Bear River

Project Overview

The 107-megawatt (mw) Bear River Project (FERC No. 20) is located in Southeast Idaho in Caribou and Franklin Counties, and is partially located on United States lands administered by BLM. The Bear River Project is largely dependent on the Bear Lake Irrigation Project to pump water from Bear Lake into the lower river during the irrigation season. During drought years the Bear River Project may generate at less than full capacity due to lack of water in the river.

Construction of the Bear River Project was authorized by the U.S. Secretary of Interior in 1907 for irrigation, flood control and hydroelectric generation. Construction of the dams began in 1909 and was completed in 1927. Utah Power acquired water rights from various holders during these years in exchange for perpetual contracts to deliver certain amounts of irrigation water released from Bear Lake. Water rights were further defined by court decrees, the Bear River Compact (as revised), and other subsequent agreements.

The Bear River Project consists of:

• The Soda Development – a 103-foot-high concrete dam, the Soda reservoir (Alexander Reservoir), and a powerhouse with a total installed capacity of 14 mw.
• The Grace Development – a 51-foot-high timber crib dam, a 250-acre forebay, a 26,000-foot-long flowline, and a powerhouse with a total installed capacity of 33 mw.
• The Cutler Development – a 109-foot-high concrete gravity arch dam, a 1000-foot-long flowline, and a powerhouse with total capacity of 30 mw.
• The Oneida Development – a 111-foot-high concrete dam, the Oneida reservoir, a 2,240-foot-long flowline, and a powerhouse with a total installed capacity of 30 mw.

PacifiCorp and stakeholders to the relicensing of the Bear River Project signed a Settlement Agreement on August 28, 2002, resolving all issues pertaining to relicensing. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved the Settlement Agreement and issued a new 30-year license for the Bear River Project on December 22, 2003. The Settlement Agreement and new license require the provision of recreational enhancements, instream flows to benefit aquatic resources, and various funds to conserve and benefit natural resources near the project. The Environmental Coordination Committee (ECC), a stakeholder group comprised of signatories to the Settlement Agreement, was formed to consult and make decisions regarding the use of funding and other license requirements for the Bear River Project.

Settlement Agreement

A Settlement Agreement was signed on August 28, 2002.  The parties to the Agreement are PacifiCorp, USDI Fish and Wildlife Service, USDI Bureau of Land Management, USDI National Park Service, USDA Forest Service, Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation, Idaho Council of Trout Unlimited, Idaho Rivers United, Greater Yellowstone Coalition, American Whitewater and other intervenors.

1. The Agreement contains specific measures that will substantially improve environmental conditions in the Bear River watershed near the Project;
    
2. The Agreement provides important resource protection and restoration measures that will benefit fish and wildlife habitat, consistent with regional restoration planning;
    
3. The Agreement provides for various interests and river uses, including irrigation, power production and natural resource values; and
    
4. The Agreement establishes a process for the Parties to collaborate to manage and enhance natural resources in the Bear River watershed throughout the terms of the New License.

 Bear River Settlement Agreement Explanatory Statement

 Bear River Settlement Agreement

Project License

The Bear River in Idaho near PacifiCorp's hydroelectric facilities is a valuable source of public recreation. In particular, the Black Canyon below the Grace dam and the Oneida Narrows below the Oneida dam provide opportunities for whitewater recreation, depending on the time of year and the availability of water. The Settlement Agreement signed on August 28, 2002 and PacifiCorp's license issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on December 23, 2003 includes several measures to enhance whitewater recreation near the project facilities.

These enhancements include:

• Providing put-in and take-out facilities near the Grace and Oneida developments for use by whitewater recreationists;
• Providing additional water over the dam into Black Canyon when flood conditions result in at least 500 cfs spill over Grace dam;
• Beginning in 2008, providing scheduled releases of whitewater flows into Black Canyon during the spring and early summer of each year;
• Providing information from 3 river gages on a toll-free Flow Phone; and
• Providing information on river flows and scheduled whitewater releases on a website so that the public can better plan their recreational experience.

Please contact us at 1-800-547-1501 for flow information.

 Black Canyon Boater Flow Schedule

Bear River Gages:

• Above Soda Reservoir
• Below Grace Dam
• Below Oneida Dam