Efforts continue on Albeni Falls Dam, lake level issues
By Rep. Mark Sauter, R-Sandpoint Reader Contributor
With the fall season upon us, I thought it was time to give an update of an important issue I’ve been working on in District 1. Let’s start with the Army Corps of Engineers’ annual practice of draining off the top 11 feet of water from Lake Pend Oreille.
Despite years of work by community members and elected officials to slow/reduce the amount of water that passes through the Albeni Falls Dam each fall, the Corps’ practice continues. So does the community frustration.
Meanwhile, the decision not to open the Springy Point Campground and launch ramp in May — and for the rest of the summer season — hurt our tourist economy and limited residents’ access to recreational opportunities.
Many of us are here because of Lake Pend Oreille. The scenic beauty, recreation, sporting activities and economic opportunities are very real attractions. People from around the country tell us about their first trip over the Long Bridge. Low lake levels and uncertain dam operations take away from our experience and cost our community. The inability to plan for a vacation, launch a boat or use a dock hurts us all.
Rep. Mark Sauter. Courtesy photo.
In the case of Albeni Falls operations and the Springy Point closure, the state questioned the Corps’ decision, provided alternatives and even offered to provide staffing to operate Springy Point for a season.
I am hopeful there will be changes to the dam operations for next season. This year, the Idaho Legislature passed Senate Joint Memorial 105, calling on the federal government to reevaluate Albeni Falls operations and to repair the dam in a timely manner — not in another six years.
As a result of SJM 105, our federal representatives have developed appropriations language for the Corps that directs it to work with Idaho representatives to reconsider the Albeni Falls Dam situation. This work is set to take place over 180 days.
Members of our community and state officials will participate in this effort to remedy a problem that our area has been specifically troubled with since the Corps declared there were spillway gate problems at the dam nearly two years ago.
Last spring, the state started (and I supported) an economic impact study on the effects of the current dam operations plan on the local economy. Professors from the University of Idaho and Washington State University are nearly done with this project and will deliver their findings next month to the Lakes Commission at its quarterly meeting. This summer, to no one’s surprise, more than 1,800 members of our community participated in the public input part of the study.
It has been said that our local economy rises and falls with the level of the lake. Many believe the current operations of Albeni Falls Dam and the uncertainty of the spillway gate situation are hurting our local economy and our opportunities to enjoy our beloved lake. We will soon learn what the economic experts have found.
I am hopeful the efforts we have made this year and another six months of serious work and meetings with the many stakeholders of Lake Pend Oreille — including the Corps — will yield better outcomes for our area. I have committed considerable time to the issue and will continue to do so.
Our community deserves better lake operations and a dam that works as it should. The Corps agreed to operate campground developments around the lake when the state was asked for permission to build Albeni Falls Dam. We trusted the federal government when we said “yes” to building the dam and to the operational agreements approved by Congress. Senate Bill 9 was the game plan back then and it needs to be honored.
It is an honor to serve our district. If you have questions, thoughts or suggestions, please send them to me at [email protected].
Rep. Mark Sauter is a second-term Republican legislator representing District 1A. He serves on the Agricultural Affairs; Education; and Resources and Conservation committees.
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