News Release Archive

Wild Rose Park Will Remain Open for the 2015 Recreation Season

Media Contact: Kelly Bridges, (208) 378-5101, kbridges@usbr.gov
Chris Vick, cvick@usbr.gov

For Release: January 23, 2015

EMMETT, Idaho - Delays associated with the construction of the new hydroelectric generating unit at Black Canyon Diversion Dam will result in Wild Rose Park remaining open for the May through September 2015 summer season. At this time, the park is still scheduled to be closed from May 2016 through March 2017.

"Wild Rose Park will open in May and the gazebo will be available to reserve for special events," said Jerry Gregg, Snake River Area Manager. "Park reservations will begin in early February for the summer season."

The 10.5-acre park was scheduled to be closed Summer 2015 for public safety reasons so it could be used as a staging area for heavy equipment related to the construction of a third generating unit at Black Canyon Dam. Construction has been delayed to ensure the project is economically viable.

The proposed 12.5-megawatt hydroelectric unit will expand the generating capacity at the facility by 105 million kilowatt-hours (enough to power 9,359 homes a year). The power produced will be integrated into the power grid to serve 10 irrigation districts in southern Idaho, eastern Oregon and the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes.

The majority of the project is funded by Bonneville Power Administration which markets hydroelectric power generated at Reclamation facilities in the Pacific Northwest.

Black Canyon Diversion Dam and Powerplant were completed in 1925 as part of the Payette Division of the Boise Project. It is a multipurpose facility that provides water for irrigation, hydropower and recreation.

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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.