Fish Studies to Begin Next Week for Idaho Falls Power Dam Relicensing

July 17, 2025

Starting July 21, contractors for Idaho Falls Power will begin fish sampling on the Snake River. This effort is part of the ongoing relicensing process for Idaho Falls Power's hydroelectric dams. The sampling is expected to last about one week and will include some night electrofishing at the Lower and City Plants.

Idaho Falls Power operates two hydroelectric dams on the Snake River. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) requires these licenses to be renewed every 40 years. As part of this comprehensive process, Idaho Falls Power is conducting studies to assess the potential environmental effects of the hydro projects, this study focuses on fish populations.

“Our main goal is to understand the current state of the fish community and how it might be affected by the dam's relicensing,” said Richard Malloy, Idaho Falls Power Regulatory Compliance Manager. “During these extensive fish assemblage studies, crews will be in the field identifying the types and numbers of fish species present.”

Crews will use various collection methods, including netting and electrofishing. Electrofishing is a common research technique that temporarily stuns fish by sending short electrical currents into the water, allowing for safe collection and identification. Fish are caught, identified, weighed, measured and released back into the river.

The information gathered from these studies will help determine the current health of fish populations and identify if any mitigation measures are needed. For more details about the relicensing project, its timeline, and related documents, please visit https://www.ifpower.org/about-us/relicensing/relicensing-project-overview/.