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Palisades Dam in southeastern Idaho is the site of a landmark hydro project: the installation of jet flow gates measuring 90 inches in diameter, ranked among the largest ever built in the United States. This effort underscores the scale of modern outlet valve requirements and reflects Hilton’s long-standing role in advancing engineered solutions for hydropower infrastructure.

PALISADES DAM: A BRIEF BACKGROUND

Constructed by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation between 1951 and 1957, Palisades Dam stands on the Snake River near the Idaho–Wyoming border. Rising 270 feet and stretching more than 2,000 feet across, the earth-fill dam created Palisades Reservoir, which can store over 1.2 million acre-feet of water. The facility provides flood control, irrigation storage, recreation, fish and wildlife benefits, and hydroelectric power for communities across Idaho and Wyoming.

Given its critical role in the Upper Snake River Basin, Palisades has seen a series of upgrades since its completion. The current jet flow gate project continues that legacy by ensuring the dam can meet modern operational, environmental, and safety requirements.

A LEGACY IN HYDRO VALVES

Hilton has been serving the hydro industry since 1976, when it supplied its first jet flow gate to the Bureau of Reclamation’s Nambe Falls Project in New Mexico. That project launched a decades-long relationship with federal, state, and municipal hydro operators across the country. Over the years, Hilton has become well known for designing and fabricating large, custom valves that handle the tremendous flows and pressures associated with dam outlets.

The company is particularly recognized for the throttling knife gate valve, a cost-effective alternative to jet flow and fixed-cone valves for low-head applications. Developed around 2000 in collaboration with the Bureau of Reclamation, the throttling knife gate valve quickly gained acceptance. Its inaugural installation came in 2003, when Pacific Gas and Electric Company purchased eight valves. Today, the design is widely used as both outlet and guard valves across the hydro industry.

The actuator for the 90-inch Hilton Jet Flow Gate for Palisades Dam is hoisted into place.

THE DEZURIK CONNECTION

Hilton became part of DeZURIK, Inc. in 2011, strengthening its ability to serve hydro customers. Founded in 1928, DeZURIK has grown into a global manufacturer of valves for water and wastewater treatment, mining, petrochemical, oil and gas, and hydropower. The company employs approximately 700 people and, through acquisitions of legacy brands such as Willamette, Red Valve, APCO, and Hilton, now offers one of the most comprehensive valve portfolios in the industry.

For the hydro market, the Hilton acquisition was especially strategic. DeZURIK’s traditional cast-body valve lines were well suited for many industries, but hydro facilities often require large-diameter, plate-steel valves tailored to lower operating heads. Hilton brought the custom design and fabrication expertise needed to fill that gap—capabilities that are essential for projects like the 90-inch jet flow gates at Palisades Dam.

The installation of the Hilton Jet Flow Gates, measuring 90 inches in diameter, are ranked among the largest ever built in the United States.

MEETING HYDRO’S UNIQUE CHALLENGES

Designing valves for hydro applications presents unique challenges. Hydro dams frequently operate at heads below 250 feet—equivalent to just over 100 psig. That means valves don’t always need to conform to the conventional 150 or 300 psig pressure classes. By engineering valves specifically for these lower operating pressures, Hilton can deliver reliable solutions specifically for hydropower facilities.

Hilton valves are widely used as low-level outlet valves, turbine bypass valves, and in fish passage systems. They help facility owners meet a range of regulatory and operational requirements, from habitat restoration to seismic safety.

For example:

• Environmental releases: Relicensing often includes new mandates to release water at specified flows and times of year, requiring precision throttling capabilities.

• Seismic upgrades: Particularly in California, outlet works are being upgraded to ensure dams can safely release water in the event of an earthquake.

• Climate adaptation: Changing precipitation patterns are driving demand for larger outlet valves that can handle increased flood volumes.

• Temperature control: Multiple-level intakes are increasingly required to blend warm and cold water for downstream ecological balance.

In each of these cases, Hilton’s custom-engineered valve solutions can help owners comply with regulations and protect both infrastructure and the environment.

Precision engineering of the Hilton Jet Flow Gates ensures reliable performance under high-head pressures and free discharge conditions.

A PORTFOLIO OF PROVEN DESIGNS

Hilton portfolio include a variety of valves specifically for hydropower applications:

• Jet Flow Gates: Originally designed by the Bureau of Reclamation in the 1940s, these robust valves are installed at landmark projects like Shasta and Hoover Dams. The 90-inch jet flow gates currently being designed for Palisades Dam represent the next chapter in this proud tradition.

• Fixed-Cone Valves (Howell-Bunger Valves): Known for their wide, radial discharge patterns, these valves are used in high head applications. Hilton collaborated with Utah State University to develop a baffled hood, which tames the discharge plume and expands the valve’s usability.

• Guard Valves: Frequently paired with outlet valves, guard valves allow operators to isolate and dewater valves for maintenance—or even serve temporarily as the outlet valve in emergencies.

Across all these designs, Hilton leverages its fabrication expertise to deliver cost-effective, large-scale solutions and accommodate specialty materials.

COMMITMENT TO U.S. MANUFACTURING

Hilton valves are manufactured at the company’s Redmond, Washington facility in the United States. At a time when much of the valve industry has shifted overseas, this commitment resonates strongly with hydro owners and public agencies. Recent federal legislation has further encouraged U.S.-sourced manufacturing for infrastructure, giving Hilton a competitive advantage.

Moreover, Hilton has cultivated strong, lasting relationships with owners, engineers, and contractors throughout the hydro sector. Federal customers like the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, state agencies such as the New York DEP and San Francisco PUC, and utilities like PG&E continue to rely on Hilton valves for critical infrastructure.

LOOKING AHEAD

The 90-inch jet flow gates at Palisades Dam are more than just large pieces of engineered steel. They represent Hilton and DeZURIK’s commitment to advancing hydro technology and supporting the industry’s mission of reliable, renewable energy and water management.

From that first jet flow gate in 1976 to today’s record-setting 90-inch valve, Hilton has continuously evolved to meet the changing needs of hydro owners and operators. By combining DeZURIK’s broad industry expertise with Hilton’s custom fabrication capabilities, the company is proud to support the future of hydropower—one valve at a time.

To learn more about DeZURIK Valves for Hydropower applications, contact DeZURIK: https://www.dezurik.com/industry/hydropower-dams/