Lower Valley Energy (LVE) has continued with repairs and upgrades to their power generation facilities in Swift Creek Canyon east of Afton following a sluice gate failure on July 13. The failure allowed for large amounts of water and debris to flow out of the reservoir and down the canyon, draining the majority of the reservoir. Since that time, LVE has decided to not only repair the gate on the reservoir’s dam but use the opportunity to replace the hydroelectric generator as well.

“We know how important Swift Creek is to the community. We understand that people want to see the reservoir restored to its normal condition. We do too, and getting Swift Creek repaired and back to normal operation is a priority for LVE,” stated Bear Prairie, CEO.

Since the failure, LVE has removed the generator and turbine from the Upper Powerhouse, separating the generator from the turbine so it could be sent to a maintenance facility for inspection, service and repairs. Prairie said they expect it to return in four to six weeks.

“At the same time, we have continued inspecting and evaluating the damaged sluice gate,” Prairie continued. “We identified a broken operating rod, which is part of the mechanism used to raise and lower the gate, as well as damage to the gate itself. Most importantly, the dam remains safe and continues to be closely monitored by LVE

“One thing that may not be as visible to the community is the amount of work required before we can begin the permanent repair. Swift Creek is a federally licensed and regulated hydroelectric project. As the operator of the facility, LVE is legally required to follow specific engineering, safety, environmental and regulatory processes before making a major repair to the dam.” Prairie further explained that the project requires cooperation with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commissioner (FERC), the U.S. Forest Service and other agencies who require specific steps before moving forward.

LVE engineers and consulting engineering firms continue developing a repair plan for the sluice gate. Once the plan is submitted, FERC has indicated that LVE should expect at least a 60-day review period as part of the legal and regulatory requirements LVE must follow.

“Our responsibility is to make sure everything on our end is completed as quickly and thoroughly as possible so we are ready to move forward when we receive authorization to do so,” continued Prairie. “Our current plan is to replace the damaged sluice gate and restore the reservoir to its normal operating condition. Depending on the timing of regulatory approvals, some of that work may have to take place during the colder fall or winter months. That will make the work more challenging, but we are preparing for that possibility rather than unnecessarily delaying the project.

“Our goal is the same as that of our members and the community: repair the facility, restore Swift Creek Reservoir, and return this important local resource to normal operation as soon as we can safely and legally do so. We will continue to keep the community updated as that work progresses.”