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. View fact sheet (PDF).

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 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

Public Safety Notification

Safety is a top priority for PacifiCorp. To ensure public safety at Bear River recreational areas, emergency evacuation sirens have been installed at Oneida Dam and nearby at the Red Point Campground (owned by the Bureau of Land Management).

The sirens have been installed as a proactive measure to prevent delays in communication in the unlikely event that sudden flooding or rapid changes in water flows force evacuation of the campground or areas immediately below Oneida Dam. These sirens are not intended to communicate evacuation orders to residences outside the area.

The sirens will not be used to alert people for other types of emergencies. Although residents outside the area of Oneida Dam may hear the sirens, they are not expected to take any evacuation actions and should instead listen for emergency information from local authorities.

Any necessary evacuations at other Bear River recreational areas will be conducted by PacifiCorp staff or local authorities as appropriate.