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HCP News...
Chelan PUD Recognized by NHA for
A recent article in March 2006 Hydro Review, How to Have "No Impact" on Fish: Chelan County PUD's Habitat Conservation Plan
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Background The Chelan and Douglas PUDs worked cooperatively with state and federal fisheries agencies and tribes to develop the first Hydro Power Habitat Conservation Plans (HCPs) for anadromous salmon and steelhead. Chelan PUD developed plans for the Rocky Reach and Rock Island Hydro Projects. Douglas PUD developed a plan for the Wells Hydro Project. The plans commit the two utilities to a 50-year program to ensure that their hydro 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 conducted in mid-Columbia tributary streams. The plans have been signed by NOAA Fisheries, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, Yakama Nation, and the PUDs. NOAA Fisheries issued Section 10 permits that will provide for the continued operation of the Wells, Rocky Reach, and Rock Island hydro projects and PUD funded fish hatcheries, even though they may incidentally impact ESA listed spring Chinook salmon and steelhead. Without the permits, operation of the hydro projects and hatcheries could be drastically altered. On November 24, 2003, the HCPs were submitted to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for review. The FERC approved the plans on June 21, 2004.In addition to the Endangered Species Act, the plans are also intended to satisfy the projects’ obligations under the Federal Power Act, the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, the Essential Fish Habitat provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the Pacific Northwest Electric Power Planning and Conservation Act and Title 77 RCW of the State of Washington, and obligate the parties to work together to address water quality issues. The HCPs will satisfy the projects’ relicensing issues for the five species covered by the plans.
For more information, please contact Shaun Seaman or Becky Gallaher at (509) 663-8121 or Rick Klinge at (509) 884-7191. |
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