April 4, 2008--Return of the Teton dam? (High Country News)
Almost 32 years ago, the Teton Dam in southeastern Idaho failed against the force of a 17-mile long, 270-foot deep reservoir. Eight months of stored stream flow and snowmelt crashed down the valley in less than six hours, swallowing the communities of Rexburg, Teton, Newdale and Sugar City. Eleven people died and the wall of water caused as much as $1 billion in damage, according to local reports. Now, the dam may be resurrected. Last month, the Idaho Department of Water Resources set aside $400,000 to study the feasibility of rebuilding the dam across the Teton River Canyon. The resulting reservoir would provide agricultural and drinking water as well as hydropower and recreation, says Dave Tuthill, director of the state’s Department of Water Resources.
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