The dam diverts water into the underground intake pipe that serves the utility’s Upper Falls power house. The utility has awarded a contract to Robert B. Goebel General Contractor Inc of Spokane, for the project, which will take roughly a year to complete. The work involves removal and replacement of aging wooden control gates with modern components.
The diversion dam was built in 1922 and is used to divert water for aesthetic purposes as well as power production. The diversion dam is 91.4m long and has a maximum height of 10.8m, and can store 9.9Bm3 of water. The Upper Falls power house has a generating capacity of 10MW.