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West Coast Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Licensed Hydroelectric Projects: Puget Sound

Hydropower Projects in the Puget Sound.

West Coast

Table of Contents

Admiralty Inlet Pilot Tidal Project

Puget Sound; Admiralty Inlet, Jefferson County, Washington.

Project Profile & Licensee

This project was intended to be a research site for tidal energy generation. NOAA Fisheries worked with the Public Utility District, the Northwest Fisheries Science Center, and the Northwest National Renewable Energy Marine Center at the University of Washington to determine appropriate monitoring protocols and mitigation measures.

Licensee: Snohomish County Public Utility District No. 1

Federally Threatened - Listed Species/Species of Concern

FERC Relicensing Status

The PUD was at the stage of soliciting the final bids to move forward with the construction of the project at the time it received notice from the Department of Energy (DOE) that the federal agency would not increase its shared expenses for the research project.

The cost of the materials needed to build the project had risen, and costs of studies to assess impacts and monitoring requirements all contributed to an increase in the estimated cost for the next stage of the research project. The DOE had originally accepted responsibility for at least 50 percent of the cost of the project; this support was tied to a fixed dollar amount at a time when the final requirements and costs were undefined. Since then, the costs have increased and the DOE was unwilling to contribute more funds to maintain its proportionate share.

While the project will not move forward without additional research partner funds, a great deal of value has been derived from the study process related to this nascent industry.

Resources

Baker Hydroelectric Project

Puget Sound; Baker River, Whatcom and Skagit Counties, Washington

Project Profile & Licensee

On November 30, 2004, Puget filed a Settlement Agreement signed by Puget, 11 governmental agencies, three tribes, eight non-governmental organizations, and one citizen representative (the Settlement Parties). Puget then filed an amended license application and revised preliminary draft environmental assessment on January 31, 2005, which reflects the Settlement Agreement.

The Settlement Agreement contains 50 proposed license articles that Puget and the Settlement Parties recommend the Commission incorporate into the new license. The proposed articles describe how Puget would operate the project and Puget's responsibilities for certain protection, mitigation, and enhancement measures including measures related to: geology and soils, water quantity and quality, aquatic resources, terrestrial resources, threatened and endangered species, cultural resources, recreation, aesthetics, and land uses.

Licensee: Puget Sound Energy

Federally Threatened - Listed Species/Species of Concern

FERC Status

FERC granted a new 50-year license in 2008. Puget Sound Energy completed juvenile fish passage improvements at the Upper Baker Dam in 2008. NOAA Fisheries issued a biological opinion in 2009. The Upper and Lower Baker Dams blocked downstream juvenile passage for ESA-listed fish. Fish passage engineers and biologists designed “first-of-its-kind” floating surface collectors, which has increased juvenile salmon passage survival from less than 60% of fish successfully migrating past the Upper Baker Dam to 75 to 95%.

Resources

Cushman Hydroelectric Project

Puget Sound; Skokomish River, Mason County, Washington

Project Profile & Licensee

Cushman No. 1 Dam was one of the first major dams in the Pacific Northwest, coming on line in 1926. Located on the North Fork of the Skokomish River near Hood Canal, the dam is 275 feet high and 1,111 feet long and generates enough electricity for about 9,000 homes. The dam created Lake Cushman. Just downstream is Cushman No. 2 Dam, which was completed in 1930, and formed the 150-acre Kokanee Lake. The dam is 235 feet high above bedrock and 575 feet long. The dam generates enough electricity to power more than 16,000 homes. The Cushman project blocked access, and affected stream flow and water quality for ESA-listed fish.

On Jan. 12, 2009, Tacoma Power, the Skokomish Tribal Nation and state and federal agencies signed a settlement agreement that resolved a $5.8 billion damages claim and long-standing disputes over the terms of an extended license for the Cushman Hydroelectric Project.

Licensee: City of Tacoma

Federally Threatened - Listed Species/Species of Concern

FERC Relicensing Status

The Cushman projects license expired in 1974. After 35 years of litigation and negotiation the parties reached a settlement for a new 50-year license. The new operating license was issued in 2009. Actions required by the settlement include providing fish passage, increasing in-stream flows, establishing a $3.5 million habitat restoration fund, and construction of fish hatcheries to restore salmon and steelhead runs.

Resources

Jackson Hydroelectric Project

Puget Sound; Sultan River, Snohomish County, Washington

Project Profile & Licensee

The Henry M. Jackson Hydroelectric Project, which began operating in 1984, is located in the Sultan River Basin. The 112-megawatt hydroelectric generating facility produces enough power for 53,200 homes. The project also provides recreation, enhances fish and wildlife habitats, provides an element of flood control and provides drinking water. A new 45-year license was issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in 2011.

Licensee: Snohomish County Public Utility District

Federally Threatened - Listed Species/Species of Concern

FERC Relicensing Status

FERC issued a new 45-year license in 2011. The relicensing process included improvements in stream flow and fish passage. NOAA Fisheries issued a biological opinion in 2011.

Resources

Morse Creek Hydroelectric Project

Puget Sound; Morse Creek, Clallam County, Washington

Project Profile & Licensee

Morse Creek is the largest of the independent drainages to salt water between the Dungeness and Elwha rivers, entering the Strait of Juan de Fuca approximately two miles East of Port Angeles.

The Hydro project, built in 1985 and brought online in 1987, provided about 0.3 percent of the city of Port Angeles electric usage. It was shut down from 1997-2004 because of increased costs of providing electricity and the need for repairs. It ceased operation in April 2012 after a generator shaft bearing started to fail and needed to be replaced.

The Morse Creek Hydroelectric facility affected stream flow below the dam for ESA-listed fish.

Licensee: City of Port Angeles

Federally Threatened - Listed Species/Species of Concern

FERC Relicensing Status

FERC adopted an amendment to increase streamflow in 2008. The licensee has increased instream flow which enhanced protection of ESA listed fish. Because of unrelated maintenance issues, the dam has not been operational since April 2012. In 2015, The Port Angeles City Council began efforts for selling the Morse Creek hydroelectric plant, declaring it as surplus. Any buyer who intends to restart the hydroelectric plant would have to renovate it and relicense it with FERC.

Resources

Newhalem Creek Hydroelectric Project

Puget Sound; Newhalem Creek, Whatcom County, Washington

Project Profile & Licensee

Newhalem is a small hydro project of 2.7 megawatts with minimum instream flow protection and a tailrace barrier to protect fish from stranding.

Licensee: Seattle City Light

Federally Threatened - Listed Species/Species of Concern

FERC Relicensing Status

FERC issued a license in 1996 before there were ESA-listed fish in the area.

Resources

Nisqually Hydroelectric Project

Puget Sound; Nisqually River, Thurston and Pierce Counties, Washington

Project Profile & Licensee

A FERC license for the Nisqually River Project was issued in 1997, which was before there were fish listed under the Endangered Species Act. The license was developed with the Nisqually Indian Tribe, Nisqually River Council, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA Fisheries.

Licensee: Tacoma Power

Federally Threatened - Listed Species/Species of Concern

FERC Relicensing Status

License requirements include minimum instream flows, down ramping flow rate restrictions, and an emergency flow bypass.

Resources

Skagit River Hydroelectric Project

Puget Sound; Skagit River, Whatcom County, Washington

Project Profile & Licensee

The Skagit River Hydroelectric Project is located in Whatcom County, Washington and consists of three power generating developments on the Skagit River - Ross, Diablo, and Gorge. The three developments are hydraulically coordinated to act as a single project and supply approximately 20% of Seattle City Light's power requirements while enhancing instream flow conditions for salmon and steelhead reproduction and rearing downstream of the Project. The project also includes over 10,000 acres of fish and wildlife habitat, which are located in the Skagit and Nooksack river basins.

The Skagit River Hydroelectric Project affected streamflow for ESA-listed fish.

Licensee: Seattle City Light

Federally Threatened - Listed Species/Species of Concern

FERC Relicensing Status

NOAA Fisheries, state, tribal, and federal agencies reached a settlement agreement in 1990, and FERC issued a new license in 1995. Instream flows for spawning, egg incubation, and juvenile rearing, down-ramping rates, and amplitudes are major features of the fish protection measures under the license. NOAA Fisheries issued a biological opinion in December 2012. Seattle City Light has recently begun relicensing efforts and is working with public stakeholders and State and Federal Agencies to on scoping required studies to develop the projects environmental baseline.

Resources

Snoqualmie Falls Hydroelectric Project

Puget Sound; Snoqualmie River, Snohomish County, Washington

Project Profile & Licensee

The Snoqualmie Falls Hydroelectric Project is located on the Snoqualmie River in Snoqualmie, Washington. The Project consists of a low diversion dam located 150 feet upstream from Snoqualmie Falls and two powerhouses (Plants 1 and 2) with a total generating capacity of 54 megawatts. Snoqualmie Falls Plant 1, located in a cavern 270 feet below Snoqualmie Falls, was originally built in 1898 as the world's first completely underground powerhouse. Snoqualmie Falls Plant 2, about a quarter-mile downstream from Plant 1, was built in 1910 and expanded in 1957.

The project contains a small diversion structure just upstream from Snoqualmie Falls, and two powerhouses. The first powerhouse is encased in bedrock 260 feet beneath the surface. Together, the two power plants currently have 53 megawatts of generating capacity.

Puget Sound Energy redeveloped the Snoqualmie Falls Project between 2010 and 2015, making extensive improvements to Plants 1 and Plant 2 as well as Snoqualmie Falls Park and historic buildings near the falls.

The project received a new 40-year federal operating license in 2004. Puget Sound Energy redeveloped the Snoqualmie Falls Project between 2010 and 2015, making extensive improvements to Plants 1 and Plant 2 as well as public recreational facilities.

The Snoqualmie Falls Hydroelectric Project affected streamflow for ESA-listed fish.

Licensee: Puget Sound Energy

Federally Threatened - Listed Species/Species of Concern

FERC Relicensing Status

FERC issued a new 40-year license in 2004. That license sets minimum instream flows, down-ramping rate restrictions, and flow continuation capability.

Resources

South Fork Tolt River Project

Puget Sound; South Fork Tolt River, Snohomish County, Washington

Project Profile & Licensee

During the 1980s, negotiations with stakeholders resulted in reaching the South Fork Tolt Settlement Agreement. The Agreement commits the City of Seattle to protect fish in this basin by:

  • Providing guaranteed instream flows.
  • Providing specially designed structures to keep fish out of the dam powerhouse.
  • Replacing culverts with fish-friendly bridges on Tolt tributaries.
  • Contributing to habitat restoration projects in several nearby streams.

Licensee: Seattle City Light

Federally Threatened - Listed Species/Species of Concern

FERC Relicensing Status

FERC issued a new license in 1988 before there were ESA-listed fish in the area. That license includes minimum flows and ramping rate restrictions to protect fish from stranding, replacing culverts with fish-friendly bridges on tributaries, and habitat restoration projects.

City Light and City Water (inter-related projects) have started the discussion with NOAA Fisheries on how to wrap in a Habitat Conservation Plan to align with the upcoming relicensing effort.

Resources

White River Hydroelectric Project

Puget Sound; White River, Pierce and King Counties, Washington

Project Profile & Licensee

The White River Hydroelectric Project affected streamflow for ESA-listed fish. Puget Sound Energy retired the hydro project in 2004. Cascade Water Alliance purchased it from the company in 2009 and intends to complete a habitat conservation plan for its water diversion actions.

Licensee: Cascade Water Alliance

Federally Threatened - Listed Species/Species of Concern

FERC Relicensing Status

There is no FERC license. The Cascade Water Alliance owns project attributes as a contingency future municipal water supply.

Resources

Wynoochee Hydroelectric Project

Pacific Coast; Wynoochee River, Grays Harbor County, Washington

Project Profile & Licensee

This project is a hydropower addition to a former Corps of Engineers flood control and municipal water supply (Aberdeen) dam.

Licensee: Tacoma Power

Federally Threatened - Listed Species/Species of Concern

None

FERC Relicensing Status

FERC issued a license in 1987.

Resources

Yelm Hydroelectric Project

Puget Sound; Nisqually River, Thurston and Pierce Counties, Washington

Project Profile & Licensee

The City of Centralia commissioned the construction of the Yelm Hydroelectric Project in the mid-1920s at a cost of approximately $995,000. The project commenced commercial operations in 1930 generating approximately 4 MW to the City of Centralia. The Original project consisted of the Power house consisting of two 1.8 Mw hydro turbine generators; 9.1 miles of canal, and 26.2 miles of transmission line. As this project affected ESA-listed fish; the licensee rebuilt fish diversion screens to comply with NOAA Fisheries’ criteria.

Licensee: City of Centralia

Federally Threatened - Listed Species/Species of Concern

FERC Relicensing Status

FERC relicensed the project in 1997 before there were ESA-listed fish in the area.

Resources

Young's Creek Project

Pacific Coast; Young's Creek, Snoqualmie County, Washington

Project Profile & Licensee

Young’s Creek is a small hydro project located on a tributary stream above a natural impassable barrier to anadromous fish.

Licensee: Snohomish County Public Utility District No. 1

Federally Threatened - Listed Species/Species of Concern

None

FERC Relicensing Status

FERC eLibrary: Docket #P-10359

The Public Utility District and Washington Department of Ecology reached a final agreement in 2009 to meet or exceed water quality standards.

Resources

More Information

Last updated by West Coast Regional Office on 05/06/2022