Home > Idaho > Kuna vicinity > Swan Falls Dam, Snake River, Kuna, Owyhee County, ID
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Item Title
Swan Falls Dam, Snake River, Kuna, Owyhee County, ID
LocationSnake River,
Kuna vicinity, ID
Find maps of Kuna, ID
Created/Published
Documentation compiled after 1968.
Notes
Survey number HAER ID-20
Unprocessed field note material exists for this structure (FN-2).
Significance: Swan Falls Dam was the first hydroelectric dam on Snake River in Idaho, and one of the earliest built in the Pacific Northwest. A.J. Wiley, a brilliant western irrigation engineer and an early assistant of engineer Arthur D. Foote, designed the project. The dam was built to supply power for the operation of gold mines in Silver City, Idaho, which has long previously run out of wood for fuel. It soon supplied power for Silver City, Nampa, Caldwell, and other Idaho towns. The Idaho Power Company, which acquired the dam in 1916 during a major consolidation of southern Idaho power companies in receivership, expanded the capacity of the dam and added new equipment in two phases. Swan Falls was used as a training assignment for new engineers in the Idaho Power Company system because of the variety of manually-operated equipment at this site, including generators installed in 1918. Because the water rights for the dam were never subordinated to those of future irrigation projects upstream, Swan Falls was the focus of a major conflict in water use and water rights in Idaho during the 1970s and 1980s, the resolution of which had profoundly altered the course of economic development and water use in southern Idaho.
Subjects
Dams
Collection
Historic American Engineering Record (Library of Congress)
Contents
Photograph caption(s):
1. VIEW OF SWAN FALLS DAM AND SNAKE RIVER CANYON, LOOKING UPSTREAM TO SOUTH AND EAST FROM ONE-THIRD OF THE WAY UP THE CANYON ROAD
3. TELEPHOTO VIEW OF SWAN FALLS DAM AND SNAKE RIVER CANYON, LOOKING UPSTREAM TO SOUTH AND EAST FROM ONE-THIRD OF THE WAY UP THE CANYON ROAD
4. VIEW OF SWAN FALLS DAM, LOOKING DOWNSTREAM TO SOUTH AND WEST FROM THE CANYON ROAD
5. VIEW SHOWING THE DOWNSTREAM SIDE OF SWAN FALLS DAM AND POWER HOUSE, LOOKING UPSTREAM TO SOUTH FROM THE A MOUND OF DEBRIS ABOUT THIRTY TO FORTY FEET ABOVE THE RIVER
6. VIEW SHOWING THE DOWNSTREAM SIDE OF SWAN FALLS DAM AND SPILLWAY, LOOKING UPSTREAM TO EAST
7. VIEW FROM THE RIGHT BANK, SHOWING THE DOWNSTREAM SIDE OF SPILLWAY AND ROCK ISLAND, LOOKING SOUTH SOUTHWEST
8. WIDE ANGLE VIEW ON ROCK ISLAND, LOOKING SOUTH
9. DETAIL VIEW OF WATER TANKS ON ROCK ISLAND, LOOKING NORTH
10. UPSTREAM SIDE VIEW OF SPILLWAY, SHOWING ROCK ISLAND AND WATER TANK, LOOKING NORTHWEST FROM DOCK
11. VIEW SHOWING TOP OF SPILLWAY, TAKEN FROM TOP OF WATER TANK ON ISLAND, LOOKING WEST SOUTHWEST TOWARD LEFT BANK
12. VIEW SHOWING UPSTREAM SIDE OF SPILLWAY (WITHOUT WIND), LOOKING DOWNSTREAM FROM LEFT BANK TOWARD RIGHT BANK (NORTH).
13. VIEW SHOWING DOWNSTREAM SIDE OF SPILLWAY, LOOKING UPSTREAM (SOUTH SOUTHWEST) FROM CONSTRUCTION AREA. WATER TANK ON LEFT OF PHOTOGRAPH.
14. DETAIL VIEW OF STONE WALL OF SPILLWAY, TAKEN BY HANGING OVER SPILLWAY, LOOKING WEST SOUTHWEST TOWARD LEFT BANK
15. VIEW OF DOWNSTREAM SIDE OF SPILLWAY, SHOWING ROAD GRADE AND LAVA FORMATIONS IN RIGHT CANYON WALL, LOOKING EAST NORTHEAST TOWARD RIGHT BANK FROM LEFT BANK (TAKEN IN LATE AFTERNOON)
16. VIEW OF SPILLWAY, LOOKING DOWNSTREAM FROM LEFT BANK TOWARD NORTH
17. VIEW OF NORTH DAM AND POWERHOUSE, LOOKING DOWNSTREAM FROM LEFT BANK TOWARD SOUTHWEST
18. VIEW OF DOWNSTREAM SIDE OF SPILLWAY, SHOWING DETAILS OF GATES AND ISLANDS BELOW SPILLWAY, LOOKING EAST
19. DETAIL VIEW OF SPILLWAY, SHOWING WOODEN GATES AND CONCRETE, TAKEN FROM OLDER STONE WALL, LOOKING NORTHEAST FROM LEFT BANK
20. DETAIL VIEW OF SPILLWAY, SHOWING GATE OPENING MECHANISM FROM LEFT SIDE OF SPILLWAY, LOOKING NORTH NORTHWEST TOWARD RIGHT BANK
21. DETAIL VIEW OF SPILLWAY, SHOWING GATE OPENING MECHANISM, LOOKING APPROX. NORTH DOWN INTO GATE OPENING COVER
22. DETAIL VIEW OF SPILLWAY, SHOWING GATE OPENING MECHANISM, LOOKING NORTHEAST TOWARD RIGHT BANK
23. DETAIL VIEW OF SPILLWAY, SHOWING CRANE AND CRANE RAIL, LOOKING NORTHEAST TOWARD ISLAND AND WATER TANK
24. VIEW SHOWING PORTION OF OLD STONE WALL ON LEFT BANK NEAR SPILLWAY, LOOKING WEST
25. VIEW OF DOWNSTREAM SIDE OF NORTH DAM, SHOWING GATES, LOOKING SOUTHEAST
26. VIEW OF FISH LADDER AT NORTH DAM, LOOKING SOUTH TOWARD LEFT BANK
27. VIEW OF FISH LADDER FROM ABOVE SLUICEWAY, LOOKING DOWN NORTHWEST FROM ABOVE
28. VIEW OF SWITCHYARD ON ISLAND, LOOKING NORTH
29. VIEW OF IRON POWER POLE, LOOKING WEST TOWARD LEFT BANK FROM WINDOW OF POWERHOUSE ADDITION
30. VIEW OF POWERHOUSE FROM UPSTREAM, SHOWING ALL THREE SECTIONS, LOOKING DOWNSTREAM (SOUTHWEST)
31. VIEW OF POWERHOUSE FROM DOWNSTREAM, LOOKING UPSTREAM (SOUTHEAST)
32. VIEW OF POWERHOUSE FROM DOWNSTREAM, LOOKING TOWARD LEFT BANK (SOUTHWEST) FROM ROCKS AT BASE OF SLUICEWAY RUN
33. VIEW OF POWERHOUSE, SHOWING 1907 AND 1913 SECTIONS, LOOKING UPSTREAM TOWARD SOUTHEAST FROM DOWNSTREAM CONSTRUCTION SITE
34. VIEW OF POWERHOUSE FROM DOWNSTREAM, SHOWING 1907 SECTION, SLUICEWAY, AND FISH LADDER, LOOKING UPSTREAM TOWARD SOUTHEAST
35. GABLE END VIEW OF 1910 AND 1913 SECTIONS OF POWERHOUSE, SHOWING EXTERIOR WALKWAY, LOOKING TOWARD RIGHT BANK FROM TOP OF WATER TANK
36. GABLE END VIEW OF 1907 AND 1913 SECTIONS OF POWERHOUSE, SHOWING INTAKE GATE OPENING EQUIPMENT, LOOKING WEST TOWARD LEFT BANK FROM FENCE BY PASTURE ON RIGHT BANK
37. END VIEW OF 1910 SECTION OF POWERHOUSE FROM WALKWAY TO SPILLWAY BELOW COOLANT TANK, LOOKING NORTHEAST TOWARD RIGHT BANK
38. INTERIOR OVERVIEW OF 1907 SECTION OF POWERHOUSE, LOOKING NORTHEAST FROM THE STAIRWAY LANDING ON THE LEFT BANK SIDE OF THE SECTION
39. INTERIOR VIEW OF CONCRETE ROOF STRUCTURE IN ATTIC OF 1907 SECTION OF POWERHOUSE, FACING RIGHT BANK FROM ABOUT FIVE FEET IN FRONT OF DOOR
40. VIEW OF COMPRESSOR IN 1907 SECTION OF POWERHOUSE, LOOKING DOWNSTREAM FROM UPSTREAM SIDE
41. VIEW OF COOLING PUMPS IN LOWER LEVEL OF 1907 SECTION OF POWERHOUSE, LOOKING UPSTREAM FROM DOWNSTREAM SIDE
42. INTERIOR VIEW OF 1907 SECTION OF POWERHOUSE, UPSTAIRS, SHOWING WALL ABOVE THE MAIN ENTRANCE AND ROUND WINDOW, LOOKING TOWARD RIGHT BANK, See ID-20-36 for exterior view.
43. INTERIOR VIEW OF 1907 SECTION OF POWERHOUSE, UPSTAIRS, SHOWING ROUND WINDOW AND WALL, LOOKING TOWARD LEFT BANK AND DOWN INTO 1913 (MIDDLE) SECTION FROM RIGHT BANK
44. VIEW SHOWING SUMP PUMP ROOM IN 1907 SECTION OF POWERHOUSE, LOOKING STRAIGHT DOWN INTO VALVES AND PIPES. CAMERA ORIENTATION IS FROM RIGHT BANK, FACING TOWARDS LEFT BANK, AND PERPENDICULAR TO RIVER FLOW.
45. VIEW SHOWING STOP GATE COVERS IN 1907 SECTION OF POWERHOUSE, LOOKING SOUTHWEST TOWARD LEFT BANK FROM JUST INSIDE MAIN ENTRY ON RIGHT BANK SIDE
46. VIEW SHOWING PART OF CRANE AND STOP GATES IN 1907 SECTION OF POWERHOUSE, LOOKING DOWNSTREAM (ABOUT NORTHWEST) FROM JUST INSIDE MAIN ENTRANCE
47. VIEW OF EXCITER UNIT IN 1910 SECTION OF POWERHOUSE, LOOKING UPSTREAM AND SOUTH FROM THE GALLERY
48. VIEW OF EXCITER ROOM ON LOWER LEVEL OF 1910 SECTION OF POWER, LOOKING DOWNSTREAM NORTH FROM UPSTREAM SIDE
49. VIEW OF EXCITER GENERATORS IN 1910 SECTION OF POWERHOUSE, SHOWING STAIRS TO CONTROL ROOM, LOOKING TOWARD DOWNSTREAM SIDE FROM UPSTREAM SIDE
50. VIEW OF EXCITER GENERATOR IN 1910 SECTION OF POWERHOUSE, LOOKING APPROXIMATELY SOUTHWEST INTO THE CORNER BELOW THE CONTROL ROOM FROM DOWNSTREAM SIDE AT BASE OF CONTROL ROOM STAIRWAY
51. VIEW OF MAIN FLOOR GALLERY IN 1910 SECTION OF POWERHOUSE, TAKEN DIAGONALLY ACROSS THE ROOM TOWARDS UPSTREAM SIDE, LOOKING TOWARD CONTROL ROOM
52. OVERVIEW OF MAIN FLOOR, LOOKING TOWARD RIGHT BANK FROM CONTROL ROOM DOOR
53. DETAIL VIEW INSIDE GENERATOR COVER OF A TYPICAL ELECTRICAL GENERATOR, LOOKING IN DIRECTION OF LEFT BANK, PERPENDICULAR TO RIVER FLOW
54. VIEW OF CONTROL PANELS, CONTROL ROOM, IN 1910 SECTION OF POWERHOUSE, LOOKING SOUTHEAST TOWARD UPSTREAM SIDE OF BUILDING
55. UPSTREAM VIEW OF SLUICEWAY, LOOKING DOWNSTREAM, APPROXIMATELY NORTHWEST, FROM RIGHT BANK
56. UPSTREAM VIEW OF SLUICEWAY, SHOWING STONE WALL AND GABLE END OF POWERHOUSE, LOOKING DOWNSTREAM FROM RIGHT BANK
57. VIEW SHOWING SLUICEWAY GATE CONTROL MECHANISM, LOOKING NORTHWEST
58. VIEW SHOWING SLUICEWAY CLUTCH MECHANISM, LOOKING NORTHWEST. See ID-20-55.
59. VIEW SHOWING SLUICEWAY WITH GATES OPEN, LOOKING UPSTREAM (SOUTHWEST) FROM ROCKS AT BASE OF SLUICEWAY
60. VIEW OF WALKWAY ABOVE SLUICEWAY LEADING TO MAIN ENTRANCE OF POWERHOUSE, LOOKING SOUTHWEST
61. VIEW OF EXCITER SLUICEWAY BELOW AND OUTSIDE OF 1910 SECTION OF POWER, LOOKING DIRECTLY DOWNSTREAM (NORTHWEST)
62. INTERIOR VIEW OF SLUICEWAY MOTOR HOUSE, LOOKING SOUTHWEST TOWARD LEFT BANK
63. VIEW OF TYPICAL TURBINE IN TURBINE WELL IN POWERHOUSE, LOOKING DOWN THE SHAFT FROM JUST ABOVE NORMAL WATER LEVEL. LADDER IS ON DOWNSTREAM WALL. PHOTOGRAPHER STOOD ON DECK SHOWN IN LOWER LEFT CORNER
64. VIEW OF TURBINE UNDER CONSTRUCTION IN TURBINE WELL. SAME ORIENTATION AS IN ABOVE PHOTO, WITH LADDER ON DOWNSTREAM WALL
65. VIEW OF SINGLE PHASE TRANSFORMERS, UNITS 1 AND 2, IN POWERHOUSE, LOOKING NORTHWEST DIRECTLY TOWARD DOWNSTREAM WALL
66. VIEW SHOWING RHEOSTATS FOR UNITS 1 AND 2 IN CONTROL ROOM OF POWERHOUSE, LOOKING INTO UPSTREAM SIDE OF ROOM
67. VIEW OF UNIT 1 AND EXCITER RHEOSTAT IN 1910 SECTION OF POWERHOUSE, LOOKING TOWARD UPSTREAM CORNER IN DIRECTION OF LEFT BANK. PHOTO ALSO SHOWS OVERHEAD CRANE AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO CONTROL ROOM AT FAR END
68. VIEW SHOWING ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT FOR UNITS 1 AND 2, LOOKING SOUTHEAST THROUGH DOOR TO BAY NO. 2 TOWARDS UPSTREAM SIDE OF BUILDING
69. VIEW SHOWING GENERATOR NO. 1 AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT; BANK NO. 1, BAY NO. 1 WITH EXCITER AND RHEOSTATS NO. 3 THROUGH 6, LOOKING UPSTREAM (SOUTH) TOWARD LEFT BANK
70. VIEW OF UNIT 2 THROUGH ACCESS DOOR, LOOKING DOWN AT MAIN SHAFT. NOTE WELDER'S SIGNATURE IN SHADOWS IN UPPER LEFT CORNER AND PHOTOGRAPHER'S STROBE POWER CABLE IN LOWER RIGHT CORNER. ORIENTATION OF CAMERA IS FACING LEFT BANK, PERPENDICULAR TO RIVER FLOW
71. OVERHEAD DETAIL VIEW OF GENERATOR 2 IN POWERHOUSE, LOOKING STRAIGHT DOWN ON GENERATOR FROM GALLERY, WITH CAMERA FACING UPSTREAM 72. 'UNDERVIEW' OF GENERATOR COVER OF UNIT 2, TAKEN ON FLOOR BELOW MAIN FLOOR AND LOOKING AT MAIN SHAFT TURN. CAMERA FACES EAST TOWARD UPSTREAM WALL
73. VIEW SHOWING SINGLE PHASE TRANSFORMERS FOR UNIT 5 IN POWERHOUSE, LOOKING NORTHWEST AT DOWNSTREAM WALL. NOTE DOOR AT LEFT
74. OVERHEAD DETAIL VIEW OF GENERATOR 6, LOOKING UPSTREAM (SOUTHEAST) FROM GALLERY
75. VIEW SHOWING RHEOSTATS FOR GENERATORS 3 THROUGH 6 IN 1910 SECTION OF POWERHOUSE, LOOKING SOUTHWEST IN DIRECTION OF LEFT BANK FROM BESIDE THE EXCITER 76. 'UNDERVIEW' OF GENERATOR 6, TYPICAL, TAKEN AT WATER LEVEL, LOOKING UPSTREAM TOWARD LEFT
77. VIEW OF TYPICAL COOLING FAN FOR GENERATOR 6, LOOKING UPSTREAM (SOUTHEAST)
78. VIEW SHOWING RHEOSTATS FOR GENERATORS 7 THROUGH 10 IN 1910 SECTION OF POWERHOUSE, LOOKING WEST TOWARD LEFT BANK INTO DOWNSTREAM CORNER
79. VIEW OF WICKET GATE CONTROL FOR UNIT 10 IN POWERHOUSE, LOOKING NORTH TOWARD DOWNSTREAM RIGHT BANK FROM ABOUT TWENTY FEET INSIDE MAIN ENTRANCE 80. 'UNDERVIEW' OF GENERATOR 10 IN POWERHOUSE, LOOKING UP WITH CAMERA FACING DOWNSTREAM SIDE
81. VIEW SHOWING GENERATOR SHAFT BRAKE OF UNIT 10, TAKEN ON LOWER, LOOKING DOWNSTREAM
82. VIEW SHOWING ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT FOR GENERATORS 9 AND 10 IN BAY 5, LOOKING SOUTH TOWARD UPSTREAM SIDE
83. VIEW OF TRASH RACKS FOR UNIT 10 IN LOWER LEVEL OF 1907 SECTION OF POWERHOUSE, LOOKING NORTHEAST TOWARD MAIN ENTRANCE AND FACING RIGHT BANK
84. VIEW OF TRANSFORMERS IN GALLERY OF 1907 SECTION OF POWERHOUSE, LOOKING NORTHWEST TOWARD DOWNSTREAM WALL AND LEFT BANK
85. VIEW OF TRANSFORMERS IN GALLERY OF 1907 SECTION OF POWERHOUSE, LOOKING SOUTHWEST TOWARD LEFT BANK
86. CLOSE-UP VIEW OF TRANSFORMERS IN GALLERY OF 1907 SECTION OF POWERHOUSE, LOOKING SOUTHWEST TOWARD LEFT BANK. WINDOW IS ON DOWNSTREAM SIDE
87. VIEW OF TRANSFORMERS IN GALLERY OF 1907 SECTION OF POWERHOUSE, LOOKING SOUTHWEST TOWARD LEFT BANK, WITH DOWNSTREAM WALL ON RIGHT OF PHOTOGRAPH
88. VIEW OF SINGLE PHASE TRANSFORMERS IN MIDDLE SECTION (1913) OF POWERHOUSE, LOOKING NORTHWEST, DIRECTLY AT DOWNSTREAM WALL
89. VIEW OF TRANSFORMERS IN 1913 SECTION OF POWERHOUSE, LOOKING NORTHEAST TOWARD RIGHT BANK ALONG DOWNSTREAM WALL
90. VIEW OF SINGLE PHASE TRANSFORMERS IN 1910 SECTION OF POWERHOUSE, LOOKING SOUTHWEST, DIRECTLY AT DOWNSTREAM WALL
91. VIEW OF DAM IN 1901, LOOKING TOWARD RIGHT BANK
92. VIEW OF DAM IN 1919, LOOKING DOWNSTREAM
93. UNDATED VIEW OF DAM, LOOKING TOWARD RIGHT BANK. PHOTO WAS TAKEN PRIOR TO SPILLWAY IMPROVEMENTS OF 1936
94. UNDATED VIEW OF DAM, LOOKING TOWARD LEFT BANK. PHOTO WAS TAKEN AFTER 1936 AND PRIOR TO CONSTRUCTION OF NEW SPILLWAY IN 1986
95. SWAN FALLS POWER HOUSE - FLOOR PLAN. (20B-21032)
96. SWAN FALLS POWER HOUSE - BALCONY FLOOR PLAN. (20B-21031)
97. SWAN FALLS POWER HOUSE - SECTION THROUGH 1907INSTALLATION (20B-21045)
98. SWAN FALLS POWER HOUSE - SECTION THROUGH 1910INSTALLATION (20C-21131)
99. SWAN FALLS POWER HOUSE - SECTION THROUGH 1913INSTALLATION (20C-21-69)
100. PLAN AND SECTION OF SWAN FALLS (SPILLWAY) DAM (B-46) December 1916 with revisions up to 1918.
101. SWAN FALLS DAM EXHIBIT L - DOWNSTREAM AND UPSTREAM ELEVATIONS WITH KEY PLAN FOR SECTIONS OF POWER HOUSE Sheet 1 of 5. (ZE-1507)
102. SWAN FALLS EXHIBIT L - CROSS SECTION Sheet 2 of 5. (ZE-1507)
103. SWAN FALLS EXHIBIT L - CROSS SECTION Sheet 3 of 5. (ZE-1507)
104. SWAN FALLS EXHIBIT L - CROSS SECTION Sheet 4 of 5. (ZE-1507)
105. SWAN FALLS EXHIBIT L - CROSS SECTION Sheet 5 of 5. (ZE-1507) [This drawing duplicates much of what was on #7 (B-46), but shows more detail.]
106. SWAN FALLS EXHIBIT L - PLAN AND SECTIONS Sheet I of 3. (ZE-3707) July 1936,
107. SWAN FALLS EXHIBIT L - PLAN AND SECTIONS Sheet 2 of 3. (ZE-3707) July 1936
108. SWAN FALLS EXHIBIT L - PLAN AND SECTIONS Sheet 3 of 3. (ZE-3707) July 1936 (This drawing also shows steel tower on downstream side of dam.)
109. SWAN FALLS - FISH LADDER DETAIL April 1940 (B-4544) The fish ladder was placed in operation on September 17, 1922.
110. SWAN FALLS - SPILLWAY DAM July 1936. (ZE-3708) (This drawing shows extension of rock fill from left bank to spillway.)
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