Rocky Reach, Wells and Rock Island (Mid-Columbia) Habitat Conservation Plans

August 20, 2003

These HCPs, referred to collectively as the Mid-Columbia HCP, are for three hydropower projects covering more than 100 river miles on the mainstem of the mid-Columbia River.

Affected Species

Rocky Reach

Chinook salmon (Upper Columbia River spring-run, Upper Columbia river summer/fall-run),
Sockeye salmon (Okanogan River), and
Steelhead (Upper Columbia River)

Wells

Chinook salmon (Upper Columbia River spring-run, Upper Columbia river summer/fall-run),
Sockeye salmon (Okanogan River), and
Steelhead (Upper Columbia River)

Rock Island

Chinook salmon (Upper Columbia River spring-run, Upper Columbia river summer/fall-run),
Sockeye salmon (Okanogan River, Lake Wenatchee), and
Steelhead (Upper Columbia River)

Summary

These HCPs, referred to collectively as the Mid-Columbia HCP, are for three hydropower projects covering more than 100 river miles on the mainstem of the mid-Columbia River. They are Douglas County Public Utility District's Wells Hydroelectric Project and Chelan County Public Utility District's Rocky Reach and Rock Island dams.

The public utility districts worked cooperatively with various state and federal fisheries agencies, including NOAA Fisheries, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, three Indian Tribes, and an environmental organization (American Rivers) to develop the first hydropower HCPs for salmon and steelhead.

The plans commit the two utilities to a 50-year program to ensure that their projects have no net impact on mid-Columbia salmon and steelhead runs. This will be accomplished through a combination of fish bypass systems, spill at the hydro projects, off-site hatchery programs and evaluations, and habitat restoration work in mid-Columbia tributary streams.

Rocky Reach, Wells and Rock Island (Mid-Columbia) Habitat Conservation Plans

Affected Species

Rocky Reach

Wells

Rock Island

Summary

Supporting Materials

Rocky Reach

Wells

Rock Island