A power outage at the Island Park Hydroelectric Project around 11:00 AM today caused flows to more than double, from 900 cfs to over 2000 cfs, in the Box Canyon.

Flows from the dam are usually regulated by the Island Park Hydroelectric Project. During the power outage, control of outflow is transferred to the Bureau of Reclamation gates (pictured above at about 1:00 PM). During the routine transfer, a calcified cable for one of the lower release gates failed. As a result, flows continued increasing from the BOR gates.

A gage station below the dam measured flow at 904 cfs. By 11:45, flows were recorded at 2010 cfs, according to the Bureau of Reclamation Hydromet site. The latest available flow reading available was 2050 cfs at 12:15.

Workers from Northwest Power Services manually adjusted the outflows from the BOR gate after discovering the problem. The Henry's Fork Foundation hasn't heard any reports of injuries from the increased outflows.