Opal Springs Hydro P-5891

General information
Waterway	Crooked River
Current status	Active license
Type of facility	Conventional Hydro
Mode of hydropower generation	Run-of-river
Type of permit	FERC License
FERC information
FERC docket #	P-5891
FERC project name	Opal Springs
Permit issued	10/28/82
Permit expiration	10/27/32
Ownership and operation
Owner	Deschutes Valley Water District
Owner type	Publicly Owned Utility
Year first online (conventional hydro)	1985
Transmission or distribution system owner	PacifiCorp
Power and generating capacity
Number of units	1
Total capacity from hydraulic turbine-generator units within each plant	4.3 MW
Average annual net hydropower generation	26,533.9 MWH

The dam is operated by the Deschutes Valley Water District and is located 7 miles upstream from Lake Billy Chinook. This small hydropower facility was a barrier to fish passage on the Crooked River for 50 years, until fish passage was built in 2019. Visit the Crooked River Watershed Council and watch the videos below to learn more.