EXHIBIT E – ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT

SUBPART E.1 GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF LOCALE Public Utility District No. 1 of Okanogan County Final License Application

EXHIBIT E — ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT

SUBPART E.1 GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF LOCALE

Located in north-central about 2 miles south of the Canadian border, the Enloe Hydroelectric Project1 is situated in a narrow constriction of the Similkameen River Valley, about 3.5 miles northwest of the City of Oroville (Figures E.1-1 and E.1-2). The Similkameen River is tributary to the just south of the City of Oroville; the Okanogan in turn flows into the Columbia River east of the City of Brewster, Washington. The Similkameen River drains the east slopes of the Cascade Mountains in northern Washington and southern , Canada. The majority (79 percent) of the drainage basin lies within Canada.

Terms used in the exhibit include:

• Project Area: the land and water areas within the Project Boundary; shown in the Enloe Hydroelectric Project Area Map, Exhibit G, map 2 and map 3.

• Project Boundary: the FERC Project Boundary, as shown in Exhibit G, map 2 and map 3. See Figures E.1-1 and E.1-2.

• Project Vicinity: generally defined as the Similkameen River corridor from the trestle bridge located about 2 miles downstream of Enloe Dam to Similkameen Camp, located about 5 miles upstream of the dam. See Figure E.1-3.

• Study Area: the area within which the visitor intercept survey was conducted. The Study Area includes all of the area within the Project Boundary and also extends beyond the Project Boundary. Surveys were conducted within an expanded area to facilitate a better estimate of use by boaters who may begin a trip upstream of the Project Boundary and end it within the Project Area, or begin a trip within the Project Area and end it downstream of the Project Boundary. See Figure E.1-4.

Similkameen Falls, about 370 feet below Enloe Dam, form a 33-foot barrier impassible to anadromous fish (HAER Report, see Appendix E.4.1). Above the dam lies a shallow reservoir (mean depth of 8.4 feet at the existing dam crest elevation of 1044.3 feet above mean sea level (amsl); maximum depth 55.6 feet MaxDepth 2006) filled with an accumulated sediment volume of approximately 2.43 million cubic yards (MaxDepth 2006). The existing reservoir is approximately 2 miles long and averages about 250 feet in width.

1 “Project Area” is defined as the area between the upper end of the Enloe Reservoir and the tailrace below the dam.

Enloe Hydroelectric Project Exhibit E – Environmental Report FERC Project # 12569 Subpart E.1 General Description of Locale E.1-1 August 2008 Public Utility District No. 1 of Okanogan County Final License Application

Topography in the Project Vicinity has been significantly affected by glaciations and is moderately steep and rugged. In the lower part of the river canyon, steep slopes adjacent to the river are interspersed with relatively flat benches of alluvial or glacial origin. The upper portions of the river canyon are steep and rocky. The mountains of the Okanogan Highlands lie to the east and the to the west. Elevations range from 1,000 feet at the mouth of the Similkameen River at Oroville, to over 3,600 feet at the summit of surrounding mountains.

The climate in the lower Similkameen River Basin is typical of eastern Washington, with cool, moist winters and hot dry summers. The Cascade Mountains act as a barrier to the movement of maritime and continental air masses, creating the generally dry conditions observed in the Project Vicinity. Average annual precipitation is approximately 11 inches. River flows peak in late spring to early summer when warm temperatures melt the extensive winter snowpacks at the higher elevations in the basin. Low flows occur in mid-winter when cold temperatures minimize runoff.

The deep gorge cut by the river traverses steep, sparsely vegetated rocky hills. Shrub- steppe vegetation communities dominate the lower elevations of the Similkameen River Canyon. The most prevalent species include sagebrush and bitterbrush, with an understory of cheatgrass, bluebunch wheatgrass, and associated herbaceous species. Moist draws and seasonally flooded areas support deciduous trees and shrubs including black cottonwood, willow, water birch, mountain alder, Douglas hawthorn, and red-osier dogwood. The steepest slopes and draws above the river are sparsely vegetated with scattered ponderosa pine and deciduous shrubs, such as smooth sumac and serviceberry.

The diversity of vegetation communities supports a wide variety of wildlife. The reservoir supports waterfowl, aquatic furbearers, and amphibians. Prominent waterfowl include mallards, common mergansers, and scaups. Beaver are the most prevalent aquatic furbearer. Riparian habitat supports a number of song birds and upland habitats support mule deer, yellow-bellied marmot, chukar partridge, California quail, and black-billed magpie. Reptiles common in these habitats include western rattlesnakes, racers, and gopher snakes.

Resident native and introduced fish species inhabit the reservoir above the Project. The natural falls below Enloe Dam form a barrier to the upstream migration of fish; anadromous fish have not passed above the falls. Anadromous fish found in the Similkameen River below Similkameen Falls include steelhead and summer Chinook salmon. Steelhead and Chinook spawn in the lower Similkameen, with the highest concentration of redds occurring in the reach between Oroville and the confluence with the Okanogan River. Water quality in the reservoir and lower river is generally good.

Shore fishing, hunting, camping, hobby dredging (recreational mining), and river rafting are the major recreational activities that occur in the Project Vicinity. Mining is the most

Enloe Hydroelectric Project Exhibit E – Environmental Report FERC Project # 12569 Subpart E.1 General Description of Locale E.1-2 August 2008 Public Utility District No. 1 of Okanogan County Final License Application

popular recreational activity in the overall Project Vicinity, followed by boating, shore fishing, and sightseeing. However, most of the recreational mining is done outside of the immediate Project Area; shore fishing and boating are the most popular uses within the Project Area. A wooded area on the east bank, north of the proposed Project powerhouse, provides informal picnicking, and camping sites, and an unimproved boat ramp provides access to the reservoir and upper river. Informal campsites extend upstream along the east bank, through riparian and wetland habitats. Most camping is done outside the Project Area; very few visitors camp within the Project Area.

Horticulture, grazing, and recreation are the chief land uses in the Project Vicinity. Many of the low-elevation benches along the Similkameen River are farmed. A number of orchards, vineyards, and public golf courses are located on the Loomis-Oroville Road. The federal lands in the immediate vicinity of the Project are generally leased for grazing. The bulk of the private land in the Project Vicinity, including that in closest proximity to the immediate Project Area, is owned by a livestock company.

The Project Area is located predominantly on land controlled and owned by the BLM. Remnants of the original Enloe Hydroelectric Project powerhouse are located against a steep rock face on the west bank of the river. The powerhouse structure has deteriorated and has been vandalized. An unimproved county road that winds steeply downhill from the paved highway above provides access to the east bank of the river. Rows of trees that were planted where houses occupied by facility operators once stood can be seen on a terrace northeast of the east dam abutment. Stone walls and concrete foundations are all that remain of the houses. An intake channel that once diverted water to a powerhouse predating the Enloe Hydroelectric Project was excavated in rock and can be found further downstream on the west bank of the river below the dam. The remains of a concrete foundation mark the location of the earlier powerhouse. Further downstream, directly across the river from the existing powerhouse, is a steel tower that once anchored a wooden footbridge. The footbridge was used by facility workers to access the existing powerhouse from the homes located further upstream.

Enloe Hydroelectric Project Exhibit E – Environmental Report FERC Project # 12569 Subpart E.1 General Description of Locale E.1-3 August 2008 Public Utility District No. 1 of Okanogan County Final License Application

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Enloe Hydroelectric Project Exhibit E – Environmental Report FERC Project # 12569 Subpart E.1 General Description of Locale E.1-4 August 2008 Public Utility District No. 1 of Okanogan County Final License Application

[ Figure E.1-1 ]

[ Figure E.1-2 ]

[ Figure E.1-3 ]

[ Figure E.1-4 ]

Enloe Hydroelectric Project Exhibit E – Environmental Report FERC Project # 12569 Subpart E.1 General Description of Locale E.1-5 August 2008 Alberta

British Columbia

Canada Okanogan Uni ed States County Montana

Washington Idaho

Oregon Cathedral Park

Legend

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Enloe Dam Licensing Project Figure E.1-2 Project Boundary and Conceptual Design

EN TRIX

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Enloe Dam Licensing Project

Figure E.1-3 Project Vicinity

ENTRIX

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Enloe Dam Licensing Project

figure E.1-4 Recreation Study Area

EN TRIX

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