LIHI Certificate # 49 --- Clark Fork Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 2058) Clark Fork River, Idaho and Montana
Portland, Maine (April 21, 2010) At their regular monthly meeting the Low Impact Hydropower Institute's Governing Board determined that the Clark Fork Hydroelectric Project meets the LIHI Certification Criteria.
In reaching its decision to certify the Clark Fork Hydroelectric Project, the Low Impact Hydropower Institute's Governing Board reviewed the application for certification, as well as the Application Reviewer's report and recommendations. The Board's vote to certify the Clark Fork Hydroelectric Project was unanimous. LIHI received no Public Comments on the application.
LIHI certifies Avista's Clark Fork Hydroelectric Project to be in compliance with LIHI's criteria, with a certification term of eight year, but with the following project specific conditions:
1. Annually, Avista must demonstrate to LIHI's satisfaction that it is adhering to the schedule set forth below for implementation of fish passage. If the schedule is not being followed, Avista shall submit information (from the Management Committee and the Water Resources Technical Advisory Committee), as to why that schedule is infeasible, or is not necessary to establish a significant and stable population of bull trout in the 58 miles of the Clark Fork River and associated tributaries impounded by the facilities.
Complete final design of a permanent production fishway and fish handling facilities at Cabinet Gorge Dam by January 1, 2012. Complete final design of a permanent production fishway and fish handling facilities at Noxon Rapids Dam by July 1, 2013. Complete construction and begin operation of a permanent production fishway and fish handling facilities at Cabinet Gorge Dam by April 1, 2014. Complete construction and begin operation of a permanent production fishway and fish handling facilities at Noxon Rapids Dam by April 1, 2015.
In the event that this schedule is not followed without good cause shown or because the above-stated measures are determined to not be feasible, LIHI reserves the right to terminate the certification prior to the expiration of the term.
2. Annually, Avista must demonstrate to LIHI's satisfaction that it is actively pursuing measures that, over a reasonable period of time, will result in sufficient reductions of dissolved gas supersaturation created by the Cabinet Gorge facility such that the State of Idaho's numeric water quality criteria will be met. In the event that such demonstration cannot be made, LIHI reserves the right to terminate the certification prior to the expiration of the term.
LIHI certification for eight years for the Clark Fork Hydroelectric Project is granted, with the 8-year certification time period beginning on December 9, 2009. The certification of the Clark Fork Hydroelectric Project will expire on December 9, 2017.
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LIHI Pending Application -- (FERC No. 2058) Clark Fork Project, Clark Fork River in Montana and Idaho
January 14, 2010 - See information on project documents at the bottom of this page.
Portland, Maine (December 9, 2009) – The Low Impact Hydropower Institute (LIHI) announced today that Avista Corporation ("Avista" or "Applicant") has submitted an application for certification of the Clark Fork Hydroelectric Project ("Project"). The Project consists of the Cabinet Gorge (FERC No. 2058) and Noxon Rapids (previously FERC No. 2075) developments. The Cabinet Gorge and the Noxon Rapids developments abut one another on the Clark Fork River in Bonner County, northern Idaho and Sanders County, in northwest Montana, respectively. The Cabinet Gorge dam is located at river mile 150 in the state of Idaho and the Noxon Rapids dam is located at river mile 170 in the state of Montana.
The Noxon Rapids Project consists of a powerhouse, concrete spillway, earthen dam, intake, and a limited storage reservoir. Completed in 1959, the powerhouse facility has a hydraulic capacity of 51,430 cubic feet per second (cfs) and an authorized installed capacity of 486 megawatts (MW) using five Francis turbines. The dam, spillway, and powerhouse span 6,195 feet and reach a maximum height of 260 feet above its foundation. At full capacity, the reservoir is at elevation 2,331 feet with a gross storage volume of 400,000 acre feet. Active storage is 230,700 acre-feet in the top 36 feet of the reservoir. The average elevation of 2,328 feet calculated from 1994 data. The average tailwater elevation is 2,177 feet. The project is capable of passing 264,000 cfs at elevation 2,331 feet.
The Cabinet Gorge Project consists of a powerhouse, spillway, arch dam, intake, and a limited storage reservoir. Completed in 1952, the project has a hydraulic capacity of 36,000 cfs and an authorized installed capacity of 263.2 MW utilizing three fixed blade propeller turbines and one Kaplan turbine. The arch dam is a concrete gravity structure, which spans 395 feet and reaches a height of 208 feet above its foundation. The dam creates a 3,200 acre reservoir at a full pool elevation of 2,175 feet. Total gross storage available is 105,000 acre feet including active storage of 42,780 acre feet. The average pond elevation and tailrace elevations, calculated from 1994 data, are 2,172 feet and 2,073.5 feet, respectively.
The new Clark Fork Project License (FERC No. 2058), including both the Noxon Rapids and Cabinet Gorge hydroelectric developments, was issued by FERC on February 23, 2000 and became effective on March 1, 2001. The new license is the result of the successful efforts of representatives from nearly 40 organizations, who worked together for several years to create the Clark Fork Settlement Agreement. The Settlement Agreement contains 26 protection, mitigation and enhancement (PM&E) measures addressing impacts of continued operation of the project. The agreement also adopts the term "Living License," a concept that promotes ongoing problem solving through adaptive management. Avista immediately began implementation of the PM&E measures in March of 1999, a full two years before expiration of the existing licenses. In an unprecedented action, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued a new license one year before the existing licenses expired.
The collaborative approach that guided the relicensing process continues on in the implementation efforts. The Clark Fork Management Committee (comprised of the signatories to the Settlement Agreement) continues to meet twice annually to approve all implementation activities and monitor the success of implementation efforts. If resource goals are not met, the Management Committee has the ability to make changes in the direction of the program. Terrestrial and water resources advisory committees advise the Management Committee on technical issues. The Cultural Resource Management Group advises the Management Committee on projects that have the potential to impact cultural and historic resources associated with the project. Annual reports, and implementation PM&E mitigation plans for the following year, are prepared and filed with the FERC for approval. This collaborative process ensures the continued operation of the project with appropriate long- term environmental protection measures.
Public Comments
We encourage public comments on this application. Specifically, we are interested in knowing whether you think the Clark Fork Project meets our LIHI criteria. Review the program and criteria in greater detail and then review the Clark Fork Project application. Comments that are directly tied to specific LIHI criteria (flows, water quality, fish passage, etc) will be most helpful, but all comments will be considered.
Comments may be submitted to the Institute by e-mail at info@lowimpacthydro.org with " Clark Fork Project comments" in the subject line; by fax at (206)-984-3086; or by mail addressed to LIHI, 34 Providence Street, Portland, ME, 04103. Comments must be received at the Institute on or before 5 pm Eastern time on February 9, 2010 to be considered. All comments will be posted to the web site and the applicant will have an opportunity to respond. Any response will also be posted.