LIHI Certificate #5 - Skagit Project, Skagit River, Washington, (FERC #553)
Skagit Hydropower Project Earns Re-Certification as Low Impact
Portland, ME - (August 28, 2008) - The Low Impact Hydropower Institute (LIHI) announced today that at their August 28, 2008 Board Meeting, the Skagit River Project earned renewal of LIHI's Low Impact Certification. TheSkagit River Project continues to meet LIHI's eight environmentally rigorous Low Impact criteria addressing river flows, water quality, fish passage and protection, watershed health, endangered species protection, cultural resources, recreation use and access, and whether or not the dam itself has been recommended for removal. The Skagit River Project successfully completed LIHI's application process, which includes a public comment period, review by an independent technical consultant, consultations with state and federal natural resource agencies, and evaluation by the LIHI Governing Board, including leaders in the river conservation and renewable energy fields.
The Skagit River Hydroelectric Project (Project) is located in the upper Skagit River basin, in northeastern Puget Sound, Washington. Headwaters of the Skagit River originate in Canada, and the Project occupies a scenic area in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and Ross Lake National Recreation Area, adjacent to North Cascades National Park.
The Skagit River basin, the third largest in Washington, drains 3,140 square miles, including about 390 square miles in Canada. The Skagit River and its tributaries drain mountain areas from east to west, entering the United States from British Columbia at river mile ("RM") 127 and flowing a total of 162 river miles to Puget Sound near Mount Vernon, Washington. The basin is characterized by rugged mountain topography in the central and eastern parts, and by level floodplains and rolling uplands in the western part.
The three Project dams, Ross, Diablo, and Gorge, are located at RMs 105, 101, and 97, respectively. Combined they have a total power generating capacity of about 690 MW. Seattle City Light (SCL) construction of the Project spanned three decades, with the completion of Gorge Dam in 1924, Diablo Dam in 1936, and Ross Dam in 1952.
In 1991, SCL entered into historic Settlement Agreements with twelve stakeholders as part of Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Project relicensing. The stakeholders included federal and state agencies, Native American Tribes, and an environmental group. These agreements were submitted as a package to the FERC and were intended to fully mitigate the Project's environmental impacts, a key element in relicensing. SCL's goal was to reach agreement, through a collaborative process with the stakeholders, on environmental mitigation and a new license. Settlement Agreements on fisheries, wildlife, recreation and aesthetics, erosion control, cultural resources (archaeological and historic resources), and traditional cultural properties were signed by all parties.
The Agreements were recognized as a national model and have been called "the most comprehensive set of Settlement Agreements for the public good ever submitted to FERC." (Dean Shumway, Director, FERC Office of Hydropower Licensing, December 18, 1992). On May 16, 1995, the FERC issued a new operating license that largely incorporates the Settlement Agreements as license requirements. An order on rehearing, issued on June 26, 1996, incorporates the remainder of the Settlement Agreements into the license.
The three dams are hydraulically coordinated to supply approximately one-fourth of SCL's power requirements, while maintaining instream flows beneficial to salmon reproduction and rearing. In addition, the Project provides flood control storage and a variety of high-quality recreational opportunities, including hiking, sport fishing, boating, and guided tours. The fish resources and the area's scenic qualities were integral in the lives of Native American tribes who occupied the basin. Many historic cultural sites can be found throughout the basin.
Ross Dam, the Project's uppermost facility, impounds the high-quality waters of Ross Lake, a 24-mile-long reservoir extending about 1½ miles north of the U.S.-Canada border. Ross Lake, which is surrounded by the Ross Lake National Recreation Area, is the primary storage reservoir for the Project; it is used for flood control as well as power generation.
Water level fluctuations in Ross Lake vary annually and may range from 1,602.5 feet above mean sea level (MSL) to 1,475 ft MSL. SCL maintains the reservoir near full-pool elevations from July through October for recreational and aesthetic purposes. Reservoir elevations remain high through the migratory and spawning periods of native char (bull trout and Dolly Varden) and rainbow trout, allowing these species access from the lake to high-quality spawning grounds in the tributaries. Lands bordering Ross Lake are moderately to steeply sloped and forested; glaciers draining to the basin contribute cool waters that provide excellent summer habitat for native bull trout and rainbow trout. Major tributaries to Ross Lake include Big Beaver, Little Beaver, Ruby, Lightning, and Devil's creeks.
Diablo Dam, located downstream from Ross Dam creates Diablo Lake which is 4½ miles long and used primarily for daily and weekly regulation of discharge from Ross. Full pool elevation is 1,205 ft MSL and annual water level fluctuations range from 10 to 12 ft. Much of the land surrounding Diablo Dam consists of steep, exposed rock or talus sparsely covered with scattered conifers and shrubs. The remaining areas are moderately to steeply sloped and forested. Thunder Creek is the major tributary to Diablo Lake .
The most downstream generating facility, the Gorge Dam and Powerhouse, is located about 4 miles downstream of Diablo Dam. Gorge Lake is smallest of the three Skagit reservoirs and fluctuates only a few feet from its full pool elevation of 875 ft MSL. Both the Diablo and Gorge facilities are operated with water released from Ross Powerhouse. There is very limited storage in the Gorge and Diablo reservoirs. Gorge Lake is aptly named for the cliffs and talus slopes comprising much of the area bordering the reservoir. The few flat areas adjacent to the reservoir are developed, and the remaining steep areas have been logged (Envirosphere 1988).
The Gorge reach of the Project marks the historical limit of anadromous salmon migrations in the upper river. Below the Gorge Powerhouse, the river is free of impoundments and is protected under the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. River reaches immediately downstream of the Powerhouse are most affected by Project operations. Project influences on river flows decrease progressively downstream, and are moderated by flow contributions from major tributaries that include the Cascade (RM 77), Sauk (RM 66), and Baker (RM 56) rivers.
Frequently LIHI applicants for Re-Certification find that since there have been few changes in the five years of certiffication, they don't need to refile the application with LIHI. Normally LIHI has the original application and makes these documents available for public review and reprduction off of our web site. Further details about the project can be found by going to the Certified Projects tab and opening Skagit Project LIHI Certificate No. 5. If you are unable to find what you are looking for let us know and we' will do the best we can to track down the information you are looking for.
June 12, 2008 - LIHI Receives Public Comment on Seattle City Light's Skagit Project
Public Comment Skagit Project
From: Johnson, Aaron M [mailto:Aaron.Johnson@nordstrom.com]
Sent: Wednesday, June 11, 2008 3:23 PM
To: info@lowimpacthydro.org
Subject: The Skagit River Hydroelectric Project
Dear Sir or Madam:
I grew up near the dam system comprising the Skagit River Hydroelectric Project and have spent many days and nights enjoying the area. It is truly a magnificent region in every respect. Since then I've lived and traveled all over the world, and only now do I truly appreciate how perfectly the dams have been incorporated into the surrounding wild. The Ross reservoir, though truly massive, and with steep rising peaks that comprise its shoreline, doesn't look out of place: its impact on the area is not negligible, but I cannot imagine a more perfectly "natural" reservoir. The campsites on the lake and in the numerous surrounding campgrounds are without exception clean, mixed seamlessly with the surrounding forests, and wildlife of all types and sizes can be found throughout. I can only hope that the area remains little known to the general populace, for even in "busy" summer months it's easy to feel all alone.
The dams are placed high enough up the Skagit River to minimize effects on fish habitat, and Ross lake itself is a little-known haven for fish in its own right. Logging is either off-limits or is practically impossible due to the aggressively-rising peaks that overlook the river. All around the dams it looks like an old growth paradise, and there's even a tree appreciation path near Gorge Dam that celebrates trees of all types and ages.
If there is a dam that has less impact on the area Ross, Diablo, and Gorge dams, I can't imagine it. Truly a jewel in this country's hydroelectric infrastructure, I highly recommend that you renew its certification with your institute.
Please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions.
Sincerely,
Aaron M Johnson