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Horseshoe Bend
Recreational users
The information regarding the status of
the rubber dam is available at the bottom of the page. Please read the following information before going to the Horseshoe Bend Hydroelectric Company public access site and its water by-pass structure.
• Hydroelectric Plant Operation
Operation of the Horseshoe Bend Hydroelectric Project (the “Project”) requires the diversion of part of the Payette River flow into a power canal that flows west, through the City of Horseshoe Bend. At the other end of the canal, the water flows through the Project’s hydroelectric turbines, where electricity is generated, then the water flows back to the river.
A water diversion structure has been constructed across the Payette River to divert part of the river flow into the canal. The diversion is equipped with an inflatable rubber dam and eight gates on a control structure. A control system automatically adjusts rubber dam inflation and gate openings to maintain a minimum flow in the river. This minimum flow passes around the left end (looking downstream) of the rubber dam, through and over the combined boat passage and fish ladder structure, known as “The Gutter” in Idaho’s whitewater community. The remaining flow is diverted into the power canal until the maximum allowed diversion flow is achieved. Any additional river flow beyond the maximum remains in the river.
The inflatable rubber dam remains inflated during most of the year. During periods of extremely low flow, the canal control gates may be closed. At such times, all the water will remain in the river. During periods of high flow, such as during spring runoff and storm events, the rubber dam will automatically deflate, either partially or completely, to convey more water downstream in the river. During extremely high flows, the rubber dam may be completely deflated and the control gates may be closed.
The Payette River conveys high sediment concentrations under some conditions. When these conditions occur, the hydroelectric plant could be temporarily shut down for maintenance purposes, the control gates may be closed, and the rubber dam may be deflated to prevent the entrance of sediment into the power canal. However, please be aware that the rubber dam can deflate at any time in response to changing river conditions, emergency conditions or plant maintenance necessities.
The Project operates under a license granted by the Federal Energy Regulation Commission (FERC). Among the conditions of this license are the construction of a combination boat passage/fish ladder (The Gutter), construction of the boat ramp located several hundred feet upstream, and the wetland mitigation area to the east.
Access to these facilities is provided by the Project to the public for recreational use. The facilities are available to pedestrians, gravity and power boaters, kayakers and rafters.
• Caution to Facility Users
The Project cannot guarantee the flow of the river nor the flow in the Gutter, given natural flow variations and the need to occasionally undertake maintenance activities.
Data users are cautioned to consider carefully the provisional nature of the information before using said information in making decisions that concern personal or public safety or the conduct of business that involves substantial monetary or operational consequences.
PLEASE USE THESE FACILITIES RESPONSIBLY AND SAFELY. THE HORSESHOE BEND HYDROELECTRIC COMPANY (HBHC) WISHES YOU A SAFE AND ENJOYABLE VISIT TO ITS PUBLIC RECREATION FACILITIES.
HBHC assumes no liability in respect of the use of the facilities by the public, as well as in respect of the flow and level of the river and the Gutter.
• Rubber Dam Deflation Schedule
The next planned period of rubber dam deflation is listed below. However, please be aware that the rubber dam can deflate at any time in response to changing river conditions, emergency conditions or plant maintenance necessities.
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Wednesday morning, June 18, 2008, the rubber dam is presently completely deflated. Please note that when the rubber dam is deflated, the fish pass structure (The Gutter) is partially dewatered and most of the river water is flowing in the main river channel over the deflated rubber dam bladder.
The last sediment samples showed very high sand concentration. In these high flow occurrences the river is carrying large amounts of sediment. In order to prevent the plant structure from being sand up, the hydroelectric plant operation is stopped when sediment test showed a high sediment concentration level.
The Payette River water flow is over 8000 cfs and is forecasted to stay at this level over the weekend.
We are presently considering having the hydroelectric plant down until the flow drop below 6000 cfs; meaning the plant could be down until sometime next week.
Over the next days we will keep on taking water river sediment concentration levels and from these observations determine if the hydroelectric plant can be operated.
The Rubber Dam is part of the HBHC power plant diversion structure and is located on the Payette River in the City of Horseshoe Bend (ID) approximately one mile upstream of the City Highway 55 Bridge.
Last update: 2008 06 18
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