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Little Goose Lock and Dam Turbine Spills Oil into Snake River by Michael LeCompte NBC Right Now, October 26, 2022

STARBUCK, Wash. -- Maintenance staff at Little Goose Lock and Dam have confirmed an oil leak in the main unit of the #1 turbine system.

According to a Walla Walla District Corps of Engineers press release, initial indications are that between 300 and 600 gallons of oil have spilled into the Snake River over the past 90 days.

Oil-absorbent booms have been placed in the river as a precaution. No visible oil-sheen has been noticed in the river.

The leaking turbine has been turned off and isolated from the river for repairs.

"Our team at Little Goose Dam took appropriate actions to remove the turbine from service, and to assess and contain the leak," said Paul Ocker, Operations Division Chief, Walla Walla District.

Little Goose construction started in June 1963. The filling of Lake Bryan began on Feb.16, 1970, and continued until elevation 638 feet was reached on Feb. 25, 1970. The dam is 2,655 feet long with an effective height of about 100 feet. It is located on the Snake River near Starbuck, Wash., and upstream of Lake West, the reservoir formed by Lower Monumental Dam. It is a concrete gravity dam with an earthfill abutment embankment. It includes a navigation lock and eightbay spillway 512 feet long, which has eight 50 feet by 60 feet tainter gates. The installation of power generating units one through three was completed, and the first unit began producing power in March 1970. Additional power units four through six were installed and power for those units came online in July 1978. Revisions were made to the juvenile fish facility in 1982 and 1984.