Water discharges from Dworshak Dam temporarily fluctuated on Wednesday, and officials expect that to continue through the weekend, as contractors conduct a series of tests on a hydroelectric generator unit in preparation to return the unit to service.
Dworshak’s unit number 3 is the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ largest hydroelectric generator, with a rated capacity of 220,000-kilowatts. It’s been out of service since September 2016, while a contractor conducted a major overhaul of the generator.
The series of mechanical and electric tests that started Wednesday will continue until the unit is fully back in service. Testing includes numerous starts and stops of the unit at various water flows, affecting the North Fork of the Clearwater River immediately below the dam.
While Dworshak officials do not expect any significant rises in river level, flows and currents will change, likely affecting anglers’ catch results when fishing below the dam at the wall, along the shoreline, the Ahsahka bridge, and the river confluence. (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)
