THE US BUREAU OF RECLAMATION (USBR) has awarded a contract totalling more than US$3.9M for the rehabilitation of the three turbines and generators at Boise diversion dam power plant in Idaho to american-hydro Corporation (AHC).
AHC, based in York, Pennsylvania, will design and fabricate all the required components of the three hydraulic turbines and generators at the power plant.
The project is a partnership between USBR and Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), with BPA providing funding. The work, begun in November 2002, is to be completed in the spring of 2004. Boise river diversion power plant is located about 11.3km southeast of Boise. It was built by USBR in 1912, originally to provide power for the construction of Arrowrock dam.
After Arrowrock dam was built, the power plant operated for 70 years to supply power for irrigation pumping, with surplus power being marketed by BPA. The plant has not been operated since 1982.
Photograph of Boise diversion dam courtesy of USBR.