OLDTOWN — The United States Army Corps of Engineers has awarded a $20 million contract to Knight Construction and Supply to replace all 11 spillway gates at the Albani Falls Dam, according to a Wednesday press release.

The gates have been an important point for the USACE and residents following the discovery of defective steel in the current gates in 2024. It has limited operations at the dam and reduced flexibility in Lake Pend Oreille levels, another hot-button issue in the community. 

"I am glad to see the Albeni Falls Dam gate replacement project is moving along faster than originally projected," District 1 state Sen. Jim Woodward said. "Safe and unrestricted operations of the gate are important to all the purposes of the dam which include flood control, navigation, fisheries, navigation and power production. I am especially grateful to our federal delegation for the assistance in prioritizing the repairs."

Despite restricted operations, USACE officials said in May 2025 that the risk of a flood event is very low. The awarding of the bid to the Pacific Northwest-based construction company follows the timeline officials shared last year, in which the first replacement gate was set to arrive in 2027, and construction was to be completed by the early 2030s. 

Knight Construction has a history of working on dam spillway gates and has worked on the Wanapum Dam in Washington, the Ice Harbor Dam in southeast Washington and the Hills Creek Spillway in Oregon. 

In addition to the bid announcement, USACE officials announced that the refill of Lake Pend Oreille will gradually begin April 1. USACE said it is too early to determine a full summer pool date. 

“USACE indicates it is too early to determine the date on which Lake Pend Oreille will reach normal summer levels,” Officials wrote in the press release. “But expects to achieve this once any major flood risk has subsided, while also considering the current limitations of the spillway gates.” 

Recreation areas managed by USACE will open as scheduled for the 2026 season, according to the release. Riley Creek Recreation Area is the first to open May 9, followed by Albeni Cove, Priest River and Springy Point Recreation Areas on May 16. 

More information on the spring refill will be shared at an upcoming meeting in Sandpoint on May 7. USACE officials will meet in the Sandpoint Center from 5 to 7 p.m. to discuss the refill, restricted operations, project updates and a forecast for snowpack and inflows.