) except during spring snowmelt when flows can exceed 400 cfs. While operating, the run-of-river project diverts a constant 100 cfs for power generation with the remaining flow staying in the natural stream course via a fish ladder release and a surface outlet spillway. The public parking area was improved in 2005-2006 with defined parking areas, trails and signs providing information.
SUMMARY
Facility location: The run-of-river project is located on the Buffalo River near its confluence with the Henry's Fork River, north of Ashton, in Fremont County, Idaho. The project occupies about 9.8 acres of land within the Targhee National Forest, administered by the U.S. Forest Service (Forest Service).
Installed capacity: 250 kilowatts
Average annual generation: 1.9 gigawatt-hours
FERC license: No. 1413 was issued as a 40-year license on November 5, 2004.
Applicant: Fall River Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc. (FRREC)
Applicant contact: Mr. Dee Reynolds, General Manager (208)-745-0834
Date application posted to website: April 17, 2006
Date public comment period closes: June 17, 2006
Effective date of certification decision: April 17, 2006
Date Certificate Expires: April 17, 2011