[fyshstykr]

It looks like they are looking into rebuilding the Teton Dam in south eastern Idaho.
Thought many of you familiar with the original dam's failure, or the area, might find this interesting.

Water issues everywhere are bringing renewed interest in dams for water storage, while I'm not a fan of daming our rivers, I do believe continued population growth brings about a neccessity for increased water storage capacity and some future dams, or enlarging resevoirs may be our only recourse.

Whatcha all think? do we have any other options?

[MTskibum]

I dont know about that particular spot, but i am all for throwing up dams if it is going to turn a catfish/walleye fishery into a trout fishery, but if trout are the species there i would hope that they could try and find an alternative around damming the river. I do understand how reservoirs benefit irrigation though.

[fyshstykr]

ooopsie!!! forgot to post the article.




Teton Dam?

High Country News (CO)
April 4, 2008
By FRANCISCO THARP

Almost 32 years ago, the Teton Dam in southeastern Idaho failed against the force of a 17-mile long, 270-foot deep reservoir. Eight months of stored stream flow and snowmelt crashed down the valley in less than six hours, swallowing the communities of Rexburg, Teton, Newdale and Sugar City. Eleven people died and the wall of water caused as much as $1 billion in damage, according to local reports.
Now, the dam may be resurrected.

Last month, the Idaho Department of Water Resources set aside $400,000 to study the feasibility of rebuilding the dam across the Teton River Canyon. The resulting reservoir would provide agricultural and drinking water as well as hydropower and recreation, says Dave Tuthill, director of the state’s Department of Water Resources.

“Fifty years ago we had enough water,� says Tuthill. “But we have been experiencing many years of drought in Idaho, so we have a heightened awareness for a need for additional water supplies.� Increased urbanization and the likelihood of a hotter, drier future have also made Idaho thirstier.

The state’s study will investigate whether a new dam can be built safely in the porous rock that contributed to the first dam’s collapse, as well as whether or not another reservoir is the best remedy for Idaho’s dry times. The state will also consider recharging aquifers and diverting water to storage tanks away from the river.

Before the dam was completed in 1976, conservation groups including Trout Unlimited and the Sierra Club filed a lawsuit to halt the project. Today, eco-groups criticize the idea of rebuilding the dam, saying it would disrupt seasonal flows critical to the spawning cycles of native Yellowstone cutthroat trout. The cutthroat prefer flowing water to lakes or reservoirs.

In addition to harming trout and aquatic species, the reservoir would drown bald eagle nesting grounds and block deer and elk from their wintering areas in the Teton Canyon, says Kim Goodman, project director with Trout Unlimited.

Even studying the revival of the Teton Dam is a misuse of money, Goodman says. “We’re spending state and federal funds to find out if (the dam) is feasible or not. But we already proved this dam is not feasible. Its failure was the ultimate sign.�

Instead, say conservationists, the state could work with irrigators to conserve Teton water, create an incentive-based water trading system, and increase the capacity of existing dams like the Minidoka on the Snake River.

Of the more than 600 dams the Bureau of Reclamation has built during the past century, the Teton Dam has been the only dam to fail.

“It had a very profound effect not just on Reclamation but on the whole Department of Interior,� says Diana Cross, acting deputy regional director with the Bureau. “After that, the dam safety program was created. We now have a safety record second to none.�

Nonetheless, after the 1976 incident, rebuilding the dam might be a hard sell.

“Just the other day, I was visiting a friend in the area,� says Goodman. “I said, ‘(The flood) seems so fresh in people’s minds.’

‘Yeah,’ he said, holding back tears. ‘I was one of the people in the helicopter rescuing people in Sugar City and Rexburg when the flood hit.’ Can you imagine if it had happened at night? It is amazing that only 11 people died in that disaster.�

The author is an intern for High Country News.

For more information about the 1976 flood, see these links: http://simscience.org/cracks/movies/tetonf.mov
Bureau of Reclamation, Pacific Northwest Region, Idaho

[Wyatt]

I think the idea of diverting water to storage tanks away from the river is the better way, my brother has done some of these storage tank as they are called, they are very large lakes or holes dug in areas where there is no danger of dam brakage or flooding and then they stock these tanks with fish and open to the population for recreation, the water is brought into and out the tanks thru pipes and could drive generators to a lesser extent, sounds like a safer win-win for all.
Wyatt

[fyshstykr]

That's an interesting idea Wyatt, I would be interested in hearing more on this concept, can you find out more?

Is the water circulated to bring in fresh water?
I would think these areas could be filled during higher runoff years?

[Davo]

If they ever do rebuild the Dam I hope they do a better job!! I imagine that the opposition will be fierce. So it will probably be sometime before it happens if it ever does.

[Wyatt]

fyshstykr
The way my kid brother explained it to me, one of the projects he worked on was in New Mexico, they dug a big lake, the dirt that came out of the bottom was level around the sides and water is piped in and out so they have a constent fresh supply, he said when full will handle boating, fishing and water storage for dry years, I will see if he can give me some more info or link to the firm that they were contracting to, he has worked on a few of these water tanks as they call them.
Wyatt

[fyshstykr]

Originally Posted by Davo

If they ever do rebuild the Dam I hope they do a better job!! I imagine that the opposition will be fierce. So it will probably be sometime before it happens if it ever does.

I would think so also, might have to convert some of that good Potato farming country over to the storage system that Wyatt brought up. Something will eventually need to be done, just look at how the Snake gets drawn down during the Summer.

I didn't know that Teton is the only dam failure that the army corp of engineeres has had, good success overall.

[fyshstykr]

Originally Posted by Wyatt

fyshstykr
The way my kid brother explained it to me, one of the projects he worked on was in New Mexico, they dug a big lake, the dirt that came out of the bottom was level around the sides and water is piped in and out so they have a constent fresh supply, he said when full will handle boating, fishing and water storage for dry years, I will see if he can give me some more info or link to the firm that they were contracting to, he has worked on a few of these water tanks as they call them.
Wyatt

Ah ok, so it is circulated to keep it fresh.
Please do see if your brother can give you a source of info, really is an interesting idea.

[fyshstykr]

I have a body of water just north of me(Willard Bay)that they were planning on raising the height of the dike to increase storage capacity, before they got started they found some structural issues with the dike, seems there is/was seepage under it.
The whole thing is delayed right now waiting for Federal funds and trying to figure out how to repair it, also heard a rumor that they may drain it completely and expand it further north.

The place was really starting to make a name for itself as far as Wiper fishing.
Too bad we can't get it filled up again with the good snow year we've had, the way Winters go anymore, it may be years before we have the chance again.....