OLDTOWN, ID — U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) officials awarded an approximately $20.4 million contract to Knight Construction & Supply Inc., to replace all 11 spillway gates at Albeni Falls Dam in Oldtown, Idaho, ensuring continued flood risk management, hydropower generation, navigation, fish and wildlife conservation, and recreational opportunities for years to come.
USACE has also begun gradual spring refill of Lake Pend Oreille in Idaho, managing 2026 summer lake levels within the normal summer elevation band of 2,062 to 2,062.5 feet, as measured near Hope, Idaho.
USACE indicates it is too early to determine the date on which Lake Pend Oreille will reach normal summer levels but expects to achieve this once any major flood risk has subsided, while also considering the current limitations of the spillway gates.
Representatives will share additional details on spring refill at an upcoming public meeting in Sandpoint, Idaho. Other discussion topics will include restricted operations, spillway gate replacement project updates, recreation area updates, and forecast for snowpack and inflows.
