A total of four gates will be installed with one gate at the main entrance to the facility, one gate on each end of the road across the crest of the dam, and one gate at the downstream road that leads to the powerplant. Disruption to traffic crossing the dam during construction is expected to be minimal.

The purpose of the gates on top of the dam is to temporarily restrict access to the facility if there is a specific hazard or threat to the facility. At all other times, the gates on top of the dam will continue to remain open. The gates at the main entrance and the gates leading to the powerplant will remain closed.

The gates are part of a long-term goal to implement corrective actions for operational contingency and safety at three Federal dams in Idaho, with minimal inconvenience to the public. The other facilities that have been identified as requiring similar measures are Anderson Ranch Dam, located on the south fork of the Boise River, about 28 miles northeast of Mountain Home, Idaho; and the Lower and Upper Embankments of Deer Flat Dams near Nampa, Idaho. Meetings have been held at cities near each of the locations to inform the public about the enhanced capability measures.

Long-term measures to permanently address operational and safety measures will be explored in collaboration with the public, county governments, the U.S. Forest Service, and other affected agencies.