The project is located at the US Bureau of Reclamation’s (USBR) Tieton Dam and Reservoir on the Tieton River, about 34km upstream of a confluence with the Naches River, in Yakima County, Washington.
LIHI Certification means that the hydro power facility has been found to meet or exceed the Institute’s Certification Criteria which address eight key areas: river flows, water quality, fish passage and protection, watershed protection, threatened and endangered species protection, cultural resource protection, recreation, and facilities recommended for removal. Certification is designed to provide consumers with assurance that a facility has avoided or reduced their environmental impacts pursuant to the Low Impact Hydropower Institute’s criteria.
The Tieton Hydroelectric Project is a ‘run of the reservoir’ facility located at the base of the US Bureau of Reclamation dam on the Tieton River at river mile (RM) 21.2, in Yakima County approximately 64km west of the city of Yakima, Washington.
The USBR’s Tieton Dam on the Tieton River was constructed during the period of 1917-25. The dam is an earthfill structure with a concrete core wall diaphragm. It created Rimrock Lake, a reservoir with a storage capacity of 244Mm3 at normal water surface elevation. The dam creates 60m of head to drive the turbines in the power house.
For more information on the Tieton Dam Hydropower Project or other LIHI certified facilities contact Fred Ayer, Executive Director, at the Low Impact Hydropower Institute,. Tel: +1 207-773-8190. Email: fayer@lowimpacthydro.org