April 2000 Chelan County PUD RELICENSING UPDATE In this issue: project Update, schedule ...... Page 1 Rocky Reach project Update, schedule ...... Page 2 New home for relicensing PUD team moving ...... Page 3 Get to know the PUD relicensing team Lake Chelan Rocky Reach Gene Yow, engineer ...... Page 4 Hydroelectric Project Hydroelectric Project License expires 2004 License expires 2006

LAKE CHELAN HYDRO PROJECT Study spotlights environmental benefits of Chelan hydropower A study based on internationally developed standards of The $8 million figure is based on a 1997 study by the environmental performance has certified that the Lake U.S. Department of Energy that looked at 180 relicensing Chelan Hydroelectric Project is an “environmentally projects around the nation and calculated spending based preferable” energy source. on a 30-year license. The work done by Scientific Certification Systems of Kayaking study will move into the water Oakland, Calif., concludes, “In every category of compari- Following a recommendation from the Federal Energy son, the Lake Chelan hydro power plant has lower environ- Regulatory Commission that further studies be done, a mental impacts than average energy production in the small group of expert kayakers will actually attempt to western U.S. power pool.” make their way through the Gorge in June. If the Lake Chelan dam were eliminated, and if its power Four boaters, including consultant Bo Shelby from were instead generated by another plant representing the Oregon State University and John Gangemi of American averages for power plants in the western United States, the Whitewater, will put kayaks in the water to assess the environment would receive the equivalent of more than feasibility and the safety of paddling through the steep, 268,000 tons of carbon dioxide and more than 1,000 tons rocky portions of the lower gorge. of sulfur dioxide a year. The Lake Chelan project also They will evaluate the effects of different flows released depletes a mere fraction of energy resources (such as coal, oil at the Lake Chelan Dam on the kayaking experience. and natural gas) required by other plants. And residual (continued on Page 2) hazardous wastes created by operating the Lake Chelan project are less than one-half of 1 percent of the western Lake Chelan Timeline states’ average. The report concludes, “The eco-efficiencies represented by 2000 April-November: Identify protection, the Lake Chelan Project are significant when compared to mitigation and enhancement (PME) measures; the WSCC (Western States Coordinating Council) average.” resolve conflicts if necessary September-December: Prepare review copy Cost of relicensing estimated of draft License Application, Environmental Based on an independent analysis of other relicensing Assessment (EA) and Settlement Agreement projects, Chelan County PUD estimates it will spend $8 2001 January: Distribute review copy of draft million for all relicensing costs associated with Lake Chelan. License Application This includes all costs for relicensing studies and ongoing March-October: Finish final studies protection, mitigation and enhancement (PME) measures. December: Submit review copy of final Approximately $4 million of the total is being spent on the License Application and EA application process, and the rest will go toward long-term 2002 March: Submit final License Application and PMEs over the life of the license. EA to FERC ROCKY REACH HYDRO PROJECT Field work for Rocky Reach begins on several fronts as weather improves Bull trout study proves a challenge In work similar to that on Lake Chelan, the working group The Fisheries Working Group is trying to figure out what will catalog erosion sites and then develop recommendations trapping technique might be feasible to capture bull trout so on appropriate methods for repair and control. the fish can be radio tagged and their movements around the Recreation use being pinpointed reservoir and into tributaries can be studied. If you pull into the Entiat Park to camp or launch your Special permits will be required from the National Marine boat, you will have the opportunity to answer a questionnaire Fisheries Service since bull trout are an endangered species. It’s about recreation. a tricky problem because a trap at the fish ladder may also The Recreation Working Group is attempting to evaluate capture other endangered fish such as spring chinook or how much use the Entiat parks get and to determine if there steelhead. Details are still being worked out, and the formal are any spillover impacts on National Forest lands nearby. permit application won’t go to NMFS until later in the year. The study is looking at seven public recreation sites (parks) Actual fish tagging is not likely to begin until next year. in all and documenting watercraft use, fishing and other Team begins economics interviews dispersed uses along the reservoir shoreline. The consulting firm of McHugh and Associates of Seattle has been chosen to conduct the socioeconomics study for the Rocky Reach project, and representatives Michael McHugh Rocky Reach Timeline and Reed Hansen attended a working group meeting March 2000 April-September: Field work on studies 28 to explain their approach and outline their schedule. December: Finish study reports Interviews have already begun in the Entiat area to gather 2001 January: Decide on further studies background on the impacts when the town was moved for February: New study plans original construction of the dam in 1956. Chelan Falls, April-September: Field work Waterville and Orondo will also be included in the study, December: Finish study reports although the main focus will be on Entiat and Wenatchee 2002 January-March: Develop PME proposals (because of Alcoa’s reliance on energy from the dam). April-December: Revise PMEs and prepare settlement First look at erosion around the reservoir 2003 January: Subit review copy of draft License PUD engineer Gene Yow and members of the Erosion Application and Environmental Assessment (EA) Working Group made their first trip onto the water in early December: Submit review copy of final License April to begin photographing erosion sites. They finished Application and EA about half the shoreline and will continue field work through 2004 June: Submit final License Application the spring and early summer.

LAKE CHELAN HYDRO PROJECT (cont.) Anadromous fish study in Phase 2 Chelan County PUD found a proposal they could both Although Phase 1 of this study concluded that anadromous support. fish were never present in Lake Chelan due to the barriers of Basics include targeting lake level to reach 1,087 feet by the Chelan River Gorge, members of the Fisheries Working May 1 (achievable 95 percent of the time). That would Group decided to go ahead and conduct Phase 2 of the study, translate to reaching a June 1 elevation of 1,095 about 40 which will analyze whether Lake Chelan could support percent of the time, a level of 1,094 about 63 percent of the anadromous fish. time and a level of 1,093.5 about 93 percent of the time. The The consultant expects to be able to complete the analysis lake would still reach full (1,098-1,100) by July 1. by the first week of June so the working group can evaluate The proposal would allow the lake to be drawn down 6 the results and continue developing its protection, mitigation inches lower than current operation in August and a foot and enhancement measures. lower than current operation in September through Decem- Lake Level Committee supports proposal ber. Following face-to-face meetings where the impacts of water A computer model calculates that the scenario would lead elevation changes on power generation were evaluated, to a small gain in power revenues for the PUD (about members of the Lake Level Committee and representatives of $10,000) over 43 years. PUD relicensing team will consolidate in new quarters near the end of May Near the end of May, New location members of the Chelan New extension numbers Hawley St.for relicensing County PUD relicensing for relicensing team (late May): core team will move into Dial the PUD main number: new offices at the PUD’s (509) 663-8121 or toll free (888) 663-8121 training center on Walla Walla Ave. Gregg Carrington ...... Ext. 6341 Maple St. N. Miller Ave. Hawley Street (which Jeff Osborn ...... Ext. 6351

N. Wenatchee Ave. branches east off North Scott Kreiter ...... Ext. 6352 Wenatchee Avenue at the Michelle Smith ...... Ext. 6320 Sav-Mart store). Steve Lachowicz ...... Ext. 6339 Located in the office Rosana Sokolowski ...... Ext. 6371 Springwater St. Melody Ellis ...... Ext. 6358 Piere Ave. will be Project Manager N. Mission Ave. Gene Yow (no change) ...... Ext. 4305

N. Chelan Ave. Gregg Carrington and Ninth St. staff members Jeff Osborn (natural Moving the team into one building will consolidate people sciences), Michelle Smith N. Miller Ave. who had been spread out at several locations. The team will Fifth St. PUD (social sciences), Scott have its own conference room at the new location and will be Headquarters Kreiter (cultural, able to host smaller meetings there. The training center at historical, GIS), Steve 28 1/2 Hawley Street is east of the larger PUD transformer Lachowicz (communications), Rosana Sokolowski (licensing shop building at 350 Hawley Street and is set back on the coordinator) and Melody Ellis (licensing aide). north side of the street. There is ample paved parking. Gene Yow, who deals with engineering issues and erosion, Telephone extension numbers for relicensing team will remain in the PUD headquarters building but will still be members will be changed after the move, but e-mail addresses assigned to relicensing work a large share of his time. will remain the same. The office normally will be open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

PUD receives national Hydro Achievement Award Chelan County PUD was honored recently with the highest prize the National Hydropower Association can bestow. PUD Commissioner Bob Boyd accepted a Hydro Achievement Award at the annual NHA convention April 4 in , D.C. The award in the category of “Technological Solutions”recognizes the PUD’s pioneering work in creating a Web site to disseminate information and handle correspondence on relicensing the Lake Chelan and Rocky Reach projects. The award also acknowledges the PUD’s success in using CD-ROM Entiat Day technology to file six-month Chelan County PUD Commissioner Gary Montague, updates on relicensing with right, talks to new Entiat Mayor Wendell Black on the the Federal Energy Regulatory forebay at during Entiat Day March Commission. 25. The PUD invited citizens from the Entiat area to “It’s a pleasure to be recognized for our work visit the dam and become more familiar with relicensing making the relicensing process easier to use and more issues since parts of Entiat had to be moved when the understandable for everyone,” said Commissioner Boyd. dam was originally built in 1956. Relicensing Update BULK RATE Chelan County PUD U.S. POSTAGE P.O. Box 1231 327 North Wenatchee Avenue PAID Wenatchee, WA 98807-1231 Wenatchee, WA To be added to the mailing list contact Permit No. 300 Rosana Sokolowski, Relicensing Coordinator

at the address above.

with a master’s in geologic engineering two years later. years two engineering geologic in master’s a with toll-free in Washington: (888) 663-8121. (888) Washington: in toll-free

and geological engineering in 1977 and then followed up followed then and 1977 in engineering geological and Ave., Wenatchee, WA, 98801. Or e-mail [email protected] or call or [email protected] e-mail Or 98801. WA, Wenatchee, Ave.,

directed to Steve Lachowicz, Chelan County PUD, 327 N. Wenatchee N. 327 PUD, County Chelan Lachowicz, Steve to directed engineering. He earned bachelor of science degrees in physics in degrees science of bachelor earned He engineering.

Comments and questions on relicensing or on this newsletter can be can newsletter this on or relicensing on questions and Comments

School of Mines and Metallurgy) where he headed into headed he where Metallurgy) and Mines of School

QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? OR QUESTIONS

the University of Missouri at Rolla (formerly the Missouri the (formerly Rolla at Missouri of University the

miles south of St. Louis on the Mississippi, Yow attended Yow Mississippi, the on Louis St. of south miles

home maintenance projects. maintenance home Born and raised in Cape Girardeau, Mo., about 100 about Mo., Girardeau, Cape in raised and Born

spare time, Yow enjoys reading science fiction and tackling and fiction science reading enjoys Yow time, spare said Yow. said

the other a sophomore at Wenatchee High School. In his In School. High Wenatchee at sophomore a other the problems in a concrete way without bankrupting anybody,” bankrupting without way concrete a in problems

Yow and his wife, Mary, have two sons, one a senior and senior a one sons, two have Mary, wife, his and Yow “It’s challenging to figure out solutions that address that solutions out figure to challenging “It’s

variety of points of view.” of points of variety relicensing issues. relicensing

“It’s been very interesting and intriguing to hear the wide the hear to intriguing and interesting very been “It’s outlook, but he’s also eager to listen to new ideas on ideas new to listen to eager also he’s but outlook,

effort, “… with a good deal of variety and challenge. and variety of deal good a with “… effort, A Missouri background has honed Yow’s “show me” “show Yow’s honed has background Missouri A

“It was something different,” said Yow of the relicensing the of Yow said different,” something was “It at the two dams. two the at

an engineer to tackle erosion and operations issues. operations and erosion tackle to engineer an the impacts of potential relicensing measures on operations on measures relicensing potential of impacts the

It wasn’t long before the relicensing team was looking for looking was team relicensing the before long wasn’t It team. His primary responsibilities are erosion and calculating and erosion are responsibilities primary His team.

the PUD. the engineering and operations issues for the PUD relicensing PUD the for issues operations and engineering

family to Wenatchee in 1998 to take a full-time job with job full-time a take to 1998 in Wenatchee to family challenges along those lines as he oversees he as lines those along challenges

Yow decided he liked the area and eventually moved his moved eventually and area the liked he decided Yow Gene Yow finds himself with ample with himself finds Yow Gene

Chelan County for Stone and Webster (and later for ECI), for later (and Webster and Stone for County Chelan problems.

related to dams, dam safety and rehabilitation. On visits to visits On rehabilitation. and safety dam dams, to related

The engineer’s job is to find solutions to solutions find to is job engineer’s The

Denver and was assigned to look at geotechnical issues geotechnical at look to assigned was and Denver

principal civil engineer civil principal

1979 as he joined a Stone and Webster consulting office in office consulting Webster and Stone a joined he as 1979

Gene Yow, Gene

His work for Chelan County PUD actually began in began actually PUD County Chelan for work His GET TO KNOW THE RELICENSING TEAM RELICENSING THE KNOW TO GET