The Snoqualmie Falls Hydroelectric Operations are a prized facility within the PSE system, situated on a pristine river above and below Snoqualmie Falls. Located 25 miles east of Seattle, the diversion dam and Power Plants 1 and 2 established more than 100 years ago require updating and expansion. Barnard began with a Design-Assist contract; in April 2010, we entered into the construction phase.

Work on Plant 1 entails updating the world's first completely underground powerhouse, an 11.98 MW facility constructed in 1898. Plant 1 renovation involves refurbishing four generators and replacing a fifth as well as enlarging the plant's 280-foot-deep shaft, replacing the elevator, replacing the penstock and draft tube, realigning the riverbank, reconstructing the river intake, and other work.

Work on Plant 2 involves construction of a new river intake, the upsizing and relining of the flowline tunnel, and construction of new site chambers, new penstocks, and a new powerhouse which includes installation of a new 12.5 MW turbine generator. Work on this four-year contract will increase the plants’ efficiency and the overall output of clean energy.

Construction restrictions are challenging given that the 270-foot-tall Snoqualmie Falls are Washington’s second most often visited tourist destination, averaging nearly 2 million visitors each year.