Rocky Mountain Power, the hydroelectric system operator of the Bear River system in northern Utah and southeastern Idaho, said that the potential for flooding is very high all along the Bear River below Bear Lake, including the area between Wardboro and Bern in Bear Lake County, Idaho.
Rocky Mountain Power has been closely monitoring spring runoff conditions in the Bear River basin, where the snowpack is high, exceeding previous high flow years of 1983 to 1984, 2011 and 2017.
“Based on runoff forecasts, we believe there will be serious flooding of the Bear River into its historic flood plain,” said Connely Baldwin, Rocky Mountain Power hydrologist. “There are many naturally occurring factors that could influence the extent of flooding, including how rapidly snow melts and the possibility of a local heavy rainstorm. These conditions are likely to exceed those of 1983-84, 2011 or 2017 because current snowpack levels greatly exceed those high flow years.”
Operators at the Bear River hydroelectric projects have tested emergency operating plans that include provisions for coordinating with the National Weather Service and local public safety officials in the case of impending high runoff events or more serious emergencies.
The 77 MW Bear River Project consists of the 14 MW Soda Development, 33 MW Grace Development and 30 MW Oneida Development.
Rocky Mountain Power or its predecessor companies have operated the hydroelectric systems on the Bear River and at Bear Lake since development began in 1909. The primary goals of the project are to provide irrigation water for some 150,000 acres of farmland and generate hydroelectric power.
PacifiCorp operates as Rocky Mountain Power in Utah, Wyoming and Idaho. The company serves more than 1.2 million customers in the three states. In total, PacifiCorp owns 37 hydropower facilities in Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Utah and Montana with a total generating capacity of 971 MW.
