The Barber Dam is a timber-crib dam in the western United States, on the Boise River in southwestern Idaho. Located in Ada County, about three miles (5 km) east of Boise, the dam was constructed by the Barber Lumber Company between 1904 and 1906 to serve as a mill pond for timber. A power plant was also constructed in conjunction with the dam which powered the mill and the town of Barberton (Barber), which was established in 1910.[5]

Barber Dam
The dam in 1979
Barber Dam is located in the United States
Barber Dam
Location in the United States
Barber Dam is located in Idaho
Barber Dam
Location in Idaho
CountryUnited States
LocationAda County, Idaho
Coordinates43°33′37″N 116°07′18″W / 43.56028°N 116.12167°W / 43.56028; -116.12167
StatusOperational
Construction began1904
Opening date1906; 118 years ago (1906)
Owner(s)Ada County
Dam and spillways
Height30 feet (9 m)
Length400 feet (122 m)[1]
Reservoir
Active capacity180 acre-feet (222,027 m3)[2]
Normal elevation2,765 feet (843 m)
Power Station
TypeRun-of-the-river
Hydraulic head25 feet (7.6 m)
Turbines2 x Kaplan-type
Installed capacity4.14 MW[3]
Barber Dam and Lumber Mill
Nearest cityBoise, Idaho
Built1906
Architectural styleA.J. Wiley
NRHP reference No.78001037[4]
Added to NRHPNovember 21, 1978

In 1934, the Great Depression effected the closure of the mill and the facilities were purchased by Boise Cascade. The Harris Ranch purchased the dam and mill after the depression and developed the area for residential property.[6] The dam was purchased by Ada County in 1977 and is currently regulated by the Idaho Department of Water Resources.[7][8]

The run-of-the-river dam's power house contains two Kaplan turbine generators with a combined capacity of 4.14 MW and is operated by Enel Green Power.[3] The dam and lumber mill were added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 21, 1978.[4]

References

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  1. ^ Ellam, Joseph J. (1976). Responsibility and liability of public and private interests on dams. American Society of Civil Engineers. p. 93.
  2. ^ "Ada County Hazard Vulnerability Analysis" (PDF). Ada-City County Emergency Management. p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 November 2010. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
  3. ^ a b "Barber Dam Hydroelectric Project". Enel. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
  4. ^ a b "Barber Dam and Lumber Mill". National Register of Historic Places. Archived from the original on February 20, 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
  5. ^ Vincent, R.H. (11 September 2009). "Barber Dam-Past & present-Part 2 of 4". Idaho History Examiner.
  6. ^ Gupta, K.R.; Jankowska, Maria Anna; Maiti, Prasenjit, eds. (2007). Global environment : problems and policies. New Delhi: Atlantic. pp. 141–142. ISBN 978-81-269-0846-2.
  7. ^ "Barber Pool Conservation Area Master Plan". U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. September 2002. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
  8. ^ Logan, Scott (19 February 2007). "Barber Dam, Built In 1904, Springs Small Leak On Boise River". KBOI2. Archived from the original on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2011.