Harnessing the Flow

During the year, the Corps of Engineers regulates the flow of wter through the dam.
Water is released from Lake Pend Oreille to maintain seasonal lake elevations and to adjust for rain and snowmelt.


Water at Work

The Albeni Falls Dam includes a hydroelectric power plant. That means it uses the energy in falling water to produce electricity.

Water from the Pend Oreille River flows through intake channels in the powerhouse. The water strikes the turbine's blades and makes it spin.

The spinning turbine turns a shaft that's connected to the generator rotor.

The rotor has 132 electromagnetic field poles.

The stator surrounds the rotor. The stator has coils of insulated copper wire.

When the rotor's magnets move past the stator's copper coils, electricity is produced.

The water flows out of the powerhouse into the tailrace.

Is That a Fact?

Fact: Each generator is rated at 14,200 kilowatts for a total rated capacity of 42,600 kilowatts

Fact:The turbines at Albeni Falls Dam can produce over 19,600 horsepower. The resemble a ship's propellers.

Fact:Lake Pend Oreille stores water for power production.

Fact:The Corps invites you to tour the powerhouse for an in-depth