Upper Columbia; Columbia River, Grant, Kittitas, Chelan, and Douglas Counties, Washington.
Upper Columbia; Columbia River, Grant and Kittitas Counties, Washington
The Priest Rapids Hydroelectric Project (Wanapum and Priest Rapids dams) impairs juvenile downstream passage, affects water quality through seasonal increases in total dissolved gas, and impairs flows in the Hanford Reach, an important fall Chinook spawning area. A 2005 settlement agreement established a no net impact standard for the 1,993-megawatt project, including a combined 91% project survival rate for migrating juvenile and adult fish, improved hatchery practices, and funds (about $3,200,000 per year) for improving tributary habitat. Grant Public Utility District completed a new surface spill fish bypass facility at Wanapum Dam in 2008 and a surface spill facility at Priest Rapids Dam in 2014.
Licensee: Public Utility District No. 2 of Grant County
NOAA Fisheries, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Colville Tribes, Yakama Nation, and Grant PUD signed a settlement agreement for anadromous fish in 2005. FERC granted a new 44-year license in 2008.
Upper Columbia; Columbia River, Grant and Kittitas Counties, Washington
The Rock Island Hydroelectric Project affects passage and mortality of ESA-listed fish. The settlement parties are carrying out a 50-year habitat conservation plan that sets a No Net Impact project standard, including a combined 91% project survival rate for migrating juvenile and adult fish, improved hatchery practices, and funds (about $500,000 per year) for improving tributary habitat.
Licensee: Public Utility District No. 1 of Chelan County (Chelan PUD)
NOAA Fisheries, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Colville Tribe, Yakama Tribe and Chelan PUD signed a settlement agreement for implementation of a Habitat Conservation Plan for anadromous fish in 2004. The project began operating in 1933 and the current license expires in 2028.
Upper Columbia; Columbia River, Chelan and Douglas Counties, Washington
The Rocky Reach Hydroelectric Project affects passage and mortality rates for ESA-listed fish. The settlement parties are implementing a 50-year habitat conservation plan that sets a No Net Impact project standard, including a combined 91% project survival rate for migrating juvenile and adult fish, improved hatchery practices, and funds (about $230,000 per year) for improving tributary habitat.
Licensee: Public Utility District No. 1 of Chelan County (Chelan PUD)
NOAA Fisheries, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Colville Tribe, Yakama Nation and Chelan PUD signed a settlement agreement for implementation of a Habitat Conservation Plan for anadromous fish in 2004. The new license expires in 2052.
Upper Columbia; Columbia River, Douglas County, Washington
Wells Dam impedes passage for ESA-listed fish. NOAA Fisheries, Douglas Public Utility District, the Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and the Yakama and Colville tribes developed a habitat conservation plan for salmon and steelhead. The plan commits Douglas PUD to a 50-year program to ensure that its hydro project has no net impact on listed fish species. It does this through improved project fish passage, and improving tributary habitat by providing annual funding of about $180,000.
Licensee: Public Utility District No. 1 of Douglas County (Douglas PUD)
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, FERC eLibrary: Docket #P-2149
NOAA Fisheries, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Colville Tribe, Yakama Nation and Douglas PUD signed a settlement agreement for implementation of a Habitat Conservation Plan for anadromous fish in 2004. A new operating license for Wells Hydroelectric Project was issued to Douglas PUD on November 9, 2012.
Central Valley salmon fisherman and Nor-Cal Guides and Sportsmen’s Association Vice President, Scott Hambelton, casts from his boat on the American River. Credit: NOAA Fisheries
North Pacific right whale. Credit: Brenda K. Rone
