Alaska Hydropower Project Review

Hydropower development in Alaska is a substantial source of renewable energy and there is still opportunity for expanding that capacity. NOAA Fisheries reviews proposed and existing dams, run-of-river projects, and hydrokinetic projects in cooperation with applicants and operators, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, federal and state resource agencies, tribes, communities and interested citizens. We review projects throughout pre-licensing, licensing, and post-licensing phases. Our goal is to work with the hydropower developer and stakeholders to protect public trust resources, such as Pacific salmon and their habitat.  For new development, we seek to identify project designs and license conditions for protecting and enhancing fish habitat during project development. We also review existing hydropower projects through long-term monitoring to determine if project operations meet the goals for protecting fisheries and their habitat, or if adaptive management is necessary.

Our review of hydropower projects is based on NOAA Fisheries’ mission for the stewardship of ocean resources and their habitat, which includes species such as Pacific salmon and other anadromous fish. Most hydropower facilities are in southeast and southcentral Alaska where salmon are the most common anadromous species.  Regulatory statutes under the Federal Power Act authorizes NOAA Fisheries to recommend license terms and conditions necessary to protect, mitigate damage to, and enhance fish and wildlife habitat affected by hydropower projects. The Federal Power Act also provides NOAA Fisheries with mandatory authority to prescribe fishway prescriptions. In addition, we have responsibilities for the protection and enhancement of public trust resources derived from the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.