Lucky Peak Dam
Encyclopedia
Lucky Peak Dam is a rolled earth and gravel fill dam
on the Boise River
in Ada County
, Idaho
, U.S.A.. It is directly downstream of Arrowrock Dam
, a concrete arch structure completed in 1915. At the time of its construction in the early 1950s, Lucky Peak's primary purpose was flood control, with a secondary purpose of irrigation
. Hydroelectric power generation was added in 1988. The normal operating elevation of the full reservoir is 3055 feet (931 m) above sea level, the empty reservoir's elevation (Boise River) is 2824 feet (861 m).
Construction began in November 1949 by the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers
, and the dam was operational in 1955. The resulting reservoir is named Lucky Peak Lake
. Most of the federal dams in southern Idaho, including the others on the Boise River, were built by the Bureau of Reclamation
. The Idaho Power Company
, a private utility, built multiple hydroelectric dams on the Snake River
.
Lucky Peak Dam is located along State Highway 21, 10 miles (16 km) upstream from the city of Boise
, and below the older concrete arch Arrowrock Dam
, completed in 1915. Originally built without hydroelectric power generation, the construction of the Lucky Peak powerhouse was begun in 1984 and became operational in 1988, generating electricity primarily for Seattle City Light
.
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
on the Boise River
Boise River
The Boise River is a tributary of the Snake River in the northwestern United States. It drains a rugged portion of the Sawtooth Range in southwestern Idaho northeast of Boise, as well as part of the western Snake River Plain...
in Ada County
Ada County, Idaho
Ada County is a county in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2010 Census, the county had a population of 392,365. The county seat and largest city is Boise, which is also the state capital. Other cities in the county with over 10,000 residents include Meridian, Eagle,...
, Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
, U.S.A.. It is directly downstream of Arrowrock Dam
Arrowrock Dam
Arrowrock Dam is a concrete arch type dam on the Boise River, in Idaho, U.S.A. It opened in 1915 and is located on the border between Boise County and Elmore County, upstream of the Lucky Peak Dam and reservoir...
, a concrete arch structure completed in 1915. At the time of its construction in the early 1950s, Lucky Peak's primary purpose was flood control, with a secondary purpose of irrigation
Irrigation
Irrigation may be defined as the science of artificial application of water to the land or soil. It is used to assist in the growing of agricultural crops, maintenance of landscapes, and revegetation of disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall...
. Hydroelectric power generation was added in 1988. The normal operating elevation of the full reservoir is 3055 feet (931 m) above sea level, the empty reservoir's elevation (Boise River) is 2824 feet (861 m).
Construction began in November 1949 by the U.S. Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
Corps of Engineers
United States Army Corps of Engineers
The United States Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 38,000 civilian and military personnel, making it the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency...
, and the dam was operational in 1955. The resulting reservoir is named Lucky Peak Lake
Lucky Peak Lake
Lucky Peak Lake is a reservoir on the Boise River in the U.S. state of Idaho. It is located mainly in Ada County, extending into Boise County and Elmore County. It was created in 1955 with the construction of Lucky Peak Dam....
. Most of the federal dams in southern Idaho, including the others on the Boise River, were built by the Bureau of Reclamation
United States Bureau of Reclamation
The United States Bureau of Reclamation , and formerly the United States Reclamation Service , is an agency under the U.S...
. The Idaho Power Company
Idaho Power Company
Idaho Power Company is a regulated electrical power utility. Its business involves the purchase, sale, generation, transmission and distribution of electricity in eastern Oregon and southern Idaho. It is a subsidiary of IDACORP, Inc...
, a private utility, built multiple hydroelectric dams on the Snake River
Snake River
The Snake is a major river of the greater Pacific Northwest in the United States. At long, it is the largest tributary of the Columbia River, the largest North American river that empties into the Pacific Ocean...
.
Lucky Peak Dam is located along State Highway 21, 10 miles (16 km) upstream from the city of Boise
Boise, Idaho
Boise is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho, as well as the county seat of Ada County. Located on the Boise River, it anchors the Boise City-Nampa metropolitan area and is the largest city between Salt Lake City, Utah and Portland, Oregon.As of the 2010 Census Bureau,...
, and below the older concrete arch Arrowrock Dam
Arrowrock Dam
Arrowrock Dam is a concrete arch type dam on the Boise River, in Idaho, U.S.A. It opened in 1915 and is located on the border between Boise County and Elmore County, upstream of the Lucky Peak Dam and reservoir...
, completed in 1915. Originally built without hydroelectric power generation, the construction of the Lucky Peak powerhouse was begun in 1984 and became operational in 1988, generating electricity primarily for Seattle City Light
Seattle City Light
Seattle City Light is the public utility providing electrical power to Seattle, Washington and parts of its metropolitan area, including all of Shoreline and Lake Forest Park and parts of unincorporated King County, Burien, Normandy Park, Seatac, Renton, and Tukwila...
.
External links
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Lucky Peak Dam & Rec'n Area
- Us. Army Corps of Engineers - Lucky Peak Dam - Pertinent Data
- U.S. Bureau of Reclamation - Boise Project
- Seattle City Light - a brief history