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Publish Date : 10-Mar-2014

Avista Utilities has selected Max J. Kuney Company, headquartered in Spokane, Wash., as the general contractor for the upgrade and restoration of the company's over 100-year-old South Channel Dam. The structure is one of three dams including the Middle Channel and North Channel dams that comprise the historic Post Falls Hydroelectric Development (HED) in Post Falls, Idaho.

The Post Falls HED is an important legacy hydroelectric resource for Avista and its customers that produces 18 megawatts of clean, renewable, low-cost power, while also providing recreational benefits to users of the Spokane River in Post Falls. That's enough energy to power 13,500 homes.

"Like Avista, Max J. Kuney Company is a business grown in Spokane with a commitment to supporting the economy by working with locally-sourced subcontractors and suppliers as much as possible. That is important to providing living wage jobs for the residents of the Inland Northwest," said Jason Thackston, Avista's senior vice president for energy resources.

"The Kuney team shares Avista's commitment to environmental stewardship in protecting the Spokane River and habitat during the project and understands the importance of minimizing impacts to Q'emiln Park. That's why the Park and its facilities, including the boat launch are expected to be open as normal this summer with limited exceptions," Thackston said.

The structural upgrades to the non-generating South Channel Dam, built in 1906, will help ensure the continued safe and reliable operation of the generating facility. Replacing the 1980's-era manual equipment will also improve operational efficiencies, allowing for increased flexibility in responding to changing hydro conditions and customer demand.

In addition to upgrading equipment, the project includes constructing a temporary cofferdam, removing the original 1906 concrete facing and gate frames on the South Channel Dam, and adding new concrete, spillway gates and hoists, and remote controls for the spillway gates. The complete project is expected to cost about $13.5 million. The North Channel Dam was upgraded in 2004 and the Middle Channel Dam in 2012.

"As a construction company that works out of town a fair amount, we can't ask for much more than the opportunity to work on critical projects like this one right in our own backyard. Hydropower is an incredible asset to our community, which makes bringing historic dams like Avista's South Channel up to today's standards a very important undertaking. We appreciate the opportunity to partner with Avista on this project and are looking forward to getting started," said Max J. Kuney Company Vice President Daniel Kuney.

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