6/03/2011

Some Dam – Hydro NewsTM i and Other Stuff

Quote of Note: “If you search for a perfect friend without faults, you will remain friendless.

- - Unknown

“Good wine is a necessity of life.” - -Thomas Jefferson Ron’s wine pick of the week: Four Vines Maverick Zinfandel 2008 “No nation was ever drunk when wine was cheap.” - - Thomas Jefferson

Other Stuff: (You can find a lot of things to not like about the wind folks. They always want a handout on the back of either taxpayers or ratepayers. Tough luck – hydro is cheaper.) Don't stick ratepayers when green power fails tri-cityherald.com, May 24, 2011

Northwest wind farm operators want ratepayers to make up for the industry's losses when oversupply curbs demand for wind power. In other words, customers of public utilities, including every ratepayer in Benton and Franklin counties, should pay private investors to stop producing electricity when it isn't needed. The Bonneville Power Administration -- which manages and markets the Northwest's electrical system -- has rightly rejected the ridiculous proposal. Unfortunately, we probably haven't heard the last word on the issue. Wind-power advocates appear intent on the public absorbing any risk to the industry's profit margin. It's a good bet that wind farm developers and investors will sue the BPA in an effort to ensure their losses come out of our pockets. Curtailing energy production is necessary on occasion, especially when a big snowpack in the mountains keeps the turbines spinning at the region's dams. BPA issued the alarm months ago -- forecasters were expecting more than enough water to reach the Snake and Columbia river dams this spring. The volume of water headed toward the region's hydroelectric turbines would likely overload BPA's distribution system, they warned. The day was coming -- BPA told anyone willing to listen -- when an excess supply of electricity would force coal, natural gas and wind generation to shut down. That day arrived last week, and for five hours, the BPA ordered every fossil-fuel plant in the Northwest to shut down, along with 10 percent of the region's windmills. BPA gives these producers free hydropower to compensate for power deliveries they give up when production is curtailed.

But that does not also replace the tax credits wind farm operators collect on wind-generated electricity. BPA has the right response to that problem -- too bad, wind barons. Tax breaks to encourage wind power are only justified -- if they're justified at all -- when renewable energy 1 Copy obtained from the National Performance of Dams Program: http://npdp.stanford.edu replaces electricity produced by a dirtier source. If a wind farm can take a coal plant offline, we all end up breathing cleaner air as a result. In theory, society pays a fair price for benefits gained from switching to green power. Plenty of arguments exist against the practice of manipulating tax policy to encourage social objectives, but in this case, they're moot. With so much water in the rivers, BPA's only alternative would have been to curtail hydroelectric production to make room on the transmission system for wind power. Endangered salmon -- the fish ratepayers have spent billions of dollars trying to protect -- would suffer as a result. The alternative to shutting down windmills would be to spill more water over dams rather than divert it through hydroelectric turbines. But, too much water spilled over the top saturates the river with dissolved nitrogen gas, which harms juvenile salmon. The wind industry's stance is to saddle Northwest ratepayers with a choice between putting endangered species at risk or writing a big check. It might not be exactly blackmail, but it's not far from it.

Dams: Northern Colorado dam opponents buoyed by still more federal delays By David O. Williams | 05.24.11 | coloradoindependent.com

Opponents of proposed dams and reservoirs on the Poudre River along Colorado’s northern Front Range on Monday celebrated more federal permitting delays for the Northern Integrated Supply Project (NISP), Halligan and Seaman water projects. But U.S. Rep. Cory Gardner, a Republican who represents the area in Congress, continues to rally business interests. The U.S. Army Corps on Monday confirmed that a Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS) for the NISP, originally slated for release last summer, has now been pushed back to next year. “Every delay and corresponding cost escalation is yet another opportunity for NISP communities to invest in alternatives,” Gary Wockner of Save the Poudre: Poudre Waterkeeper said in a release. “We believe that water conservation, cooperating with farmers, and projects that don’t dam or drain the Poudre River would be cheaper, faster, and easier, and would help guarantee water supply security for northern Colorado.” But Gardner, in his home district during a congressional recess last week, met with nearly 300 NISP supporters in Loveland Thursday – many of them local business owners — to continue to push for the controversial project that he says is in the “homestretch.” “My number one goal is to get our economy moving again — to start creating jobs and build lasting economic growth that puts Americans back to work,” Gardner said in his weekly newsletter Sunday. “To do that in Colorado we have to recognize that jobs and economic development across the state are tied to our ability to store and deliver clean, affordable water. If we are going to move toward a stronger economy, the only way to sustain it long term will be with enough water for our future.”

Draft Environmental Impact Statements (DEIS) for the Halligan (Fort Collins) and Seaman (Greeley) dams and reservoirs on the North Fork of the Poudre were supposed to be released this summer but now have been pushed to 2012 or 2013, according to the Army Corps. Wockner says that the NISP is now more than six years late and at least $150 million over budget. Alternatives (pdf), he said, would be much cheaper at this point – and far less environmentally destructive. “NISP would drain over half of the water out of the Poudre River through Fort Collins,” Wockner said. “And that is in addition to the 60 percent of water already drained by current diversions. If NISP is built, less than 25 percent of the native flow of the Poudre would still flow through town. NISP would turn the Poudre into a muddy, stinking, polluted ditch.”

State hopes to renovate six area dams By Brad Petrishen/Daily News staff, The MetroWest Daily News, May 25, 2011, heraldnews.com

2 Copy obtained from the National Performance of Dams Program: http://npdp.stanford.edu

Federal and state officials last night Tyler Dam brainstormed over plans to overhaul six regional dams that they say they don't measure up to modern safety standards. Engineers are evaluating the Tyler Dam in Marlborough, Hop Brook and Cold Harbor Brook dams in Northborough, Rawson Hill Brook Dam in Shrewsbury, Delaney Dam in Stow and Ross Dam in Berlin, NH for improvements that would allow them to handle increasing runoff. Built between 1962 and 1987 as part of a larger system to control flooding in the Sudbury-Assabet- Concord rivers watershed, the dams are called "silent protectors" because most are earthen and blend into the landscape" They are owned by the Department of Conservation and Recreation.

DCR Acting Chief Engineer Michael Misslin told a small audience of mainly engineers and consultants at the Berlin town offices that the dams are "perfectly safe," but upgrades are critical because of stricter safety requirements, increased development and changing climate patterns. Since 2002, he said, the Northeast has recorded an average of 36 percent more precipitation each year than normal. Magnifying that problem, he said, is that MetroWest is much more developed now than it was when the dams were built. More development means the dams need to hold back more runoff, he said. Rain rolls off houses and pavement, instead of sinking into the ground. All of the dams could handle a "100-year" storm - about 9 inches of rainfall in a 24-hour period - with no difficulties, said Joe Bellini, an engineer at Amec Earth & Environmental, Inc. of Westford. However, because of the changing landscape, he said the dams would not be able to withstand the worst-case scenario planned for by dam engineers. Called the "Probable Maximum Precipitation," it's what would happen if an area received 31 inches of rain in a 24-hour period. To handle that load, most of the dams would need to be raised by about 2 feet or undergo other physical reinforcements. Misslin said a similar project is already under way at the George H. Nichols Dam in Westborough, which received $2 million in funding from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. Work should be completed in September. Fixing the dams could cost from $1 million to $3 million each, he said. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service - which would pick up two-thirds of the cost - is determining what needs to be done to each and should release preliminary recommendations in a few months. Misslin said upgrades at each dam might not be possible given fiscal constraints, however he hopes that all can be finished within a decade or so.

(Doomsday for the Elwha River dams arrives. This is a huge day of celebration by the dam removal proponents. Will the salmon recover? You can bet that there will be more money than we can imagine poured into trying to make that happen.) Dams power down in the largest US dam removal Phuong Le, Associated Press, May 28, 2011, seattlepi.com

Port Angeles, WA (AP) — The Elwha River on Washington's Olympic Peninsula once teemed with legendary salmon runs before two towering concrete dams built nearly a century ago cut off fish access to upstream habitat, diminished their runs and altered the ecosystem. On June 1, nearly two decades after Congress called for full restoration of the river and its fish runs, federal workers will turn off the generators at the 1913 dam Elwha Dam12/10/08 powerhouse and set in motion the largest 3 Copy obtained from the National Performance of Dams Program: http://npdp.stanford.edu dam removal project in U.S. history. Contractors will begin dismantling the dams this fall, a $324.7 million project that will take about three years and eventually will allow the 45-mile Elwha River to run free as it courses from the Olympic Mountains through old-growth forests into the Strait of Juan de Fuca. "We're going to let this river be wild again," said Amy Kober, a spokeswoman for the advocacy group American Rivers. "The generators may be powering down, but the river is about to power up."

The 105-foot Elwha Dam also came on line in 1913, followed 14 years later by the 210-foot Glines Canyon Dam eight miles upstream. For years, they provided electricity to a local pulp and paper mill and the growing city of Port Angeles, Wash., about 80 miles west of Seattle. Electricity from the dams — enough to power about 1,700 homes — currently feeds the regional power grid. A Washington state law required fish passage facilities, but none was built. So all five native species of Pacific salmon and other anadromous fish that mature in the ocean and return to rivers to spawn were confined to the lower five miles of the river. A hatchery was built but lasted only until 1922. The fish are particularly important to members of the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, whose ancestors have occupied the Elwha Valley for generations and whose members recall stories of 100-pound Chinook salmon so plentiful you could walk across the river on their backs. "We have never been happy that the salmon runs in the river were cut off," said Robert Elofson, Elwha River restoration director for the tribe, which along with environmental groups fought in the 1980s to tear down the dams. The tribe's land now includes about 1,000 acres on and near the Elwha River. "It's hard to have any pride when your main river of your tribe has been blocked and the salmon runs almost totally destroyed."

In 1910, the Elwha produced about 390,000 salmon and sea-run trout, including Coho, pink, sockeye and chinook salmon and steelhead trout. The number of wild native sea-run fish dwindled to only about 3,000 in 2005. Brenda Francis, a tribal spokeswoman and member, said her mother as a little girl recalled meetings where tribal members discussed taking down the dams. "The people never wanted the dams to go up in the first place," she said. Because most of the river lies within the protected boundaries of Olympic National Park, scientists say the Elwha River restoration project also presents a unique opportunity to study how a river recovers once dam-free. Researchers will study how salmon return to the river, how their return will benefit wildlife such as bears and eagles, and how the estuary will be reshaped when sediment trapped behind the dams is released. More than 24 million cubic yards of sediment are held behind the dams in Lake Mills and Lake Aldwell, enough to fill a football stadium two miles high, said David Reynolds, a spokesman for Olympic National Park. The National Park Service and the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe are leading the river restoration project. When the reservoirs are drain, 800 acres of barren land will be exposed. At the park's new greenhouse, park botanists and volunteers are busy transplanting and potting salal, gooseberry, ocean spray and other plants to fill the exposed land. Crews have been collecting seeds, cones and cuttings along the river since 2002. The first 15,000 plants will be put in this fall. In all more than 400,000 plants will be used to restore a forested ecosystem, keep out exotic species and prevent erosion. "This is a great experiment for other dam removals," said Jill Zarzeczny, biological technician with the Elwha revegetation project. On a recent day at the powerhouse, the dams were running at maximum generation, fed by glaciers and weather patterns that make it a rich water resource, said Kevin Yancy, the power plant's foreman. He works for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which has operated the dams since the federal government bought them in 2000. Starting in June, workers will take the electrical load off the generator, de-energize the lines coming into the plant, close the headgates and remove all hazardous energy so contractors can begin their work later this fall, Yancy said. In the control room, original gauges, switches and other instrument are still in use, along with more modern equipment, to measure the reservoir water levels and amount of energy produced. A window in the room offers a view of the milky glacier-fed river below where Yancy said he will often see hundreds of fish jumping as they run up against the walls of the Elwha Dam. "They want to go upstream," said Yancy. "Being a hydro guy none of us want to see power plants removed, but for this river and this story, it's time."

4 Copy obtained from the National Performance of Dams Program: http://npdp.stanford.edu

(Geez, since Bon Jovi turned them down, maybe this other Italian could get invited. I could play my accordion.) A-listers invited to Elwha River dam removal seattlepi.com, May 29, 2011

Port Angeles, WA (AP) — Olympic National Park has some A-list celebrities in mind for an event marking the largest dam removal in U.S. history. Park officials already invited Jon Bon Jovi to perform at the Sept. 17 celebration, marking the beginning of work to tear down the two dams on the Elwha River. The "Livin' on a Prayer" singer declined, and the Peninsula Daily News reports that the park is waiting to hear back from guitarist and singer Neil Young. Superintendent Karen Gustin says the situation's "too fluid" to talk about other musical acts the park might have in mind. But she did say President Barack Obama has been invited. He hasn't RSVP'd either. Confirmed attendees include Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis, U.S. Sen. Patty Murray and U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks.

Hydro: (Excerpts) Hydropower surge May 1, 2011 12:00 PM, By Todd Briggeman, David Egger, Bruce Duncan and Pat Sullivan, americancityandcounty.com

Communities can generate power through their public water systems Rising energy costs coupled with federal, state and local financial incentives are making hydropower projects financially attractive for public water systems. And hydropower has become even more attractive because of new technologies and reduced production costs. Often hydropower is associated with large-scale projects such as dams and reservoirs or major river diversions. However, small conduit hydropower can be installed potentially anywhere pressure must be reduced in a conveyance system, such as at the headworks of water treatment plants, wastewater treatment plant outfalls or at any pressure- reducing station. Small hydropower projects do not need to be located near a river or dam. Several communities recently have begun creating energy at existing water facilities. They are locating hydropower turbines at pressure-control facilities to take advantage of energy that would otherwise be lost and channel it to power the facilities or sell it back to the grid. The projects are saving money and improving energy efficiency at water facilities. ------. Full article: http://americancityandcounty.com/water/public-water-system-hydropower-201105/

(Sometimes more water is a good thing just as long as no one gets inundated.) PPL's hydroelectric facilities operates in anticipation of running high rivers May 24, 2011, istockanalyst.com (Source: Datamonitor)PPL Montana, a generator of electricity, has announced that its 12 hydroelectric facilities across the state are operating in anticipation of the many rivers and streams running high from a combination of rain and a heavy mountain snowpack. "Our dams and facilities are designed to handle the kinds of runoffs we're seeing across Montana this spring," said David Hoffman, director of External Affairs for PPL Montana. PPL Montana's dams undergo regular inspections and maintenance programs to ensure their structural integrity. PPL Montana employees also participate in drills and exercises with local, state and federal authorities to coordinate and practice emergency plans and identify roles and responsibilities, 5 Copy obtained from the National Performance of Dams Program: http://npdp.stanford.edu

Hoffman said. The unusually high water conditions resulting from precipitation and thick snowpack in some cases approaching 200 percent of average have also created opportunities to generate more clean, renewable electricity from the power of running water.

(News flash - Canadian hydro is a renewable!) Wisconsin, Minnesota utilities to import power from Manitoba dams By Thomas Content of the Journal Sentinel, jsonline.com, May 25, 2011

The province of Manitoba announced Wednesday that it had signed multibillion-dollar agreements to sell power beginning in 2020 and 2021 to Wisconsin Public Service Corp. of Green Bay and Minnesota Power of Duluth. The agreement comes after the state Senate passed a bill that would qualify hydroelectric power from large dams as “renewable” under the state’s green power mandate. The bill is awaiting final passage in the state Assembly. Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger said the agreements it has signed would sell 250 megawatts of power to Minnesota Power, 100 megawatts to Wisconsin Public Service. Combined with a 125-megawatt sale to Northern States Power that was previously completed, the sales total 475 megawatts, with an estimated value of $4 billion. The deals will trigger construction of new large dams in Manitoba, specifically the 695-megawatt Keeyask (Cree for gull) Generating Station – a $5.6 billion project.

“I am very pleased that Manitoba Hydro is moving forward with these power sales which will significantly increase our exports and lead to further development of Manitoba’s renewable hydro power resources,” Selinger said in a statement. “These sales will add to Manitoba’s reputation as a sustainable energy leader and help reduce global greenhouse-gas emissions by reducing the need for thermal generation in the United States. At the same time, the development of Keeyask will deliver jobs, training and business opportunities to the Keeyask Cree Nations, the north and all of Manitoba.” The deal with Wisconsin Public Service covers the 2021 to 2027 time frame. Negotiations between the two companies are continuing to expand that sale to 500 megawatts, which would trigger construction of another dam, the Conawapa Generating Station. The Minnesota Power deal covers 2020 to 2035 and would require an additional power line connection between Manitoba and the United States. Sale agreements with Minnesota Power and Wisconsin Public Service will require regulatory approval in Canada and the United States.

(The 2 kilowatts reference is an obvious typo – should be 2 MW. The skeptics probably don’t have much experience with hydro. This can’t be an eyesore when compared to a gas turbine and it’s far less noisy.) Company proposes hydropower plant at Longhorn Dam The facility would be mostly submerged in Lady Bird Lake, according to proposal. By Marty Toohey, American-Statesman Staff, May 26, 2011, statesman.com

Austin, TX plans to harness wind, sunshine, landfill gas and wood waste as part of an ambitious 10-year plan to use more green energy. Now Austin Energy is examining a proposal to add water. Houston-based Hydro Green Energy wants to add three underwater turbines to East Austin's Longhorn Dam, then sell electricity to the city created by the flow of Lady Bird Lake through the turbines. Hydro Green has filed preliminary paperwork with the federal government for the project, which would be capable of generating 2 kilowatts (?) when running full tilt, or enough to power about 2,000 homes. But Austin Energy officials cautioned that they are in the early stages of evaluation and that similar proposals from other companies have been too costly. Neither Austin nor the company would disclose the initial asking price for the electricity. "As we do with all proposals, and as a point of courtesy, we are listening to what they have to say," spokesman Ed Clark said. Mark Stover, Hydro Green's vice president for corporate affairs, said 6 Copy obtained from the National Performance of Dams Program: http://npdp.stanford.edu the turbines and accompanying power plant would be mostly submerged, with a portion protruding a few feet above the surface. "We think we've got a cost-effective project that is minimally impactful environmentally and visually," Stover said, adding: "Nothing onshore. Nothing in terms of a massive powerhouse."

The proposal was not widely circulated even within Austin Energy. But it will surely be closely watched if it goes forward, given that it is about a third of a mile from the Holly Power Plant , a gas-fired facility that was closed in 2007 after residents complained for decades about having it in the middle of a residential neighborhood. "If (Hydro Green's proposal) is environmentally friendly, if it doesn't disrupt the neighborhood, and if it doesn't cause rates to go up, then I have no problem with it," said Sabino Renteria, an activist in the Holly neighborhood. "The problem I have is that we venture into these deals, and we end up paying more." Renteria was referring to a wood-waste power plant in West Texas and solar facility in Webberville that will both come online over the next year or so and result in higher electricity rates. Lori Renteria, his wife and another activist, said the company should also prove the project will not threaten the fish in Lady Bird Lake or preclude using the dam to connect the north and south portions of the lake's hike-and- bike trail. Stover said the output of the turbines will rise and fall depending on how much water the Lower Colorado River Authority decides to allow to flow down Lady Bird Lake at a given time. Measured over the course of a year, he said, they will operate at an average of 55 percent of maximum capacity. That would not make a huge difference in the city's renewable-energy plans. Austin Energy now generates about 11 percent of its electricity from renewable sources. By 2020, Austin Energy plans to get 35 percent of renewables, although the plan also calls for keeping rates from rising no more than 2 percent a year starting in 2012.

For Immediate Release Statement of NHA Executive Director Linda Church Ciocci on the passage of the Marine and Hydrokinetic Renewable Energy Promotion Act of 2011

Washington, D.C. (May 26, 2011) – The following is a statement from Linda Church Ciocci, Executive Director of the National Hydropower Association, regarding the Senate Energy Committee’s markup of S. 630, the Marine and Hydrokinetic Renewable Energy Promotion Act of 2011: “NHA applauds the Senate Energy and Natural Resources committee for passing the Marine and Hydrokinetic Renewable Energy Promotion Act of 2011 today. The bill supports marine and hydrokinetic resources by increasing research and development funding for new ocean, tidal and instream hydrokinetic projects. These technologies are vital to advancing the nation’s goal of a clean, secure energy future. “Marine and hydrokinetic technologies present tremendous potential for a renewable energy future. Studies have demonstrated that nearly 16,000 MW of inland and ocean hydrokinetic technologies could be developed by 2025 with the right policies. The bill passed today is a great first step towards that reality. “This important piece of legislation represents another bipartisan victory for the nation’s clean energy future and NHA urges swift consideration by the full Senate.”

Critics rely on myths: Hydro Wind and solar 'too expensive'; Alternatives to Romaine River dam would cost far more, CEO tells luncheon By Lynn Moore, The Gazette, montrealgazette.com Romaine River

Hydro-Québec isn't ignoring the alternative energy profiles of countries such as Germany, it just doesn't much envy them, the utility's CEO said on Thursday. Thierry Vandal used his speech to a Quebec Manufacturers and Exporters luncheon to rebut recent criticism directed at the world's largest hydroelectric 7 Copy obtained from the National Performance of Dams Program: http://npdp.stanford.edu producer. "There is the myth of other countries such as Germany," Vandal said. And much is made of Germany's energy profile. "It's impressive when you hear about it for the first time, but one also has to tell consumers how much it costs." Solar photovoltaic energy costs 59 cents per kilowatt hour in Germany and is heavily subsidized. It is a good form of energy and costs will surely fall over time, Vandal said. "But it is certainly too expensive to present it as an alternative to hydroelectric development" in the context of Quebec's rate structure, he added. In Ontario, the cost of solar photovoltaic ranges between 44 and 80 cents per kWh. Critics of Hydro-Québec's controversial $6.5-billion Romaine River dam complex suggest that wind energy and other alternatives should trump the further damming of virgin rivers, the audience heard. (Romaine energy will cost between 6.5 and nine cents per kWh to produce, according to the utility.) Quebec is promoting, through subsidies, some wind development in the province, Vandal said. But the notion of creating vast wind farms in Quebec's north doesn't include the cost of transporting energy south. Existing transmission lines, built decades ago, couldn't handle that additional load, the audience was told. Vandal questioned the economic sense of building new north-south transmission lines for an intermittent source that only produces energy about 35 per cent of the year. Quebec's Plan Nord provides for the development of 300 megawatts of wind energy. Those wind turbines will be off-grid, Vandal said, and provide energy to northern communities, and operations such as mines, that now rely on diesel cogeneration units that cost about 50 cents per kWh.

(Huh, at 16.5 cents/kWh, who is going to buy that power?) Hydro plants proposed at Newburgh, Uniontown By Chuck Stinnett, May 28, 2011, courierpress.com

A Utah company has submitted license applications to develop hydroelectric generation units at the Newburgh and J.T. Myers (Uniontown) dams on the Ohio River. Costing more than $200 million each, the proposed hydro plants would generate electricity that would be sold to electric utilities in the region. The license application from project sponsor Symbiotics LLC estimates the average value of its power at 16.5 cents per kilowatt-hour. That's substantially higher than current retail prices for electricity. But Marty Littrel, a spokesman for Henderson-based power generator Big Rivers Electric Corp., noted that the availability of hydroelectric power -- even at a higher price -- might be attractive to area electric companies should the government ever require utilities to have a certain amount of the power portfolio come from renewable sources. Littrel said Big Rivers' power generation executives weren't familiar with Symbiotics proposed hydro projects. Various companies have conducted studies in the past of possible hydroelectric projects at Ohio River dams. But, Littrel said, "They have never been cost-effective considering our proximity to coal, and (hydroelectricity) cannot be consistent, reliable power."

Indeed, Symbiotics acknowledged in its license application that for a variety of reasons, its proposed Newburgh hydroelectric project would, on average, produce only 34 percent of its generating capacity. Its projected generation during March would be only one-sixth as much as during July. Nonetheless, American Municipal Power Inc. -- a non-profit company that generates electricity for 128 municipal utilities -- has begun construction of Ohio River hydroelectric projects at the Cannelton Dam near Hawesville, Ky., and the Smithland Dam at Smithland, Ky. A representative of Symbiotics didn't return a phone call from The Gleaner. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Toronto-based Riverbank Power, which according to its web site is pursuing development of a dozen hydro projects around the country. If granted a license by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Symbiotics estimates that it would take up to one year to design one of the run-of-the-river hydro plants and two to three years to construct. The Newburgh project, proposed to be built on the Kentucky bank of the river in the Scuffletown bottoms of eastern Henderson County, is estimated at nearly $259 million. The 215-foot-long, 167-foot-wide powerhouse would consist of three turbine-generators with a combined generation capacity of 56.7 megawatts (MW) of electricity. That's approximately half of the peak summertime power demand at Henderson Municipal Power and Light. However, actual production would vary depending on the plans of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers -- which owns the dams and regulates pool levels on the river -- for allowing water to be discharged. The license application 8 Copy obtained from the National Performance of Dams Program: http://npdp.stanford.edu indicates the power plant would operate at peak capacity on only 152 days per year, with the greatest power output from May through October and the lowest production from January through April. The Newburgh hydroelectric plant would be connected by a 5.3-mile-long transmission line to a Vectren Corp. substation at Vectren's Culley power plant near the Alcoa Warrick Operations. "We are aware of their proposal but we have not met with them yet," Vectren spokesman Mike Roeder said Friday. "We'll be interested in meeting with them and learning what they're attempting to do and how they would interconnect with us."

The Uniontown project is estimated to cost nearly $226.6 million, and its powerhouse would have generating capacity of 66.7 MW, which would be piped by transmission line to a substation at Vectren's A.B. Brown power plant between Evansville and Mount Vernon, Ind. It is proposed to be constructed on the Kentucky side of the river west of the city of Uniontown. Like the Newburgh powerhouse, the Uniontown plant would generate the most electricity in the summer and fall and least in the winter and spring. Another hydroelectric project is under construction at the Cannelton Dam near Hawesville, Ky. That 88 MW project is being development by American Municipal Power Inc.

The license applications are available for public viewing at the Henderson County Public Library, according to legal notices that have been running in The Gleaner. The 556-page Newburgh application can also be downloaded at www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/elibrary.asp (click the link) "General Search" and search for project 12962 in the "Docket Number" field. The 727-page Uniontown application can be downloaded there by searching for project 12958.

Water: (Interesting history about CA water and Nevada Irrigation District) Your water: Turn on the faucet, and out it comes By Trina Kleist, Staff Writer, May 23, 2011, theunion.com

When a Lake Wildwood resident turns on the faucet in her kitchen, she is at the receiving end of 150 years of human effort improving on millennia of geological forces. The Nevada Irrigation District (NID) is considered by many the most complex water conveyance system in the United States. Ten reservoirs pour melted snow from two watersheds into hundreds of miles of creeks and Gold Rush era flumes, into 20th century canals and modern pipelines, flowing through seven powerhouses capable of generating enough electricity to power 62,500 average households for a year. Some of the water comes from as high as 8,300 feet above sea level at English Mountain, southeast of Jackson Meadows Reservoir. Some flows as low at 150 feet near Lincoln, in Placer County. In its essence, the district takes advantage of that drop in elevation to bring water from the mountains and churn out electricity in the process.

“It's staggeringly diverse compared to, say, a district on the coastal plain,” said Executive Director Tim Quinn of the 450-member Association of California Water Agencies. “Nobody deals with (these) kind of elevation changes,” Quinn added. “It's also diverse in terms of the physical characteristics of its service area.” The district was formed in August 1921 after residents voted to create a body serving the agricultural needs of western Nevada County. Organizers drew upon 9 Copy obtained from the National Performance of Dams Program: http://npdp.stanford.edu reservoirs built as early as 1858 and, fanning out from them, a network of wooden flumes and earthen canals created originally to supply water for hydraulic mines in the region. Water rights had been negotiated in early 1921 as part of the campaign to form the Nevada Irrigation District district, ensuring NID of first dibs in the area for Reservoirs Reservoir Capacity, in acre-feet California's most contentious resource. In the 1950s, Jackson Meadows 69,205 leaders at NID could see they needed to expand Bowman 68,510 district capacity to meet growing demand, but they Rollins 65,988 lacked the cash to do so. Meanwhile, Pacific Gas and Scotts Flat 48,547 Electric Co. was interested in generating more power. French*+ 13,940 They joined forces to create the Yuba-Bear Project, Combie 5,555 Faucherie 3,980 started in 1963 and built for $64 million; NID issued Sawmill 3,030 bonds backed by PG&E. The project created most of Jackson 1,330 the lakes people know today for fishing, camping and Milton 295 boating: Jackson Meadows, Bowman, Rollins and five other, smaller reservoirs. The Yuba-Bear project TOTAL 280,380 acre-feet included four power plants. It also connected NID's *French Lake has the oldest dam in the system, built in 1858-59. water system to PG&E's Drum-Spaulding system, +French Lake has the highest which starts at Spaulding Lake and channels water, elevation in the system, at 6,560 ft. eventually, into Deer Creek above Nevada City and into the Bear River and Rollins Reservoir. Since then, What is an acre-foot? NID has expanded to serve 25,000 customers living • The amount of water covering 1 acre in 400 square miles, extending into northwestern to a depth of 1 foot • 326,000 gallons or 43,560 cubic feet Placer County and eastern Yuba County. • Enough water to supply an average household of four people for one year Getting from there to here From its highest point, the district's watershed drops Water treatment plants Plant Capacity, in rough formations of forest-covered granite to an million gallons/day array of lakes in the middle elevations. Like big, long, Elizabeth George 10 rough, bowls full of smaller ridges, NID's 300 square Loma Rica 8 North Auburn 6 miles of watersheds eventually drain into the Middle Lake of the Pines 5 and South Yuba rivers. From Jackson Meadows Lake Wildwood 4 Reservoir, water flows down the Middle Yuba to Cascade Shores 0.3 Milton Reservoir. From there, a pipeline diverts some Smartsville 0.01 water through the Milton-Bowman pipeline over to TOTAL 33.31 mgd Bowman Lake. Water from Wilson Creek also is sent Total production 3.5 billion gallons/year or 11,000 acre-feet/year into that pipeline, according to NID documents. Water that flows on down the Middle Yuba is picked up by the Yuba County Water Authority. Across ridges and canyons to the South Yuba watershed, water flows from Jackson Lake down Jackson Creek in Bowman Lake. Across a smaller ridge, Canyon Creek runs at the bottom of a steep gorge, draining water collected in French Lake into Faucherie and Sawmill lakes, on down to Bowman. An enormous granite formation separates the dam at Bowman into two parts: A beautiful, curving, concrete dam on one side and a straight, rock-filled, concrete-face dam on the other.

The first powerhouse is just below Bowman. NID Hydro Water Systems Operator Mike Whipple and his family live year-round in a sturdy house nearby, surrounded by steep granite. Whipple operates the powerhouse, looks after the dam and, when snow levels permit, regulates water coming out of other lakes into Bowman. “The snow gets so deep we can't get vehicles up there in the winter,” said Bill Morrow, head of NID's hydroelectric department. “I don't have remote control of the headgate” that lets water into the Bowman-Spaulding canal. So Whipple also manually works the radial headgate of the canal, ensuring the right amount of water is flowing out of the lake, into the canal and into the PG&E system downstream. Along the way, the canal picks up water from Texas, Clear, Fall, Trap and Rucker creeks, all fed by small and scenic PG&E

10 Copy obtained from the National Performance of Dams Program: http://npdp.stanford.edu reservoirs upstream. The Bowman-Spaulding canal finally flows first to Fuller Lake and then to Spaulding Lake, hitting the Spaulding No. 3 powerhouse. Power plants On its way Plant Generation capacity, in megawatts Back on the ground, NID Operations Manager Sue Chicago Park 39 Dutch Flat II 24.6 Sindt took a look at a schematic diagram of the Rollins 13.5 upper lakes and canals that form Morrow's domain. Bowman 3.6 “That's simple,” Sindt said with a chuckle. Once Combie South 1.5 Morrow gets the water down to Spaulding, Sindt Scotts Flat 0.9 gets it out to customers through an even more Combie North 0.3 dizzying network of ditches, creeks, pumping TOTAL 83.5 Mw Average yearly production 375 million stations, six treatment plants and 26 reservoirs large kilowatt hours of energy and small. From Spaulding Reservoir flows the South Yuba canal, operated by PG&E. It's the key Water distribution, in miles Flumes and artery supplying most people who receive treated canals 400 water in western Nevada County. The South Yuba Pipeline 300 canal flows into upper Deer Creek, which supplies About NID the Cascade canal. The Cascade canal, in turn, NID watershed 300 square miles supplies two treatment plants that provide water to NID service area 287,000 acres Banner Mountain, unincorporated areas around NID customers 25,000 (incl. 5,400 Nevada City and Grass Valley, and to Alta Sierra raw water users) and Chicago Park, Sindt said. Even more water, by Average water use 400 gallons per day, volume, comes out of the DS canal — untreated treated water Highest dam Rollins Reservoir, 242 ft., water that flows out of Lower Scotts Flat Reservoir built in 1965 and eventually to agricultural customers in Grass Highest point in watershed English Valley, Rough and Ready and Penn Valley. A Mountain, 8,373 ft. second canal from Spaulding Reservoir, the Drum, Lowest point in service area South of eventually sends water into Rollins Reservoir, the Lincoln, in Placer County, 150 ft. Bear River, far-southwestern Nevada County and — Source: Nevada Irrigation District northwestern Placer County. The Combie Phase I canal, pulling water from Combie Reservoir downstream of Rollins, is the key artery into the far reaches of southern Nevada County, stretching into the Wolf Mountain area. Some of the canals in the system are owned and operated by PG&E, including the Bear River canal, just downstream of Rollins Reservoir. That canal is the main artery into northwestern Placer County. Its breach by a mudslide has affected 1,000 NID customers buying irrigation water.

To Lake Wildwood Some South Yuba canal water that flows into Deer Creek winds up in NID's Scotts Flat Reservoir. It spills through another powerhouse, back through Deer Creek and into Lower Scotts Flat Reservoir. That water eventually flows back into Deer Creek. Downstream of Nevada City, the Newtown canal diverts some of the creek's water into a treatment plant that supplies residents of the Lake Wildwood development and Penn Valley. Water not diverted into the Newtown ditch goes on down Deer Creek. Some is diverted in to more canals supplying properties on down to Smartsville. The rest of the water in Deer Creek flows into Lake Wildwood itself.

iThis compilation of articles and other information is provided at no cost for those interested in hydropower, dams, and water resources issues and development, and should not be used for any commercial or other purpose. Any copyrighted material herein is distributed without profit or payment from those who have an interest in receiving this information for non-profit and educational purposes only.

11 Copy obtained from the National Performance of Dams Program: http://npdp.stanford.edu

6/10/2011

Some Dam – Hydro NewsTM i And Other Stuff

Quote of Note: “The best things in life aren't things.” - - Hawaiian Rule

“Good wine is a necessity of life.” - -Thomas Jefferson Ron’s wine pick of the week: Twomey Merlot by Silver Oak Napa 2006 “No nation was ever drunk when wine was cheap.” - - Thomas Jefferson

Dams: (The benefits of dams. Flood busters and more!) Flood busting dams save the Northwest By Don Brunell, Tukwila Reporter Columnist, May 29 2011, pnwlocalnews.com

The U.S. is being inundated with historic floods from Minnesota to Louisiana as a massive amount of water from heavy rainfall and snowmelt races down the Mississippi River. With U.S. taxpayers shouldering the majority of the claims through the National Flood Insurance Program, Bloomberg reports the Mississippi’s surge could result in the highest flooding losses since the $16 billion in claims following Hurricane Katrina. Without our network of dams on the lower Columbia and Snake rivers, we’d be in the same fix.

On May 30, 1948, a levee on the flood-swollen Columbia River ruptured and within a few hours a 10-foot high wall of water reduced Vanport, now North Portland, to a shattered, muddy ruin. Sixteen people died and Vanport — at the time, Oregon’s second largest city — disappeared forever. President Harry Truman flew west to see the water-logged mess. Speaking to an audience in Portland, Truman said the flooding could have been averted if a network of dams along the Columbia, Snake and Willamette rivers was in place. He scolded Congress and told them to get off the dime and fund the Bureau of Reclamation to complete its flood control projects. Over the next 20 years, the McNary, Dalles and John Day dams were completed on the lower Columbia and Ice Harbor, Lower Monumental, Little Goose and Lower Granite dams were completed on the lower Snake, adding flood control capacity, generating much-needed hydropower and establishing a 465-mile water transportation network from the Pacific Ocean to Clarkston. That network of “flood busters” is saving our bacon this year. With snowpack in the Cascades and Rockies running up to twice normal, rivers in western Canada and the Pacific 1

Copy obtained from the National Performance of Dams Program: http://npdp.stanford.edu

Northwest from the Tetons in Wyoming west to Astoria are quickly filling reservoirs. In Montana, as the undammed Yellowstone River roars out of Yellowstone National Park, the state Department of Transportation closed a 20-mile stretch of the eastbound lanes of Interstate 90 — Montana's main east-west thoroughfare — from Livingston to Springdale as water flooded over the roadway. The same thing happened in Washington a few years ago when torrential rains clobbered Lewis, Thurston and Grays Harbor counties in early December. The flooding from the free-flowing Chehalis River and its tributaries inundated the Centralia area closing I-5 and stopping north-south rail service for a week. Even with our flood control dams, this spring we’re seeing longer traffic delays on the I-5 bridge over the Columbia between Vancouver and Portland because boats that normally pass under the bridge now require the draw span to open. Nevertheless, Washington and Oregon should be spared the floods that are devastating the Midwest and South. Grand Coulee, the anchor dam in our flood control system, is currently drawn down so it can absorb the flood waters coming from Montana, Idaho and British Columbia. That will regulate the river flows for agriculture, salmon and steelhead migration, barging, electricity and recreation. Those who want to remove the dams from the lower Columbia and Snake rivers don’t talk about how those dams prevent widespread devastation. But we should all remember that without those flood busters, we’d be in a world of hurt.

(The article mentions it but doesn’t emphasize that without fort Peck Dam, the flood level and flow would be based on a flood of more than 91,000 cfs. The dam is now releasing only 10,000 cfs and will go to a maximum of 50,000 or almost ½ the flow – all below flood stages downstream!) Fort Peck Dam to release more water; flooding likely in Wolf Point By Brett French Of The Gazette Staff, The Billings Gazette | May 31, 2011, billingsgazette.com

As Fort Peck Dam’s outflow is increased to a historic high of 50,000 cubic feet per second in mid- June, the downstream community of Wolf Point will see flows rise 1 to 1.5 feet above flood stage. The figures were released on Tuesday by the Army Corps of Engineers, the agency in charge of managing the dam. The calculation takes into account high flows on the Milk River, which enters the Missouri River just below Fort Peck Dam. According to the Corps, at releases of 50,000 cfs the Missouri River will rise to 14 to 14.5 feet at Wolf Point, an increase of 6 feet from the current level. Flood stage at Wolf Point is 13 feet. The same discharge past the Culbertson gauge, farther downstream, will result in a rise to 16.5 to 17 feet, an increase of 8 feet from the current river level. Flood stage at Culbertson is 19 feet.

John Daggett, operations manager at Fort Peck, said the town of Wolf Point would largely be spared. The outlying areas would be hardest hit, along with utilities and facilities such as sewage lagoons, he said. “People need to see where they’re at,” Daggett advised, and prepare for higher water. The entire Missouri River flood control system is being flushed with record amounts of water thanks to unusual rainfall in Montana. The Yellowstone River has carried a year’s worth of rainfall into reservoirs in the Dakotas and downstream.

Dams said to be safe In a conference call Tuesday, a North Dakota congressional representative said citizens were concerned that the dams would be unsafe at such high water levels. “Our dams are sound,” said Col. Robert Ruch, Omaha District commander. To prepare for the runoff from a record snowpack, the Corps has to make room in its reservoirs. Downstream dams will see record outflows up to 150,000 cfs, causing flooding in the cities of Bismarck, N.D., and Pierre, S.D., as well as outlying areas. The flooding is predicted to last for months. The Missouri at Fort Peck’s head was flowing at a daily average of 91,000 cfs, thanks in part to record runoff in the Musselshell River that has flooded Roundup. Meanwhile, the Fort Peck Dam is only releasing 10,000 cfs to try to ease the strain on reservoirs downstream. But that can’t continue, as Fort Peck needs to make room for the Missouri’s spring snowmelt. So by June 14, the outflow will be raised to a record high 50,000 cfs. The previous high release mark was 35,000 cfs in 1975. Because of the unusual weather, the Corps has had to continually alter its releases. Only last week, the agency said outflows from dams downstream of Fort Peck would top out at 110,000 cfs. That was raised to 150,000 cfs. Because of the weather’s unpredictability, the Corps said “the possibility of 1.5 to 2 additional feet 2

Copy obtained from the National Performance of Dams Program: http://npdp.stanford.edu in the river stage beyond current projections” should be considered. “Actual releases will be based on conditions on the ground,” said Jody Farhat, chief of Missouri River Basin Water Management. The Corps advises people living along the Missouri to make evacuation plans to protect their possessions and property and contact local emergency management offices for more information.

Flooding in Dakotas In South Dakota, residents of the community of Dakota Dunes in southeastern South Dakota, below the final dam on the river, have been told to move their possessions to higher ground and be ready to leave their homes by Thursday. Nearly all of Dakota Dunes, a city of about 2,500, would be subject to flooding if the levee system does not hold. Several thousand people in Pierre, the state capital, and neighboring Fort Pierre have been working day and night since late last week to lay sandbags around their homes and move to safety. Those forced to leave their homes may not be able to return for two months or more. Minot, N.D., Mayor Curt Zimbelman ordered a quarter of the city’s residents to evacuate areas along the flooding Souris River. He said the evacuation order affects about 10,000 residents. More than seven miles of levees were being built in Bismarck and another 3½ miles were going up across the river in Mandan. Officials in western Iowa also were making plans to deal with flooding in Sioux City and other areas. The Nebraska towns of Niobara and Santee are already dealing with flooding from the Lewis and Clark Reservoir, while cities further downstream are preparing for high water over the next month.

(It has been a long agonizing trail to get to this point. This article also showed up – read the comments from the locals: http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20110602/NEWS/306029988/power-down- elwha-dams-turbines-silenced-after-decades-gallery) Timeline of the Elwha 1940 to 1992 nps.gov

Background: Hydroelectric projects in the U.S. are Elwha Dam licensed through the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (previously the Federal Power Commission) and governed by the Federal Power Act of 1920. The Elwha Dam, constructed from 1910 to 1913, preceded the act and has never been licensed to operate. The Glines Canyon hydroelectric project was constructed from 1925 to 1927 and received a 50-year operating license in 1926.

The Crown Zellerbach Corporation, which then owned both hydroelectric projects, filed an application in 1968 for the Elwha project and a relicensing application in 1973 for the Glines Canyon project.

What follows is a timeline of key events related to the relicensing proceedings, culminating in the 1992 passage of a negotiated legal settlement in the form of the Elwha River Ecosystem and Fisheries Restoration Act.

1940: Olympic National Park boundary is expanded to include the Glines Canyon hydroelectric site and lands previously held by the U.S. Forest Service. 1968: Crown Zellerbach files license application for the constructed Elwha Project. 1973: Crown Zellerbach Corporation files application for relicense of Glines Canyon. 1976: Secretary of the Interior is granted intervenor status in the Elwha proceeding. 1978: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issues notice of Glines Canyon relicense application. Various agency comments are filed throughout 1978. Washington State Department of Game is granted intervenor status. 3

Copy obtained from the National Performance of Dams Program: http://npdp.stanford.edu

1979: FERC issues order finding Glines Canyon and Elwha Projects hydraulically, electrically, and operationally interconnected and affirming the administrative law judge's decision finding jurisdiction over the Elwha project. From this point on, the FERC staff processes the two license applications together. Crown Zellerbach files an updated license application for Elwha. February 1986: Department of the Interior asserts that the FERC lacks jurisdiction to license Glines Canyon. May 1986: Seattle Audubon Society, Friends of the Earth, Olympic Park Associates, and Sierra Club, file motion for intervention and call for dam removal and full restoration of ecosystem. These groups, as well as the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe and National Marine Fisheries Service, are granted intervenor status in November 1986. November 1987: Crown Zellerbach files notice of change of its name to James River Corp. of Nevada. March 1988: Olympic Park Associates, Seattle Audubon Society, Friends of the Earth, and Sierra Club file petition for declaratory order finding that the Glines Canyon hydroelectric project cannot be relicensed by the FERC because it does not have jurisdiction. March 1989: National Marine Fisheries Service files study evaluating scope of dam removal/fish restoration on both projects. February 1990: General Accounting Office determines that FERC does not have authority to license the Glines Canyon Project, it being within the boundaries of Olympic National Park. July 1990: Department of the Interior files a Motion to File Late Intervention, Motion to Intervene, and Petition for Declaratory Order that FERC does not have authority to Glines Canyon Dam license the Glines Canyon Project. February 1991: FERC releases Draft Environmental Impact Statement concluding that (1) dam removal is feasible, (2) only dam removal will result in the full restoration of the Elwha River ecosystem and anadromous fish, and (3) the cost of power produced by the dam retention would equal or exceed the cost of power from the Bonneville Power Administration. March 1991: General Accounting Office concludes that "dam removal offers the best prospects for fish restoration: and decides that the selection of an alternative is essentially a public policy decision. April 1991: Pacific Fishery Management Council finds that only dam removal would provide restoration of anadromous fish at levels that would support increased recreational and commercial fishing, and requests that FERC consult with the Council. May 1991: Conservation Intervenors and tribe file Petitions for Review with Ninth Circuit for court review of FERC orders exerting licensing jurisdiction over Glines Canyon Project within Olympic National Park. June 1991: Department of Justice, on behalf of the Department of Commerce and Department of the Interior, files Petition for Judicial Review of FERC's October 19, 1990, and April 5, 1991 orders. June 1991: Ten additional conservation organizations file motion for intervention. October 1992: President George H.W. Bush signs the Elwha River Ecosystem and Fisheries Restoration Act as Public Law 102-495, staying the FERC licensing process. The Elwha Act calls for "full restoration of the Elwha River ecosystem and native anadromous fisheries."

Bill calls for look at raising dam spillway, increasing lake capacity at McClure MID supports the measure but opponents raise concerns. By Ameera Butt, mercedsunstar.com, Jun. 02, 2011

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Copy obtained from the National Performance of Dams Program: http://npdp.stanford.edu

The Merced Irrigation District is backing a bill in Congress that would allow consideration of an increase in the water capacity of Lake McClure, possibly providing enough power to serve 1,700 homes. That would be done by raising its spillway, the structure that controls the flow of water from the New Exchequer Dam, by up to 10 feet. The project would cost $40 million and use only MID funds. However, the New Exchequer Dam Spillway Modification Project has sparked opposition from conservationists who are concerned with dam safety and possible flooding of trails and land. MID officials contend the project would be beneficial.

John Sweigard, general manager, said the bill would allow MID to increase the height of the existing spillway gates and the ungated spillway by up to 10 feet, which would in turn increase the capacity of Lake McClure. Mike Jensen, public information officer for MID, said the spillways are a half mile from the dam and the project would expand the reservoir about 1,700 feet upriver from the existing terminus upstream of Bagby Recreation Area. Lake McClure sits on the Merced River and has a capacity of 1.02 million acre-feet of water and an average annual reservoir inflow of 975,000 acre-feet. An acre-foot of water contains about 326,000 gallons. The proposed project would allow MID to store up to an additional 70,000 acre-feet of water, Jensen said. According to the bill's language, the additional water would be stored between May 1 and July 31 during wet years, which are expected to be once every three years or so, Jensen said. "We would be able to use that for all kinds of uses: irrigation, hydroelectric generation and groundwater recharge," Jensen said. "There are also recreational benefits from additional water." The bill, House Resolution 869, was introduced by Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Atwater, to the U.S. House of Representatives in March. The bill has been referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands. The bill also has bipartisan support from Rep. Dennis Cardoza, D- Merced, and Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno, Jensen said. Merced County Supervisor John Pedrozo said the project would benefit the whole economy, community and keep farmers happy. "We are always concerned (with water). We don't think about it this year because of the abundance of rainfall, but I've been through a drought in 1977 when we had no water to irrigate and we were short of water," he recalled. He said raising the spillway would be a plus. "Anytime you can expand to hold more water, it's definitely a benefit," he said. "Since we can't build a new dam in California, we have to look at other avenues to make this thing work." Agriculture produces hundreds of millions of dollars for the local economy, he said. "We need to focus on that," said Pedrozo, who used to farm alfalfa and silage corn and raises dairy heifers. "There are also all kinds of recreational use up there. Water is a necessity for agriculture."

Concerns raised However, resistance to the bill comes from opponents who maintain that there are undisclosed environmental and social impacts that haven't been studied by MID. Michael Martin, director of the Merced River Conservation Committee based in Mariposa, said the move would encroach on the National Wild and Scenic Rivers system. About 122 miles of the Merced River is designated as a Wild and Scenic River above elevation 867 feet. The National Wild and Scenic Rivers System was created by Congress in 1968. The act is intended to safeguard the special character of designated rivers, while recognizing the potential for their appropriate use and development, according to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers website. Sweigard said the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act is designed to protect rivers from development. He said there would be minimal impacts with this project. "At low flow the river is shallow. At really high flows, the water can get very deep. It can get 10 feet deeper from low flow to high flow or more than 10 feet," Sweigard explained. For example, during the week of March 15, the flow increased enough in all stretches of the Merced River in the range of 10 feet, he said. Water levels wouldn't change based on what MID would be doing, but he said MID would like to do what Mother Nature has done for shorter periods of time. "We're doing the same thing in a controlled manner," Sweigard said. Jensen said 5

Copy obtained from the National Performance of Dams Program: http://npdp.stanford.edu the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission boundary for MID's hydroelectric project on the Merced River was established in the 1960s. FERC is the independent agency that regulates the interstate transmission of electricity, natural gas, and oil. When the river's Wild and Scenic designation was later made in the 1990s, it overlapped the existing FERC boundary. "This placed Wild and Scenic River Act restrictions on MID's project," Jensen said.

Martin said the project would damage the trail and flood government and private land. "It probably will impact salamander habitats and flood at least two of the campgrounds," he added. "The last reason we are concerned about it is, while it's claimed by MID it's going to improve their flood control, it would appear to us just the opposite." Martin said raising the level of the lake to 10 feet higher than its current capacity would limit the amount of flood space. He said flood space allows for rainwater and snowmelt in the spring to collect so that they don't flood the Merced and San Joaquin rivers. "We would like to know about the potential flood risks as well as what are the dam safety issues," he added. In any case, FERC would have to review the project. "If the legislation were to pass, it would allow for consideration of the project," Jensen stressed. "Right now, we can't even ask if it can be done."

Hydro: (Hydro visitors’ centers are the best!) Gavins Point Dam gives insight into hydroelectricity By Nick Hytrek, May 31, 2011, siouxcityjournal.com

Yankton, S.D. -- Gavins Point Dam may look mighty small when seen in contrast to the size of Lewis and Clark Lake, the body of water the dam holds back. But a closer look reveals the true enormity, not only of the dam's purpose, but of its physical size. "I think what really amazes them is the massive size of everything," Karla Zeutenhorst, a park ranger with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, said of the reactions of the 15,000-20,000 visitors who annually stop in for a tour of the dam.

A bolt on display in the nearby Lewis and Clark Visitors Center is a good example. The bolt is similar to those used on the turbines that produce electricity in the dam, and it looks more like a tree log you'd sit on around the campfire. Obviously, water is constantly flowing through the turbines, so visitors touring the dam can't get an up-close look at them, but they do get to see the generator floor, the control room, the high-voltage cable area and the mechanics area, which includes a massive crane used to lift and move machinery in the power plant. New power plant lobby displays added this year include a working generator model, a history of dam construction and the mission of the Corps of Engineers, which oversees the dam. Construction of the dam was authorized under the Pick-Sloan Plan of 1944. Ground was broken May 18, 1952, and the power plant began producing electricity in September 1956. It now produces an annual average of 700 million kilowatt-hours of electricity, enough to meet the needs of 50,000-100,000 homes for a year. Hydroelectric power production is just one of the dam's purposes, Zeutenhorst said. The dam is also vital for flood control, irrigation, downstream navigation, providing water for municipalities, recreation and environmental stewardship.

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Copy obtained from the National Performance of Dams Program: http://npdp.stanford.edu

Those roles are part of the story told at the visitor’s center, which sits on a bluff overlooking the dam and lake. "We tell the story of the Missouri River itself," Zeutenhorst said. Displays in the visitor’s center include an interactive map that gives details of the Missouri River drainage basin and the Corps of Engineers' role in managing the river. Other displays inform visitors of the region's early inhabitants and explorers, the fish and wildlife of the river environment, dam construction and the role of the Corp of Engineers in the area. A theater shows movies on the Lewis and Clark expedition, Gavins Point Dam construction and the Missouri River. There are exhibits of fossils found along the lake and tools and instruments used to build the dam. The visitor’s center also includes a book and gift shop.

(Don’t like stuff like this, but I guess it’s news.) Xcel Energy trial in five deaths opens today By John Ingold, The Denver Post, 05/31/2011, denverpost.com

The trial of Xcel Energy on charges of workplace-safety violations — a rare instance of federal prosecutors bringing criminal charges against a company — opens today in Denver. The case stems from the deaths of five men at the Cabin Creek hydroelectric plant near Georgetown in 2007. Xcel and Public Service Company of Colorado were each charged with five counts of violating Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations in connection with the deaths. The trial could last until the end of June, and more than 60 witnesses are likely to be called to testify. Jeff Dorschner, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Denver, said he couldn't comment on details of the government's case. Cliff Stricklin, a Denver attorney who is representing Xcel, would say only that he looked forward to presenting Xcel's case in court after lengthy pretrial maneuvering.

Although no Xcel or Public Service executives are personally on trial in the case, a criminal prosecution brings the possibility of strict post-conviction supervision and bigger penalties than a civil action. The companies could have to pay fines of up to $500,000 apiece on each count if convicted, according to court records. The five workers — Gary Foster, 48; Don DeJaynes, 43; Dupree Holt, 37; Anthony Aguirre, 19; and James St. Peters, 52 — were applying sealant inside a large water-drainage pipe called a penstock when a fire broke out. The pipe was too steep to allow them to climb away from the fire, and the blaze blocked the only escape route. The men died of carbon-monoxide poisoning. A subsequent report cited several company safety lapses that contributed to the deaths, and OSHA hit Xcel and its contractor for the job — RPI Coating Inc., which employed the men — with $1 million in fines. A grand jury in 2009 decided criminal charges were warranted as well. Such charges are rare in workplace-safety cases. A 2003 investigation by The New York Times and PBS's "Frontline" found that of the more than 200,000 workplace deaths OSHA had investigated in its history, only 151 were referred to federal prosecutors, who chose not to take action in two-thirds of them. "This is not a typical case for us because, luckily, the conduct here and the unfortunate result is not typical," then-Colorado U.S. Attorney David Gaouette said at the time of the indictments. Prosecutors also obtained indictments against RPI Coating and two of its executives — Philippe Goutagny and James Thompson. That portion of the case is expected to go to trial at a later date.

Company proposes generating electricity from dam on East Fork White River in southern Indiana The Associated Press, May 31, 2011, greenfieldreporter.com

Williams, Ind. — Electricity would be produced for the first time in more than 50 years at a southern Indiana dam under a company's plan to build a new generating plant at the site. While the dam on the East Fork White River at the Lawrence County community of Williams dates to 1910 and was built as a hydroelectric dam, Free Flow Power Corp. engineer Jeff Grebe said that generating plant was shut down about 1950. Plans from Boston-based Free Flow Power could have a generating plant costing an estimated $8 million to $12 million operating at the dam in 2014, The Times-Mail of Bedford reports.

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Copy obtained from the National Performance of Dams Program: http://npdp.stanford.edu

A public meeting last week resulted in no objections to the plans for the site about 25 miles south of Bloomington, but the company still must gain the approval of state regulators and lease the property from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Grebe said other developers had looked at building a new generating plant over the years. "The cost of renewable power is better than it was 10 or 15 years ago," he said. "It creates a little bit more opportunity. We think there's a better market for renewable energy out there." Public access for fishing at the dam would continue if the generating plant is built, although access might be restricted during construction. Company officials said they have been looking at the Williams site since last year. "The fact we've come this far means we're serious about it," said Alan Topalian, the company's regulatory attorney. Work must still be done to decide whether to build the plant. "We haven't even started the process of trying to sell the power yet," Grebe said. "It's too early."

Vt. approves hydro-power projects for West River dams in Townshend and Jamaica The Associated Press, May 31, 2011, therepublic.com

Townshend, Vt. — The state of Vermont has approved two hydro-electric projects for the West River in Townshend and Jamaica, but the developer is still waiting for federal approval to qualify for incentive programs the projects need to succeed. Blue Heron Hydro President Lori Barg says the 3-megawatt project from the flood control dams needs to get its federal license by November to ensure the projects are generating power by the end of next year, as required by a Vermont incentive program. "That will give us two months to pull together the financing that will enable us to qualify for the federal incentive, and then meet the timeline of the state incentive," Barg said.

Blue Hydro filed its application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission last November. The company has asked for expedited consideration. The administration of Gov. Peter Shumlin supports the project as does the Central Vermont Public Service Corp., the state's largest electric utility. FERC spokeswoman Celeste Miller said the agency has received Blue Hydro's request. The project is now in the public comment phase. "There is an opportunity for the public to give us their input on the issues that they think need to be looked at during the environmental review process," Miller told Vermont Public Radio. "Once we receive all of the comments, we have to review them, and that can sometimes... have an impact on the timing of the process." The public comment period ends June 8.

(Excerpts) Quincy City Council briefed on options for hydropower project by Rajah Maples, 05.31.2011, connecttristates.com

Quincy, ILL. -- C-Corp Attorney Joe Duesterhaus briefed the city council before Monday night's meeting on options to move forward with the hydropower project. He said the city's Washington, D.C. attorneys, Van Ness Feldman, have looked over FERC's ruling and have concluded that an appeal would not be successful. The city has three options -- wait nine months to re-file if no one else has a permit at that time. If another entity obtains a permit during that time, then the city would have to wait three years to refile. The third option would be to sell the intellectual property.

Duesterhaus recommended sending a warning letter out to competitors. He said all of the work conducted by the city thus far cannot be legally used without compensation. Duesterhaus said, "That's the city's intellectual property. That was paid for with taxpayer dollars. They need to be contacted as soon as possible and told the city will see them in federal court for infringing on our intellectual property." The city council has not yet decided on where to go with the hydropower project at this time. ------.

(This is interesting. Do you define renewable hydro by the unit or by a plant’s aggregate capacity? Maybe, this kind of controversy would stop if people would stop trying to find ways to call a non- renewable at any size! Besides, this project is only 2 years shy of being 100 years old. It should get special recognition for that alone.) 8

Copy obtained from the National Performance of Dams Program: http://npdp.stanford.edu

Keokuk hydro plant at heart of renewable energy dispute By Jeffrey Tomich, post-dispatch.com, STLtoday.com | June 4, 2011

Ameren Missouri's Keokuk hydroelectric generating station was an engineering marvel when it was completed in 1913. Today, the historic dam and plant spanning the Mississippi River between Keokuk, Iowa, and Hamilton, Ill., is at the heart of a dispute over how the utility meets Missouri's renewable energy mandate. Ameren, which sells electricity to 1.2 million customers in Missouri, sees Keokuk as an important part of its effort to comply with the law. But clean energy advocates say including the plant's output is exploiting a loophole in rules that could delay renewable energy development in the state for years. Missouri voters approved Proposition C in 2008, requiring the state's four investor-owned electric utilities to get 2 percent of their electric generation from renewable resources such as the wind and sun in 2011 — a percentage that gradually steps up to 15 percent in 2021. There was no organized opposition to the measure. St. Louis-based Ameren took a neutral stance, and Kansas City Power& Light even supported it. But implementing the law has been anything but harmonious. For the last two years, renewable energy groups, utilities, politicians and regulators have bickered over the rules — a debate that continues today. Not until recently did Ameren's Keokuk plant emerge as an issue.

At the heart of the disagreement is whether the plant qualifies under a provision in the law that defines eligible hydropower as having "generator nameplate ratings" of 10 megawatts or less. Henry Robertson, a lawyer representing Renew Missouri, an offshoot of the Missouri Coalition for the Environment, believes the plant is ineligible because its aggregate capacity is 134 megawatts. This week, he asked the state Public Service Commission to disallow Keokuk as a renewable energy resource. Robertson is familiar with the legal language because he wrote the ballot initiative that was approved by two-thirds of Missouri voters. To him, there's no doubt that the term "nameplate capacity" refers to a hydroelectric plant's aggregate generating capacity. In his filing with the PSC, Robertson provides examples including a federal Bureau of Reclamation website that lists the nameplate capacity of Hoover Dam, which has multiple generators, at 2,080 megawatts. Under its current plan filed with the PSC, Ameren indicates it won't have to buy or build additional renewable generation beyond what's already in its plans until 2018, when the renewable energy requirement jumps to 10 percent. Allowing Keokuk to qualify as a renewable resource would be allowing Ameren to circumvent the will of voters and delay development of new renewable energy resources, Robertson said. "It is certainly not the intent of the law to allow Keokuk to swallow up the renewable energy targets until they reach 10 percent in 2018," he said. Ameren disagrees. It says the 98-year-old plant meets the definition of a renewable energy resource because each of its 15 generating units is between 7.2 and 8.8 megawatts. What's more, using an existing renewable energy resource like Keokuk allows Ameren to keep the rate impact for customers well below the 1 percent cap established in the law. For Ameren, a 1 percent increase in 2011 would cost customers $29 million. "We certainly believe we've complied with Proposition C," Ameren Missouri CEO Warner L. Baxter said in an interview Thursday. Keokuk was the largest hydropower facility in the world when it was completed in 1913. But its history goes back even further, to 1836, when Robert E. Lee conducted a survey for the War Department and called attention to the power potential of this section of the Mississippi. It is one of three Ameren Missouri hydroelectric plants but the only one being used to qualify with the renewable energy law. The utility's Taum Sauk hydroelectric plant is specifically excluded because it uses pumped storage technology, which requires that water be pumped up the side of Proffit Mountain into a mammoth concrete reservoir and later released through a large tunnel to generate power. While good for storing electricity, the plant consumes more energy than it produces. The 234-megawatt Osage hydroelectric plant at Lake of the Ozarks also is excluded because of its size. Each of its eight generators exceeds the 10-megawatt limit as interpreted by Ameren.

In addition to Keokuk, Ameren plans to use wind power and solar energy to meet its renewable energy requirement over the next three years, as well as so-called renewable energy credits, or RECs —tradable pieces of paper that represent 1 megawatt-hour of renewable energy and help subsidize clean energy projects. The wind power will come through a contract to buy 102.3 9

Copy obtained from the National Performance of Dams Program: http://npdp.stanford.edu megawatts of wind energy from a northeast Iowa wind farm. Ameren also recently completed a 100-kilowatt solar installation on the roof of its downtown St. Louis headquarters and has purchased RECs from dozens of local customers who have installed solar arrays on their rooftops. Ameren also is developing one of the nation's largest methane gas-to-electric generation projects at a Maryland Heights landfill that is estimated to be completed in 2013. Ameren says it is evaluating the potential for a "utility-scale" solar installation at two existing power plants that, if warranted, could be operational in 2013. Baxter declined to disclose which plants are candidates for solar installations. Nationwide, 32 states and the District of Columbia have some form of renewable energy standard, including Illinois, which requires that 25 percent of electricity come from renewable resources by 2025. Lori Bird, a senior analyst for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colo., said the laws differ state to state. But "most states do have specific rules about what types of hydropower will count and there are frequently capacity limits." In California, for instance, only hydro projects with a generating capacity of less than 30 megawatts are defined as renewable resources under the state's renewable portfolio standard. The reason is twofold, she said. First, existing hydroelectric projects don't need the support of renewable energy policies, which are meant to spur new clean energy development. There's also concern about the environmental impact of large hydropower projects. So far, no other parties have challenged Ameren's plan to include Keokuk. In fact, the PSC staff and Department of Natural Resources, which is tasked with determining which renewable energy resources are eligible under the law, agree with Ameren that Keokuk qualifies. Robertson is at the same time hopeful that regulators see things his way, and contrite for how the current situation has played out. "My biggest regret is that I never investigated Keokuk," he said.

(Looks like someone needs to take a course in Communications 101!) Spate of hydro projects causing a stir Pacific Business News - by Sophie Cocke, Pacific Business News, June 3, 2011, bizjournals.com/pacific

There hasn’t been much talk about hydropower as the state works to transition away from oil to locally produced, renewable sources of energy. But a recent spate of proposed hydro projects have, for better or worse, been causing quite a stir. And in large part it’s because Mainland companies have been filing applications for preliminary permits for hydro projects with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Federal oversight of Hawaii’s waterways was fought vigorously by the state two decades ago, with mixed results. But in the end, three proposed projects on Kauai didn’t move forward. The pushback was centered in large part over concern that federal regulators didn’t have the specialized knowledge of local waterways and ecosystems to make decisions such as how much water can be diverted from a stream or river to turn a turbine without having harmful environmental impacts. On Kauai, where executives of the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative are hoping to make small hydro projects a cornerstone of the island’s transition to renewables, this issue has presented a stumbling block. A company called Free Flow Energy, based in Boston, filed six permits with the federal agency to develop hydro projects on Kauai, which the utility has now assumed control of, and is working in conjunction with the company to develop.

David Bissell, CEO of the KIUC, has made strong arguments for why these projects are a good source of energy for the island, providing residents with low-cost, stable rates for years to come. And he has expressed a commitment to ensuring that they are carried out in ways that don’t harm the fragile waterways. But the strategy of going through FERC to develop the projects has not proven a smooth one, with some members of the community, and now state agencies, sounding alarm bells.

But the more startling hydro projects have been ones proposed for Maui and Lanai. Not only are they huge in scale, the Mainland developers who filed the applications through FERC don’t seem to have much knowledge of the local landscape — topographical or political. Idaho resident Matthew Shapiro filed an application for a 57-acre pumped storage hydro project on Lanai that would ideally work in tandem with the Big Wind project. The technology of the proposed project is 10

Copy obtained from the National Performance of Dams Program: http://npdp.stanford.edu in and of itself intriguing. With the benefit of a 1,700-foot drop, seawater would be pumped upward and then released back down to drive a turbine to generate electricity. There’s only one other project like it in the world — a 30 megawatt plant in Okinawa, according to Shapiro. The project on Lanai would be 10-times the size, turn the wind energy into a reliable source of electricity and the cost to ratepayers would be marginal, according to his plan. But it hasn’t gotten much traction. Not from Castle & Cooke, which has publicly said that they have no relationship with his company, and not from Hawaiian Electric Co., whose officials Shapiro said weren’t returning his calls. He described the lack of response as “puzzling.” Part of the problem could be that Shapiro, as he told PBN, had never been to Lanai, or Hawaii, and never consulted with local officials before filing the application, which is still pending. While he described the project to PBN as “quite small,” for local residents it doesn’t seem so modest. Lanai resident Robin Kaye told PBN that the project would encompass “a very, very large area in a very accessible part of the island — right in the middle of a hunting ground.” “It’s a huge project, and it came out of the blue,” said Kaye. “We were as stunned as everyone else.” On Maui, two proposed projects by the same developer — one which would dam up the Maliko Gulch on the North Shore and a second on the west side near Lahaina, aren’t going over so well, either. As on Lanai, residents and local officials found out about the projects when legal notices were filed in newspapers. Doug McLeod, Maui’s energy commissioner, told PBN that the project on Maliko Gulch was “the single worst idea we have seen in a long time” and that “we’d like to see it die an early death.” Rob Parsons, executive assistant to Maui‘s mayor, Alan Arakawa, said the project on the west side, which proposes to use wastewater, could potentially be a very good idea. But he said “it’s just perplexing that these things would go forward without any communication with anyone locally. A few phone calls could have helped smooth things out,” he added.

iThis compilation of articles and other information is provided at no cost for those interested in hydropower, dams, and water resources issues and development, and should not be used for any commercial or other purpose. Any copyrighted material herein is distributed without profit or payment from those who have an interest in receiving this information for non-profit and educational purposes only.

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Copy obtained from the National Performance of Dams Program: http://npdp.stanford.edu

6/17/2011

Some Dam – Hydro NewsTM i And Other Stuff

Quote of Note: “If you want to annoy your neighbors, tell the truth about them." -- Pietro

Aretino, Italian author

“Good wine is a necessity of life.” - -Thomas Jefferson Ron’s wine pick of the week: Agua de Piedra Malbec Reserva 2010 Mendoza, Argentina “No nation was ever drunk when wine was cheap.” - - Thomas Jefferson

Other Stuff: (Sometimes dam builders have to look elsewhere for work)

Dams: (And, then there is the other view. Only time will tell – that’s the only sure thing!) Elwha dams fight over, but debate has shifted The long debate over the removal of the Elwha River dams is in the end a tiny test case. And it makes you wonder how we will resolve much-larger energy battles. Whether something is green or not green — even that seems a moving target. Danny Westneat, Seattle Times staff columnist, seattletimes.nwsource.com, June 4, 2011

1 Copy obtained from the National Performance of Dams Program: http://npdp.stanford.edu

When they pulled the plug on two Olympic Peninsula dams last week, ending 98 years of faithful electricity generation, Bill Hermann for one did not celebrate. Hermann is a Port Angeles logger who, in his own pragmatic way, was key to the decision made back in the 1990s to try the largest dam-removal experiment in U.S. history here on the Elwha River. But so much time has passed since then — as well as changed in society — that he couldn't help wondering: Now that we're finally getting around to it, are we doing the right thing? "In one sense I agree that this is the place to try this, it's the river where maybe they can bring back the fish," Hermann, 66, said from the office of Hermann Bros. Logging and Construction, which he has run with his brothers since he was 20. "But there are a lot of us also looking up there and saying: That was some good, green energy humming out of there."

I first met Hermann 15 years ago, when Congress, in its wisdom, approved the idea of tearing out the Elwha dams but not the money to do it. In the gap between vision and reality, a huge fight erupted. It lasted for nearly 20 years. Those who felt that removing functioning dams was crazy and a dangerous precedent found a champion in U.S. Sen. Slade Gorton, R-Wash., who blocked the money for years. On the peninsula, anti-dam removal signs sprouted alongside the lavender farms. It felt like a replay of the spotted-owl timber wars, in which outsiders, guided by well- meaning eco-principles, come in and force a major change in locals' lives. Hermann's grandfather had logged in the Elwha watershed and was there when the first dam was built. Hermann was against dam removal. But in 1996 he agreed to join a citizens' committee to search for some end to the shouting. He found himself surprised at the merits of the other side. The lower dam was so outdated even the owner wasn't sure it was worth saving. The dams don't produce much power. The upside for salmon, the river and the national park were potentially so large that removing at least the lower dam was worth a try, Hermann concluded. I interviewed Hermann at the time. That even a local logger was now backing dam removal was news. The group voted unanimously that the government should buy both dams and tear out the lower one immediately. Gorton was persuaded, grudgingly, to fund the project.

But a lot has changed since 1996 — most spectacularly the cost, now tripled from $110 million to $325 million. As Hermann points out, what we worry about has changed, too. Nobody was talking about global warming back when the Elwha decision was made. "Dams were only bad for the environment back then," he says. "Now their power is called renewable and emission-free — everything that's in style now." Dams do tremendous damage to rivers. But at the same time, cities such as Seattle that rely heavily on hydropower now routinely boast about how clean, green and carbon-free their power is. Ironically, Hermann is working on the project to replace the power lost at the defunct dams: a biomass boiler at the local pulp mill that ran off the dams' electricity for 90 years. It will run on waste slash left behind by timber harvests, so it, too, is considered renewable energy. But six environmental groups appealed it on the grounds it could add to pollution and global warming — the very thing the dams didn't do. "We have to have some source of electricity," Hermann mused. "Don't we?" The fight over the Elwha is history. Now all that remains is to see whether a river can be rejuvenated. But with this as a tiny test case, you do have to wonder how we will resolve much-larger energy battles. Whether something is green or not green — even that seems a moving target. Because these dams generated relatively little power and are located on an otherwise unspoiled river running out of a national park, tearing them out is as close as we'll ever get to an easy call in the environment-versus-energy debate. Twenty years debating the easy one. So long even the terms of the debate shifted as we were having it.

(There are numerous articles on this subject – too many to include, but this an example! Just wish someone would state how large flood flows would have been without the 4 dams!) 2011 Missouri River Flood Dam Safety and History Air Date: 06/03/2011, sdpb.org

The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers remains focused on increasing water flows on the Missouri river. The plan is to reach 150 - thousand cubic feet per second by mid-June. Those who live up 2 Copy obtained from the National Performance of Dams Program: http://npdp.stanford.edu and down the river are focused on saving their homes and communities. Once the target flow rate is met - it is the first time in history that that much water has passed through the four dams in South Dakota. The six earthen dams run from Montana through South Dakota. They were created as part of the Pick-Sloan plan which was approved by congress in 1944. Many in South Dakota wonder if these man-made structures are strong enough to withstand the powerful impact of Mother Nature... SDPB's Stephanie Rissler looks at the history and safety of our dams. There are four dams on the Missouri river in South Dakota. Oahe dam near Pierre is the furthest north. Downstream near Ft. Thompson is Big Bend. Ft. Randall dam near Pickstown was the first dam completed in 1952 and Gavins point near Yankton is the dam furthest south. It's been over 60 years since the first dam was built and close to 50 years since contractors finished the last structure. With the passage of time, weather and daily use - many are wondering can these dams standup to the increased water flow in the days and weeks to come. Eric Stasch with the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers says South Dakota's dams are safe. "I have total confidence we have a safe dam, we have many people watching it and many knowledgeable people watching it on a continual basis. We've brought in extra people to make sure it's safe and provide an accurate report and every report that we gets says the dam is good."

There are some in South Dakota who remember building the dams. Earl Geopfert lives a quiet life in White Lake South Dakota. He sits on his patio outside, as he recalls his time working on the Oahe and Ft. Thompson dams. It was a massive undertaking for the time. Contractors built wooden frames that sit under thousands of pounds of concrete. The construction of the dams provided work for many l returning from World War II. It was just another job. I did anything they wanted because no one else wanted to do it, Let's put it that way. Earl returned home from the service and was drawn to the job because of the good wages, making up to $10.00 an hour in the mid 1950's and according to earl that was good for South Dakota. "They stopped a lot of flooding, gave a lot of people jobs and they were good for South Dakota. All I can say was I've done it and been there." The dam and reservoir system on the Missouri river is designed for multipurpose use that includes hydroelectric power, navigation, municipal water, irrigation, fish and wildlife habitat, and recreational use and flood control. Many wonder if flood control was part of the mission - why are so many up down the river flooding. David Becker with the Army Corp of Engineers oversees Gavin's Point dam near Yankton. He says even with the dams - floods are inevitable. "Flood control projects do have their limitations and this being the wettest year we've seen in the past 113 years its stretching capacity of this flood project. The corps has called it flood control but now they are calling it flood reduction. We don't prevent floods we try to minimize floods and sometimes there are flood damages that can't be avoided and this is one of those years." The Army Corp of Engineers is reassuring the public they have no concerns about the stability of the dams. Tom Curran is the project manager at Ft. Randall. He says in the off chance there is a catastrophic event - there is an emergency plan in place "It depends on the situation and where a break would take place. You have might have time to communicate with everyone. We would get in contact with local officials they those would be police, local law enforcement. Our first mission would be to protect the public, public safety." As the Army Corp of engineers continues to increase releases that will reach historic levels. Becker says the dams were designed to flow much more water than what we will see this summer. , "Gavin's Point was built to flow 800,000 cubic feet per second." Ft. Randall was designed to flow 700 - thousand cubic feet per second. For South Dakota public broadcasting, I'm Stephanie Rissler.

(Excerpts - This has to be the dumbest idea in a long time. Now, a mayor wants people to be responsible for the safety of beaver dams. Beavers usually build pretty sturdy dams, but they all eventually fail. Beavers do not go to engineering school; they are just part of nature. Hope this idea doesn’t spread south!) Mayor Doughty lodges dam complaints Alison Brownlee, Jun 08, 2011, cottagecountrynow.ca

Huntsville, Ontario, Canada– Landowners with beaver dams on their property may be put on notice. At a June 1 public works and protective services committee meeting, Huntsville mayor Claude Doughty took a Huntsville, Ontario, Canada – Landowners with beaver dams on their 3 Copy obtained from the National Performance of Dams Program: http://npdp.stanford.edu property may be put on notice. At a June 1 public works and protective services committee meeting, Huntsville mayor Claude Doughty took a stand on dams that could pose a potential hazard to municipal property. “I’ve been chattering about this for a while. I think we have to now take steps that are much more aggressive,” said Doughty. He then read a motion that he drafted. “Whereas the Town of Huntsville has had a number of incidents of damage to the municipal road system as a result of beaver dams breaking, and whereas direction has previously been given to staff to take steps to mitigate the risk to the municipality, therefore be it resolved that staff proceed forthwith to take action by all means available against the property owners on which the beaver dam adjacent to Beaver Meadow Road is located.” Doughty said part of the problem was that town staff could not know about every beaver dam that is built and subsequently could not manage them. The onus, therefore, falls on the property owner to manage any risks, he said. “We need to start aggressively taking action against them and I would encourage that we pass this resolution,” he said. “It (creates) a clear direction that we get the lawyers involved and we go after them for the costs, and every time this happens, we do it again.” He said property owners should be liable for any damage done to a municipal road if the damage was a result of a dam breaking on the property owners’ land, whether naturally or otherwise. ------. Full article here: http://www.cottagecountrynow.ca/news/article/1023014--mayor-doughty-lodges-dam- complaints

(Copying anything from this organization is suspect, but we have to read what everyone says on a subject – or do we? The Brazil greenhouse gas data has been wrongly used by IRN and the Tenn. Tech/CO State study has been debunked, but they keep coming up in articles as though they’re gospel.) How Dams Can Kick Up a Storm and Change Our Climate 06/ 8/11, huffingtonpost.com, Peter Bosshard, Policy Director, International Rivers

Only 140 kilometers from our Berkeley office, the Folsom Dam towers 100 meter high over the American River. When it was built in the 1950s, the project was supposed to withstand the most severe flood in 250 years. Yet after it was completed, strong floods suddenly became more frequent and overtopped the dam at several instances. Until a safety upgrade goes forward, 440,000 people in the downstream area are exposed to the highest level of flood risk in the US. Scientists have now found evidence that the project's problem may be partly of its own making, and that dams can in fact kick up a storm. We have known for a long time that dams can influence local rainfalls. Humidity evaporates from reservoirs and irrigated fields and gets recycled as rainfall. Dams and levees can reduce evaporation and rainfalls when they drain wetlands and open up woodlands for deforestation. The Niger Delta in West Africa is an example. In September, the delta's wetlands extend to 30,000 square kilometers -- roughly the size of Belgium -- and feed rainfalls over a much larger region. Yet existing and proposed dams on the Niger would reduce the river's flow by almost half. Christopher Taylor of the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology warns that this could "significantly reduce" the seasonal window when the delta induces rainfalls.

This spring, a devastating drought crippled large part of Central China. Local people maintain that droughts have become more frequent and severe since the massive Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River was completed in 2003. If you look at the immediate impacts, this does not appear to the case. Chinese researchers found that after 2003 rainfalls decreased somewhat south of the reservoir, and increased significantly about 100 kilometers to the north. Yet the Three Gorges Dam may have more significant indirect impacts. During the flood season, the Yangtze used to expand the size of the Dongting and Poyang lakes from about 4,000 to 24,000 square kilometers. By storing flood water for electricity generation, the Three Gorges Dam is now greatly diminishing 4 Copy obtained from the National Performance of Dams Program: http://npdp.stanford.edu the seasonal expansion of the two flood basins, which had already been dwindling due to land reclamation. During this year's drought, the majestic Dongting Lake -- the home of the famous Chinese dragon boat races -- turned into a sad mudflat with isolated pools of water. The hydropower operators released extra water from the Three Gorges Dam in late May, claiming that they thus contributed to the drought relief. This is disingenuous: without the dam, much more water would have replenished the flood basins naturally. Research on wetlands and climate around the world suggests that chocking off the Yangtze's flood basins is likely to have significant negative impacts on rainfalls that cannot be compensated by evaporation from the Three Gorges reservoir. Reservoirs don't only influence rainfall and droughts in their vicinity. They also contribute to climate change by emitting greenhouse gases. Rotting organic matter from the vegetation flooded when the reservoir is filled releases methane and carbon dioxide. The plankton and plants that live in the reservoir, the detritus washed down from the watershed, and the seasonal flooding of plants along the reservoir fringes ensure that emissions continue for the lifetime of a reservoir. Greenhouse gas emissions are particularly high from shallow tropical reservoirs. Philip Fearnside of the National Institute for Research on the Amazon calculated that three hydropower projects in Brazil emit greenhouse gases approximately twice as high as the emissions of modern coal-fired power plants with the same energy output. Ivan Lima of Brazil's National Institute for Space Research estimated the total methane emissions from large dams at 104 million tons per year. This is around 4% of human-made climate change - equal to the contribution of the civil aviation industry. Just as flying is not a sustainable form of transport, hydropower cannot be considered a renewable form of energy.

Three researchers from Tennessee Technological University and the University of Colorado have now made the latest contribution to the debate on dams and climate change. By overlaying a databank of large reservoirs with meteorological stations all around the world, they found that dam building has influenced the severity of storms. In Southern Africa and Southern Europe, dams "appeared to have increased extreme precipitation by as much as 20% during the last century." A smaller increase occurred in India and Central Asia. In a separate study, a group of scientists around Faisal Hossain and Roger Pielke Sr. found "the possibility of storm intensification in impounded basins of the Mediterranean and arid climates of the United States." This region includes the Folsom Dam on the American River. Comments Hossain: "Now, our results give us a better idea of which dams are most likely to gradually change local climate and what that means for managing those reservoirs as time passes." Climate change puts dam builders in a bind. Changing rainfall patterns make it difficult to assess future streamflows, while more frequent storms can make dams unsafe. The US government has approved $1 billion for a safety upgrade of the Folsom Dam. This is a price which many governments in poor countries cannot afford. They need to diversify their energy sectors and build decentralized projects which are more resilient to the vagaries of climate change than bulky large dams.

Hydro: Construction of new hydroelectric power plant on schedule in northern KY The Associated Press, June 07, 2011, dailyjournal.net

Foster, Ky. — Construction is on schedule for a new hydroelectric plant on the Ohio River in Foster. A cofferdam, which will hold off river water while the new plant is built, has been the major construction at the Meldahl Dam for several months, according to The Ledger Independent. Project manager Tom Leibham said on Monday the first phase of the project should wrap up in August when powerhouse construction is scheduled to begin. It will contain three 35-megawatt turbines with a total capacity of 105 megawatts of electricity. Leibham says the powerhouse is designed to be underwater, so what will be most visible once the plant is completed will be a recreation area and picnic spots, a fishing pier and a walking path. The plant is being built under 5 Copy obtained from the National Performance of Dams Program: http://npdp.stanford.edu a partnership between American Municipal Power and the city of Hamilton, Ohio. It's scheduled to come online in 2014. For Immediate Release National Hydropower Association Releases “Guideposts” for Pacific Northwest Power Dispute, Future Planning

Washington, D.C. (June 9, 2011) – The National Hydropower Association today released a set of “guideposts” for consideration by federal and state policymakers, the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) and other parties to the current debate over electrical generation and transmission in the Pacific Northwest. The guidelines are meant to address several issues that the current discussion has overlooked and to encourage a discussion of long-term solutions to help all stakeholders deal with similar situations as they arise in the future. Owing to a combination of low electricity demand, high seasonal water flows and high wind energy output, the Northwest has experienced an excess of generation. Without customers to take the electricity and an inability to store it, BPA recently implemented a Record of Decision in which it balances generation with demand by reducing output from thermal and wind projects, when necessary. This result has raised concerns on all sides about the best means to address a situation that is likely to recur in the future in the absence of more comprehensive long-term planning. NHA intends the new guideposts to help reframe the debate and provide impetus for more lasting solutions that allow hydropower, wind and other generation resources to work in concert. “The strength of America’s electric system is its diversity of generation resources, which is instrumental in providing customers with reliable, affordable and sustainable electricity,” said Linda Church Ciocci, Executive Director of the National Hydropower Association. “Hydropower and wind generation each play an important role in providing these benefits and are complementary resources that work well together. The real issue here is storage of excess energy. That is where pumped hydropower storage could play a significant role in solving these problems.” “In addition, at times when electricity generation outpaces regional needs, there can be significant implications for grid reliability, water quality and ecosystems. There can also be economic impacts for some generators encountering negative wholesale power prices,” Ciocci continued. “Full and measured examination of these matters is critical to crafting well-reasoned policies that address the complexity of issues in the Northwest power system. Regional hydropower projects, both federal and private facilities, offer grid services that ensure the power stays on and is reliable, while helping to integrate increasing amounts of variable energy resources. The Northwest also has cleaner air as a result of its use of renewable energy – traditionally hydropower, and now increasing amounts of wind power. These considerations inform the guideposts NHA releases today with the goal to help resolve the debate over power in the Pacific Northwest and lead to policies that support the growth of all renewables in the region.”

NHA’s guideposts for discussion of Pacific Northwest power integration issues are: • NHA believes in the need to craft long-term solutions. Wind and hydropower are and can be complementary resources, preserving the region’s low emission profile. To enhance this compatibility, public policy should support increases in energy storage opportunities, both from existing conventional hydropower projects and new pumped storage facilities. • NHA recognizes BPA’s belief that the Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS) Biological Opinions require BPA to best manage the grid to comply with the Endangered Species Act and state water quality regulations for the protection of natural resources. • The rapid increase in variable energy resources has increased the need for greater access to larger amounts, and economic dispatch of, the region’s balancing resources. Policies and/or market mechanisms are needed to recognize and compensate hydropower projects for the balancing and energy storage benefits they bring to the system. • NHA supports strategic system planning that could include grid-scale energy storage, transmission upgrades, and energy system modeling to minimize these disruptions in the future. Pumped storage hydropower is a proven technology that could provide additional 6 Copy obtained from the National Performance of Dams Program: http://npdp.stanford.edu

large-scale load to alternately absorb significant amounts of over-generation and provide support to variable energy resources, and store excess off-peak generation to periods of peak demand. • State renewable portfolio standards and other policies should provide incentives that encourage the development of complementary technologies for a stable grid that could help mitigate this issue and serve to facilitate additional growth of renewable energy projects in the region. • BPA’s decision to implement curtailment was made in the context of the complex energy balancing issues it is facing this year. As this issue becomes more common, continued evaluation of BPA’s system and options to optimize clean energy, including both hydropower and wind, support habitats, and meet electrical demand are necessary and we encourage continued regional attention to this issue.

Ciocci also commented on the environmental and natural resource issue that has become one point of contention – the effects of increased spill from hydropower projects on water quality and fish species. “Concerns about fish protection and water quality restrict BPA’s ability to curtail the federal hydropower generation during high water events like spring run-off,” said Ciocci. “In particular, total dissolved gases like nitrogen can become elevated from absorption of excess atmospheric air in the water when hydropower projects are required to spill water instead of running it through turbines for electricity generation. These increased gas levels can negatively affect the health of fish.” Ciocci emphasized that NHA looks forward to working with all stakeholders to craft the right long-term policies to ensure grid stability and reliable service, while also protecting and enhancing natural resources and promoting increased generation from variable energy resources.

(Guess a good subtitle would be – “Hydropower, how sweet it is”) Hydroelectric plant proposed east of Sweet Home By Alex Paul | democratherald.com | June 8, 2011

Sweet Home, OR - A former Oregon Department of Transportation civil engineer wants to build a hydroelectric plant on U.S. Forest Service property that he says could provide electricity for up to 4,500 homes. David Harmon, 60, recently moved to Sweet Home from the Portland area and is a co-owner of Pacific Green Power. He proposes constructing a small dam on Two Girls Creek about 26 miles east of Sweet Home. Harmon plans to use a 1,800-foot drop to spin a turbine and generate electricity. He has submitted an application to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, as well as other regulatory agencies. The public is invited to tour the 10-acre site on Friday. A group will leave at 10 a.m. from the Sweet Home Police Department parking lot, 1950 Main St. Come prepared to do some walking. "We will need to hike about three-quarters of a mile into the powerhouse area and then we will need to hike another three-quarters of a mile into the proposed weir location," Harmon said. "Some snow remains in the area." Harmon said the tour is a follow-up to a public meeting held in March at the LBCC Sweet Home Center.

"In the early 1980s, I helped a friend in Salem develop a project that produced power for three homes," Harmon said. Harmon later purchased property near Eugene, but it wasn't suitable for power generation. "I have looked at probably 140 parcels and ended up at Two Girls Creek," Harmon said. Harmon said there are two basic ways to produce hydropower: the first is to spin a wheel with a great volume of water and the second is to use a small amount of water dropped over a relatively large distance. His proposal is based on the second option. The project would require construction of a small dam and a power house, Harmon said. According to the FERC application, the project would create a 6,000-square-foot reservoir. There also would need to be 7.2 miles of 12,000 KVA power line constructed. Water used by Pacific Green Power "will mix with water from the stream before entering the area of the creek for migrating fish." Harmon said the project's estimated cost is more than $6 million, funded by private investors. "All of the materials will be American made," Harmon said. "The steel pipe will from Portland, the poly pipe from Utah or Nevada, and the turbine is made in Washington." A 4-megawatt hydroelectric power

7 Copy obtained from the National Performance of Dams Program: http://npdp.stanford.edu system has operated near Cascadia since 1984. It is owned by Frontier Technology Inc. of Eugene.

All that hydropower, but no rate cuts, as Missouri River roars through dam systems By Associated Press, Published: June 9, 2011, washingtonpost.com

Bismarck, N.D. — The torrents of water pounding through the Missouri River’s six dams are generating surplus electricity for utilities across the upper Great Plains, but ratepayers can mostly forget about seeing any benefit on their monthly bills. Utility officials say power prices already are low, and the federal agency that markets the electricity has to make up losses from years of drought. “From a long-term standpoint, this will help us, but right now the (electric power) market is depressed,” said Vic Simmons, general manager of Rushmore Electric Power Cooperative in Rapid City, S.D. Electric demand is “probably at the lowest part of the year right now,” Simmons said. “There’s no grain drying, there’s no irrigation, there’s no air conditioning going yet.” Heavy spring rains in western states and a mammoth Rocky Mountain snowpack have set up the Missouri River for a summer of flooding, with temporary levees being thrown up and permanent dikes checked along the river’s length. Water is being released from the Missouri’s dams at unprecedented rates. At the Garrison Dam, which holds back Lake Sakakawea about 75 miles northwest of Bismarck, the discharge will approach 150,000 cubic feet of water per second in mid-June, the highest volume ever and more than nine times the rate of a year ago.

Enough water is powering through the dam to meet Bismarck’s normal summer water needs for nearly a week in a single minute. Of more interest to utilities, the water flowing across all six dams will produce about 14 billion kilowatt-hours of power this year. That’s 40 percent greater than the dams’ normal output, and enough to supply almost 1.3 million homes for a year. The Western Area Power Administration, a federal agency that sells the power to rural electric cooperatives, municipal utilities, Indian tribes and other customers, is not planning to change its electric rates until 2015, said Jennifer Neville, an agency spokeswoman in Lakewood, Colo. Western provides electricity to about 11 million homes in 15 states, including North Dakota and South Dakota, California, Utah, Arizona and parts of Minnesota, Iowa and Texas. It serves more than 30 North Dakota utilities, including Basin Electric Power Cooperative, a Bismarck-based company that itself provides wholesale electric power to rural utilities in nine states, and several North Dakota municipal electric companies, including the cities of Valley City, Cavalier, Hillsboro, Lakota and Northwood. Since January 2008, Western’s rates have included a surcharge to cover losses over most of the previous decade’s drought. Less hydropower meant WAPA had to augment its power supplies by buying costlier electricity on the open market. The agency hopes to close the deficit and drop the surcharge by September 2017. This year’s extra revenues will help Western recoup its drought costs more quickly, “which ideally will create downward pressure on the firm power rates in the future,” Neville said. “But it’s difficult to predict how fast, or how much.”

Russell Carlson, who farms 15 miles southeast of Jamestown with his brother, Richard, said he didn’t expect a windfall from this summer’s big uptick in hydroelectric power because he knows WAPA’s recent history. “If they make a little money, this is going to be a chance for them to get back even,” Carlson said. Dave Teigen, who farms near Rugby in north-central North Dakota, said farmers are sensitive to power expenses. “One really nice thing about WAPA power is that the price is very stable and it’s low,” Teigen said. “It’s just as vital as diesel fuel or seed or any other input we have to buy ... Everything we do needs electricity in the beginning.” Katie Werner, the city auditor in Cavalier, in North Dakota’s northeastern corner, is taking the long view since Cavalier operates its own municipal electric utility. The prospect of lower electric costs could “give us at least one good thing coming out of all of this flooding,” she said. “If the flood could eventually give us lower power rates, that sure would be nice.”

8 Copy obtained from the National Performance of Dams Program: http://npdp.stanford.edu

Water: (Water, water everywhere. Could you spell the General’s name if he asked you to do that? He may be from PA where we were used to names with too many consonants. I know I’d like that guy even though I’ve never met him.) 2011 FLOODING: Wet cycle, no doubt Bismarck-Mandan, Minot, and just about everywhere else in North Dakota has been dealing with flooding Hopping from one flood emergency to another is all in a day’s work for Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk. He’s seen flooding in every corner of the state, often on several fronts at once. By: Kevin Bonham, Grand Forks Herald, grandforksherald.com, June 04, 2011

Bismarck, ND — Hopping from one flood emergency to another is all in a day’s work for Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk. Over the past 22 years, he has served as state engineer with the State Water Commission, director of the North Dakota Department of Transportation and, since 2006, has been adjutant general of the North Dakota National Guard. He’s seen flooding in every corner of the state, often on several fronts at once. “Arguably, the wet cycle started in 1993 in the entire region,” he said. “It’s not necessarily every year, but it’s all too much, in terms of an impact. We go through a wet year, and maybe it doesn’t dry out completely. The next year, you go through another wet year and the amount of runoff increases. I don’t think anybody would argue that we’re in the middle of a wet cycle that started years ago. Who knows how long it’s going to go?” Most days this past week, Sprynczynatyk flew between Bismarck and Minot, directing the nearly 2,000 National Guard soldiers and airmen on duty between the two metropolitan areas as they helped build or patrol dikes, provide traffic control so heavy-duty equipment could deliver flood-fighting supplies, or provide emergency assistance.

It was just a few weeks ago that Sprynczynatyk was doing the same thing in the Red and Sheyenne river valleys. While there are similarities between flood fights, there also are differences, especially between the Red and the Missouri. “The big difference really is that we’re in the middle of a flood fight, but a managed flood fight, in that the releases from the Garrison Dam are controlled,” Sprynczynatyk said. “If the dams up and down the Missouri River weren’t in place, we would see much higher floods. So, it’s a controlled release, yet this particular event in Bismarck-Mandan is equivalent to a 500-year event. The sad part of it is that it’s not going to go down.” The latest estimates are that high flows will continue for eight weeks. “That’s something we have not experienced since 1952, and that was the year before the Garrison Dam was closed,” he said, adding that the 1952 Missouri River crest was about 10 feet higher than the estimated 20.6 feet forecast later this month at Bismarck. “Well, with Garrison, the last time we were near where we’re at now was in 1975. In 1997, it got up there, but not as close as in ’75.”

Minot ahead of the curve Sprynczynatyk said the Souris River flood is similar, but on a smaller scale in Minot, where about one-fourth of the city’s 40,000 residents were evacuated last week to allow contractors to build necessary dikes to protect the city. The Souris, which is not part of the Missouri River Basin, flows into North Dakota from Saskatchewan, makes a loop, and then returns to Canada. The adjutant general was in Minot on Thursday, when it was announced that the Souris was cresting, about a foot lower than predictions. While officials expect water levels to remain high for several days, if not weeks, testing the limits of the protection, he credits the local officials for taking quick, positive steps. “They made some critical decisions,” he said. “Yes, they had to evacuate a substantial portion of the community. That’s essential from a public safety standpoint of having

9 Copy obtained from the National Performance of Dams Program: http://npdp.stanford.edu the ability to go in and beef up the levees and not have to worry about traffic and slowing down. And they did a tremendous job.”

Bismarck-Mandan flood fight The Missouri River hit 17.24 feet at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, up from 16.74 feet early Friday morning, the result of water releases totaling 133,000 cubic feet per second from Garrison Dam reaching the Bismarck-Mandan area. While some 400 families had voluntarily evacuated from low-lying Fox Island and Southpoint residential areas on the Bismarck-area side of the river and about 200 more from the Lakewood and other riverside areas of Mandan, Sprynczynatyk said the fight is going well. The majority of the two cities sit substantially higher than the river, as neighborhoods rise quickly along the hills that flank the Missouri. The riverside areas of Bismarck-Mandan are something of a recreational paradise on the northern prairie, with manmade bays from the Missouri providing backyard marinas to residents of upper-middle class or more affluent neighborhoods. Garrison Dam has provided protection to the bottomlands since it was built more than a half-century ago. “Bismarck-Mandan is proud of the resource they have along the river,” Sprynczynatyk said. “And it’s a beautiful resource. But that whole area that’s been developed is in a 100-year, or now a 500-year floodplain. And whenever you build in a floodplain, there’s always the potential like what we’re just experiencing. Grand Forks, Fargo and other cities along the Red River have been living with that risk since their inception 125 or more years ago, he said. “Human nature is that people want to live by water. I would love to, too,” he said. “There’s no magic in the 100-year flood level. Whether you’re in the 100-year or a 500-year floodplain, you can be flooded. That’s just a risk level, like communities like Fargo or Grand Forks. They were built in what was Lake Agassiz. It’s almost a tabletop. People probably didn’t realize it when they first built there that someday a flood’s going to come, and it will flood much of that area. “It’s the same way here, along the Missouri River or in the Souris River Valley. If they’re in the floodplain, they’re at risk. There are different levels, but there’s always that risk, that chance of something happening that’s much larger than anything we’ve ever experienced.”

Devils Lake example Devils Lake, which has risen by more than 32 feet and quadrupled in size since 1993, is less than 4 feet from spilling over to the Sheyenne River Valley, which could result in catastrophic damage downstream. While it has not overtopped the banks in its 150-year recorded history, geologic estimates indicate it has spilled a half dozen or even up to a dozen times in the past 10,000 years. “When you think of 150 years, that’s a very small slice of time,” Sprynczynatyk said. “Conceivably, in that 10,000-year period, it’s spilled over once every 1,000 years on average, so, we may very well be in one of those time periods where it’s going to spill. “The same is true along the rivers. We’re in a wet cycle. As it continues to rain, and as we continue to have a greater percentage of runoff, and you have more snowfall, we may be at the period now where the area is experiencing something it hasn’t experienced for several hundred years. We just don’t know. That’s the problem.”

2011 - year of the epic floods Jun. 10, 2011 - Lincoln Journal Star, Lincoln, Neb., hattiesburgamerican.com

There's no doubt that 2011 will be remembered for its epic flooding. And years from today, when people recall the events of this summer, one characteristic that surely will stand out is how the flooding unfolded with such agonizing slowness. Along the Platte River and Missouri River in Nebraska, people are looking upstream with dread at the immense masses of water that are inexorably heading their way. Superlatives continue to tumble from the mouths of experts. "We've never seen anything like this," said Jim Scarlett of the National Weather Service in Aberdeen, S.D. "The flooding is going to be all the way to St. Louis, and it's going to be high all summer." The Gavins Point Dam already is releasing water at the rate of more than 100,000 cubic feet per second. The record set in the flood year of 1993 was 70,000 cubic feet per second. Later this month, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers predicts it will be sending 150,000 cubic feet through the dam. "It's the biggest flood in terms of total water in the last 113 years on the Missouri River," said Dave Becker, dam operations manager for the dam. Along the Platte River, the sense of 10 Copy obtained from the National Performance of Dams Program: http://npdp.stanford.edu foreboding was just as oppressive. The snowpack in the Rockies was 140 percent of normal, and the problem was exacerbated by heavy rainfall at lower altitudes in the North Platte basin. Parts of Montana received a year's worth of rain in May alone. Officials at Lake McConaughy opened a flood control device called the "Morning Glory" to permit water to flow faster through the dam. "We can't find any records that we've done that before," said Tim Anderson, spokesman for the Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District, which operates the dam.

Thousands of people already have been evacuated from places like Minot, N.D., Hamburg, Iowa and Dakota Dunes near Sioux City. Along the path of the flooding, some property owners may not be able to return for weeks. The high water drives home the lesson once again that the most cost-effective form of flood control simply is to prohibit construction in the floodplain. As a result of flooding earlier in the year in the lower Mississippi, the federally subsidized flood insurance program already was about $18 billion in debt. Its financial condition obviously will worsen as the summer continues. Thanks to former Congressman Doug Bereuter, who was a key sponsor of the Two Floods and You're Out of the Taxpayer's Pocket Act passed in the mid-1990s, the federal government is not on the hook for as much as it was in an earlier era. The flood of 2011 should prompt another assessment of current practices and policies on building in the floodplain. The deluge may be of historic proportions, but it can, and will, happen again. Tougher restrictions mean less damage, faster recovery and less heartache.

(Maybe these will be the last statements on the Flood of 2011! Everybody is second-guessing the Corps when they should be second-guessing Mother Nature. We can’t even predict what the rainfall will be 5 days ahead of time!) Army Corps of Engineers defends handling of Missouri River By Bill Lambrecht, STLtoday.com, June 13, 2011

Washington • A high-ranking Army Corps of Engineers officer is defending his agency against complaints that mismanagement of dams along the Missouri River has contributed to flooding that threatens communities and farmland. Col. Robert Ruch, commander of the corps' Omaha District — where decisions on Missouri River management take place — asserted in an interview that Army engineers could not possibly have anticipated the freakish rains last month that set in motion emergency operations at dams that will continue through August. Ruch and other corps officials also disputed a warning from a former U.S. Geological Survey official that extreme pressure on dams could trigger catastrophic failure and destruction all the way down to St. Louis. "I have the best dam safety engineers in the country here in this room, and in this district, and if they're not worried, I'm not worried," Ruch said.

He was responding to concerns up and down the 2,341-mile river about the effects of massive volumes of water that Army engineers are releasing from the Missouri's six major dams. The record releases, which have not yet reached their maximum, have breached levees, triggered evacuations and spurred furious planning in the St. Louis region. The high flows are scheduled to continue into August. Last week, a unified Missouri congressional delegation invited an Army Corps general to their state with a pointed message from Missourians "who believe this disaster could have been mitigated with better planning and coordination on the part of the Corps of Engineers." Upriver, anger has risen with the water. Two former South Dakota governors, both Republicans, accused the corps last week of failing to keep flexibility to handle the spring rains and heavy snowmelt. One of the former governors, Bill Janklow, characterized the corps as 'slow- witted." Another ex-governor, Mike Rounds, asserted in an interview Friday that corps brass ought to be held accountable for rising water threatening his state and his own home. "I'm muddy, I'm wet," said Rounds, after returned from checking on water lapping at his evacuated home, near Pierre. "You can't come into May with so much water in the upper reservoirs knowing that you have significant snowpack on the ground and assuming it will not rain," said Rounds, who left office in January after two terms.

'Astounding' waters

11 Copy obtained from the National Performance of Dams Program: http://npdp.stanford.edu

The Corps of Engineers is accustomed to taking heat, although usually in times of drought, when the Dakotas and Missouri renew their decades-long battle over who taps America's longest river. Since the 1940s, the corps has been in charge of a system of "mainstem" dams authorized after an epic battle in Congress aimed at controlling a tempestuous river known for wreaking damage across the country. The Flood of 2011 — what the corps is calling the rising water — involved a big rain that forced a sudden diversion from Army engineers' Master Manual, a court-tested document that serves as the bible of Missouri River management. From its Reservoir Control Center in suburban Omaha, corps officials made calculations several weeks ago that are worrying people now at both ends of the river. The flows charted by the corps derive from the manual's water control plan, which sets reservoir depths and dam releases after taking stock of rain and melting snow in the basin's 541,000 square miles.

A 2011 plan was set. Then came the weekend of May 20. Montana is a dry state with an average rainfall of 13.6 inches —less than half of what Missouri gets. But on that single weekend, large swaths of Montana and Wyoming got between 5 and 8 inches, a profound drenching that deposited millions of acre-feet of water in upstream reservoirs. A single acre-foot would cover a football field with 12 water inches deep. "An astounding amount of water," Ruch said. Jody Farhat, chief of river management in the corps' Omaha office, recalls how "we watched it all weekend, and when we went to work on Monday, we reported up the line that this was a game-changer." Critics note that the system was bulging with water before the rain. Ruch responds by citing the dictates of the corps' operating manual, which prescribes river priorities for a host of uses beyond flood control, among them navigation, recreation, wildlife and hydropower. "We're within the parameters of that document in how the system is being run," he asserted. Referring to complaints from Missouri, he added: "If someone comes up to us afterward and says it needs to be run in a different way, 100 percent for flood control, and asks could we do that, the answer is yes. Would people accept bathtubs in the upper basin? Probably not. By that he meant that to create more space in the reservoirs to capture more spring runoff, it would require reducing the amount of water for other uses such as showering — something upstream residents would not abide. In Fort Pierre, S.D., the town's 87-year-old mayor, Sam Tidball, said Friday that such arguments aren't resonating with fearful people in his community. "The local corps staff has been tremendous to work with, but the management of the river has some people downright angry. We're not accustomed to being flooded here," he said.

Assessing aging dams With water cascading down the Missouri like never before, questions are popping up about the ability of dams to handle it. At Gavins Point Dam in eastern South Dakota, the major dam nearest to St. Louis, the flow was turned up this weekend to 145,000 cubic feet per second, and is scheduled to reach a peak of 150,000 on Tuesday. This time of year, the river typically flows through the dam at a velocity of around 30,000 cubic feet per second. In an opinion column last week in the Post-Dispatch that got heavy readership along the river, Bernard Shanks, an author and former U.S. Geological Survey official, offered a frightening scenario of dam failure. He theorized a "domino effect" of catastrophic failures of dams more than a half-century old, triggering a flood of biblical proportions that would consume bridges and split the nation in two. In an interview, Shanks, who also headed the Washington state Fish and Wildlife Department, said that he has studied Missouri River dams throughout his career and is writing a book about them. He has not been involved in their operation. "I don't want to frighten people, but I want them to appreciate that dams are like our bridges and highways that are falling apart," he said. Shanks' article was read in Omaha, too. Ruch began his remarks at an evening briefing with state, local and tribal leaders by asserting that he had visited all six dams recently and personally vouched for their integrity. John Bertino, chief of the engineering division in the Omaha District, said that seismic studies were conducted at the dams as recently as 2005 and that an intense monitoring program is under way. He said that the corps meets annually with state emergency management officials along the river so that "everyone is prepared and they know what to do" in the event of dam failure. Speaking of Shanks' warnings, Ruch said: "There's virtually no chance of 12 Copy obtained from the National Performance of Dams Program: http://npdp.stanford.edu overtopping those dams" — the biggest threat. "This is just not a scenario that's going to play out." Ruch summed up his biggest concern about the unfolding water drama in a single word: "Precipitation. That is 100 percent of what I'm concerned with," he said, echoing the worry of St. Louis area planners. Ruch added that he is eager to get beyond this high-water season to look at how to improve the aging levee system. He declined to directly address an assertion last week by U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo. that an earmark moratorium in Congress has led to difficulties in getting funds for levee repair. "Are you trying to get me to touch the third rail there?" Ruch joked. "We really need to figure how things need to be operated better. But right now, I'm concerned about people's lives and property," he said.

iThis compilation of articles and other information is provided at no cost for those interested in hydropower, dams, and water resources issues and development, and should not be used for any commercial or other purpose. Any copyrighted material herein is distributed without profit or payment from those who have an interest in receiving this information for non-profit and educational purposes only.

13 Copy obtained from the National Performance of Dams Program: http://npdp.stanford.edu

6/24/2011

Some Dam – Hydro NewsTM And Other Stuff i

Quote of Note: “The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to fill the world with fools.” - Herbert Spencer

“Good wine is a necessity of life.” - -Thomas Jefferson Ron’s wine pick of the week: Four Vines Maverick Zinfandel 2008 Amador County, CA “No nation was ever drunk when wine was cheap.” - - Thomas Jefferson

Other Stuff: (Excerpts) (Sure, in drought years, there’s less hydropower that needs to be replaced by fossil fuels – duh! But, the report only focuses on a short period and therefore fails to mention that in wet years, there’s less fossil fuels used so it’s not just drought years, it’s also wet years that go toward a balance that represents the average energy use by resource.) California drought drove up energy costs June 16, 2011 | latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace

One of the biggest costs of California's recent drought went largely unnoticed, according to a report that estimates state ratepayers paid $1.7 billion to replace lost hydropower with natural gas generation that also pumped millions of tons of pollutants into the atmosphere. "Some of the drought's most direct and costly impacts were to air quality and California electricity ratepayers," concludes an analysis of the drought's impacts by the Pacific Institute, a Northern California think tank that focuses on water issues. In an average year, about 15% of the electricity produced in-state comes from hydropower. Citing data from the California Energy Commission, the authors found that figure dropped to 8%-10% with falling runoff levels during the 2007-09 drought. Utilities made up for the loss by burning more natural gas and buying more power from out of state, driving up production costs as well as greenhouse gas emissions. The authors calculated that the switch to other power sources resulted in an additional 13 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions. ------. (Full article: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/06/california-drought-hydropower.html)

1 Copy obtained from the National Performance of Dams Program: http://npdp.stanford.edu

(Whining wind advocates blowing in the wind. So what if it’s about economics. Are ratepayers and taxpayers supposed to enrich these people when there’s cheaper power available that happens to have been there long before their greedy lot showed up?) River Surge in U.S. Northwest Sparks Wind-Hydropower Collision June 15th, 2011 by Yale Environment 360, blog.cleantechies.com

A surge in hydroelectric power caused by a heavy spring flow in the Columbia River in the U.S. Northwest has forced authorities to shut down nearby wind energy operations for several hours a day to ease the stress on regional electric grid, triggering conflict between the two renewable energy sectors. The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), a federal authority that operates the massive dams on the river, has ordered wind generators to shut down because dialing back hydroelectric generators could harm juvenile salmon now moving down the river in their spring migration to the sea. So far, the area’s rapidly growing wind power industry been unable to feed nearly 75,000 megawatt hours of electricity into the grid, or about 15 percent of their production, and executives say the cutbacks are costing them millions of dollars as a result of contract violations and lost tax and energy credits. Wind energy advocates allege that BPA is using the salmon as an excuse to keep hydroelectric power filling the grid. “This is not about fish, and it’s not about reliability; It’s just about economics,” said Rob Gramlich, senior vice president of the American Wind Energy Association.

Dams: (Rubber works for tires, but didn’t do so well as a dam!) Design candidate selected for permanent dam replacement By Katherine Torres, June 12, 2011, statepress.com

Tempe has selected a candidate for a design consultant position, who will head a project to permanently replace the West dam of Tempe Town Lake. If approved by the city council in their June 16 meeting, Tempe will work with Gannett Fleming, Inc. to begin the first phase of replacing the West dam of the lake, according to city documents. The first phase will include developing an alternative dam system to permanently replace the rubber bladders that have been part of the lake since it was first built. According to city council meeting documents, Gannett Fleming was selected as the “most qualified firm” for consultation, and will work to select the “best value” option to replace the dam while still making sure the replacement is reliable. Tempe Town Lake, which was dedicated in late 1999, has been the home to many events and recreational activities, including the Ford Ironman Arizona triathlon and the 4th of July Tempe Town Lake Festival. The West end dam of the lake has been a point of contention for the city in recent years, most recently with the rupture of one of the rubber bladders in July 2010.

The burst of the West dam caused about 1 billion gallons of water to drain into the Salt River bed, and caused the lake to be dry until the city received approval from the Arizona Department of Water Resources in October 2010 to refill the lake. The lake was reopened in November that year. Rubber bladders were originally chosen to create the West dam due to their ability to deflate and inflate quickly in case of a flood or other event. According to the city of Tempe, the original planned life span of the bladders was supposed to by 25 to 30 years. However, the bladders started to deteriorate more quickly than expected, and in 2002, two of the bladders had already been patched. Tempe and Bridgestone Industrial Products, the company that manufactured the rubber bladders, argued over whose fault the dam burst was. Eventually, the cause for the burst of the bladders was found to have been prolonged exposure to heat and sun, according to an examination commissioned by Tempe and Bridgestone. The rubber bladders were replaced in order to reopen the lake under an agreement between Bridgestone and Tempe, but part of their agreement is that Tempe must comply with a set project schedule to remove the bladders and

2 Copy obtained from the National Performance of Dams Program: http://npdp.stanford.edu return them to Bridgestone by December 2015. Tempe City Council will vote on the proposed consultant and their plan at their formal council meeting 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Tempe City Hall.

(Sometimes a biased article is revealing. If this needs any Federal or California money to happen in this economic atmosphere – good luck!) Water quality suffers as Congress dithers Ani Kame'enui and Alexandra Borack, June 13, 2011, redding.com

The Klamath River will soon flow with warm water and toxic green algae, as it does every summer. Klamath River dam operator PacifiCorp has continually violated water-quality standards on the river, while reaping profits from its antiquated hydropower dams that block over 300 miles of native salmon habitat. Every year noxious agricultural runoff collects behind these dams and results in algae blooms that can exceed World Health Organization safety standards by a factor of 3,000. Meanwhile, fishing seasons have been closed as dwindling populations of salmon continue to suffer in the toxic water running downstream. So why won't state water quality regulators in Oregon and California do anything about it? Ironically, the fine print in a deal sold as "the path to dam removal" is preventing the Klamath from running clear and free.

The Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement (KHSA) was born when PacifiCorp — faced with the reality of its aging dams and slim hopes of receiving necessary Clean Water Act approvals permits — helped craft a deal to send the dams and their problems to Congress for resolution. In order for the KHSA to work, it needs congressional approval to change laws and move the process forward. Moreover, it's linked to the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement (KBRA), a controversial partner deal with a $1 billion price tag. In a gridlocked Congress with some representatives hostile toward the deals and to dam removal in general, the prospects for passing the KBRA and KHSA are slim. As signatories to the KHSA, Oregon and California have deferred their responsibility on water quality in the Klamath, waiting for someone else to fix the problem. They wait — and will continue to wait. The KHSA has put the future of clean water for the Klamath in limbo. Buried deep within the KHSA is a provision that allows PacifiCorp to withdraw from the deal should the states move forward with their independent process to protect and restore water quality. This provision forces the states' water-quality regulators to either turn a blind eye towards the Klamath, along with the fish, wildlife and human communities that depend on its clean water, or risk being labeled opponents of dam removal. Oregon's Department of Environmental Quality has silently avoided the issue (as a signatory to the KHSA, it is "encouraged" to back off on enforcing water quality), while California's State Water Resources Control Board had provided the settlement parties with the opportunity to prove the KHSA can deliver on its promises. Although some supporters have suggested that federal legislation will be introduced soon, the process has stalled under tight budgets, conservation opposition, and political objection. More directly, the KHSA continues to miss important deadlines, notably those set forth by California's Water Board.

Not only has the KHSA failed to deliver the promised congressional legislation, but the deal still requires California to promise an extra $250 million in funding. As California faces a record budget deficit, it is inconceivable to assume this money will come from the state's empty coffers, further affecting education and public safety, or from taxpayers themselves to clean up PacifiCorp's legacy. Dam removal is essential to restore the Klamath, as is clean water. Unfortunately, a "sure path for dam removal" does not exist under the KHSA, and with continued deferral from the states, prospects for improvement in the river's water quality are even dimmer. If the settlement parties are committed to a restored Klamath River, why are they waiting for Congress to do what the states can do now? The Klamath River cannot wait to see if the politics improve, and clean water must not be caught in never-ending political delay. In the absence of any feasible alternative, we must return to the existing water-quality framework. The Clean Water Act certification process is the only opportunity currently available to fix water quality, restore salmon runs for commercial fishing, and return a healthy river to all who use it.

3 Copy obtained from the National Performance of Dams Program: http://npdp.stanford.edu

Public meeting The U.S. Department of Interior will hold a meeting Wednesday to update the public on studies being conducted for the interior secretary's determination, due next year, of whether removing the Klamath River dams will restore salmon fisheries and serve the public interest. • When: 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday. • Where: Karuk Tribe Community Room, 39051 Highway 96, Orleans For more information, visit klamathrestoration.gov. Ani Kame'enui is Washington, D.C., legislative coordinator for Oregon Wild. Alexandra Borack is conservation advocate for Friends of the River.

(Is beating a dead horse a worthwhile endeavor? If any of this is true – why? And, we really don’t know if Congress is going to pay for removal at this point.) Dam removal will do more harm than good John W. Menke, June 13, 2011, redding.com

Removal of four Klamath River dams as proposed in the Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement and the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement likely will result in undesirable and unintended consequences that collectively add up to negative cost-benefit outcomes using scientific, engineering, economic, and Native American cultural criteria. Surprisingly, the fishery faces the greatest risk of all, and the agencies responsible for promoting dam removal do not appear to care.

First and foremost, the dams provide flood protection (minimum 9-hour peak-flood delay) for small communities, residences, businesses, agency offices, bridges and other structures along the Klamath River downstream from Iron Gate Dam to the ocean. Additionally, the reservoirs provide local water supplies to helicopters used in fighting wildland fires. Reservoirs also provide sufficient water in the mainstem Klamath to support the fall run of Chinook salmon. Property values adjacent to dam reservoirs have declined precipitously, and property tax reductions will reduce funds for Siskiyou County programs. Second: In the case of the short-nosed sucker fish in Upper Klamath Lake, the agencies used a flawed biological opinion based on one naive model analysis to cut off irrigation water to farmers, when the sucker was not limited by lake levels according to vast amounts of empirical data. It is premature to remove dams and hope that this action might help. Third: The NOAA Fisheries component (ocean effects) of agency responsibility is never discussed. We all know ocean temperatures and recent record harvest of Chinook salmon in Alaskan waters show ocean currents, temperature and food availability have a major effect on local fish populations. Fourth: No dynamic simulation models have been developed to allow holistic evaluation of likely limiting factors to salmonid productivity. The 2008 National Research Council study "Hydrology, Ecology, and Fishes of the Klamath River Basin" stated that this process should precede any adaptive management program. Fifth: The 20-year (1986-2006), $40,000,000 Klamath Act and the Natural Resources Conservation Service's Environmental Quality Incentives Program efforts resulted in no improvement in salmon and steelhead numbers. Sixth: The greatest risk to the Klamath River fishery resulting from dam removal is the release of natural, high-phosphorus sediments, and possibly toxic materials. This problem has developed over many years since dam construction while the dams have actively trapped the majority of such sediments and toxins, reducing risk to salmonids. Allowing flushing down river of the apparent 21 million cubic yards of such sediments and toxics could destroy an otherwise fine fishery. Seventh: Agency plans for replacing more and more farmland with more wetlands in the Upper Klamath Basin is a very bad idea. Agriculture is the only natural means for use of excess phosphorus since it is taken up by crops and exported with food. Eighth: Shasta Nation Native Americans expect to challenge disturbance of their burial grounds, which will happen if dam removal occurs. Lastly, explorers noted when first visiting the Upper Klamath Basin that water quality was so undesirable that even their riding horses and pack animals would not drink. Dr. John W. Menke, an ecologist, lives in Scott Valley.

(Not much news here – just an update on the demise of a pair of dams.) Reservoir behind Elwha Dam begins descent The surface level of Lake Aldwell is no longer being manipulated by man. 4 Copy obtained from the National Performance of Dams Program: http://npdp.stanford.edu

By Rob Ollikainen, Peninsula Daily News, seattletimes.nwsource.com

Port Angeles, Wash. — The surface level of Lake Aldwell is no longer being manipulated by man. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation on Wednesday ceased management of the draw on the reservoir west of Port Angeles, Olympic National Park spokesman Dave Reynolds said. "Everything is dependent on flow right now," Reynolds said. Water in the reservoir has dropped 18 feet since June 1, when the generators inside the Elwha Dam were turned off after 98 years of steadfast service.

Beginning in September, the 108-foot-tall Elwha Dam and the 210-foot Glines Canyon Dam eight miles upstream will be dismantled in the National Park Service's landmark restoration of the Elwha River's rich salmon run. It is a three-year, $327 million project and the largest of its kind in U.S. history. Both dams were rendered useless June 1 when power generation to the Bonneville Power Administration grid ended for good. "The generators shutting down was a huge milestone for reclamation, of course, and also for the process of the entire project," Reynolds said. "There's new milestones every day." After generation stopped, the Bureau of Reclamation drew down the water in Lake Aldwell until it reached the bottom of the spillway. The reservoir was lowered to give the water a place to go, Reynolds said. The penstocks, or intakes that guide torrents water into the turbines, are now closed. "The reason to do it earlier rather than later is without power generation, we have less water going through the dam," Reynolds said. The area just upstream from the Elwha Dam looks vastly different. Hugh blocks of once-submerged concrete are now exposed. "It's pretty dramatic," Reynolds said. The Bureau of Reclamation is removing hazardous fluids from machinery inside the antiquated powerhouse. Barnard Construction Co. of Bozeman, Mont., will begin tearing down the dams Sept. 17, a contract with the National Park Service worth $26.9 million. The contractor will begin staging near Lower Dam Road just beyond the Elwha RV Park on July 5, at which time public access will be closed. Real estate entrepreneur Thomas Aldwell built the Elwha Dam in 1913 to supply electricity to Port Angeles, Port Townsend, Poulsbo and the Navy shipyard in Bremerton. The Glines Canyon Dam and hydropower project was built in 1927.

(With this and the Klamath River dams - a dam here and a dam there, first thing you know Pacificorp won’t have many left!) PacifiCorp to remove Condit Dam elp.com

Portland, Ore., June 14, 2011 — After nearly a century of serving PacifiCorp customers, Condit Dam on the White Salmon River in south central Washington will start to be removed this fall, fulfilling a multi-party settlement agreement signed in 1999. Decommissioning the hydroelectric project is now moving forward after receipt of an essential sediment management permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the final major regulatory step. On Dec. 16, 2010, PacifiCorp received a surrender order from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission providing for dam decommissioning.

The project is located about 3.3 miles upstream from the confluence of the White Salmon and Columbia Rivers. Project facilities consist of a 125-foot high, 471-foot long concrete gravity diversion dam, and an intake structure that directs water into a 13.5-foot diameter by 5,100-foot long wood stave flow line. The powerhouse contains two double horizontal Francis turbines with an installed capacity of 14.7 MW (enough to power about 7,000 average homes for a year). The project creates a reservoir, Northwestern Lake, which extends 1.8 miles upstream of the dam and covers about 92 acres. The commission modified the surrender order on April 21, which, with the Corps permit, provides the regulatory certainty PacifiCorp needed to proceed to remove the 125- foot high dam. On June 8, 2011, the commission completed review and approval of requisite project removal design and resource management plans. Dam removal was determined to be less costly to PacifiCorp customers than the fish passage that would be required for operation as part of the federal dam relicensing process. The cost of decommissioning Condit is currently estimated at about $32 million, including funds already spent during the planning process. Plans 5 Copy obtained from the National Performance of Dams Program: http://npdp.stanford.edu call for a summer full of meticulous preparation before a carefully planned breach in October releases Northwestern Lake through a 13-foot hole blasted out near the base of the dam. Steps to be completed before the breach include the initial excavation of the 90-foot long drain tunnel, dredging the upstream side of the dam at the drain tunnel, work to strengthen a bridge that crosses Northwestern Lake, and also relocating a water pipeline that crosses the reservoir. After the initial breach and draining of the reservoir in October, demolition of the remaining portion of the dam is scheduled to begin in spring 2012 and be completed by August 31, 2012. Restoration work throughout the former reservoir area is slated for completion by the end of 2012.

(This guy tries to put humor into a not so humorous subject) New Fault Found in Truckee, CA | Are We All Gonna Die? By Miles Clark, June 17, 2011, unofficialnetworks.com

A new fault was found in California this week that goes right thru Truckee, misses the Martis Creek Dam by 200 yards, and almost makes it to the shores of Lake Tahoe. This new fault is called the Polaris Line as it goes thru the former mining town of Polaris, CA just outside Truckee, CA.

The New Polaris Fault Facts: - 22 mile long fault (compared to 800 mile long San Andreas Fault) - Capable of a 6.9 magnitude earthquake on the Richter scale - Last time this fault shifted was 15,000 years ago (within 35,000 years is considered “active” by Army Corps) - Essentially runs right underneath Martis Creek Dam, Truckee, and Northstar Ski Resort - Martis Creek Dam is one of ten dams in the US that is considered “urgent & compelling” - There are already two other known faults in the Martis Creek flood plain area - This fault is really not that big of a deal

“We weren’t expecting it at all,” Lewis Hunter, a senior geologist with the Corps, told OurAmazingPlanet. The US Army Corps of Engineers found this fault with its fancy laser detection system called LiDar (Light Detection and Ranging). LiDar shoots laser pulses into the ground from an airplane and uses computer software to create highly detailed topographic maps of the earth. In the past 20 years the California Geological Survey has found 50 new faults in California. This is cool, and it’s good to document ‘em, but it shouldn’t be too surprising as California is thought to have thousands of faults crisscrossing the state every which way you can imagine.

Hydro : For Immediate Release NHA Applauds Passage of FY2012 Energy and Water Budget by House Committee

Washington, D.C. (June 15, 2011) – The following is a statement from Linda Church Ciocci, Executive Director of the National Hydropower Association: “The National Hydropower Association applauds the House Appropriations Committee’s recommendation of $50 million for the Department of Energy’s Water Power Program at this morning’s markup. These funds are a vital investment in continued progress for hydropower 6 Copy obtained from the National Performance of Dams Program: http://npdp.stanford.edu research and development. We are also pleased to see that the funding has been equally divided between conventional and marine and hydrokinetic technologies. “The hydropower industry is poised for tremendous growth, both in terms of generation and the economic benefits it provides. Over 1.4 million cumulative jobs could be created in the industry as it seeks to add over 60,000 MW of new capacity in the future.

Continued funding of the Water Power Program helps to lower costs, improve operations and remove market-entry barriers to help make these goals a reality. “Research and development of more efficient and environmentally-friendly turbines allows the hydropower industry to maximize its contribution to the country’s renewable energy portfolio. It will also allow DOE to continue its important role in gathering baseline industry data, developing updated resource assessments and new growth analyses, studying project operations for maximization of both energy and environmental values, as well as studying new issues that may affect the industry. “Additionally, there is immense potential for new marine and hydrokinetic technologies to power America’s low carbon future. Ocean, tidal, hydrokinetics and wave power generation can add nearly 16,000 MW of capacity by 2025, so long as the right policies are enacted. Funding research and development seeking to bring these technologies to market certainly qualifies as such.

“We urge final passage of the Energy and Water Budget by the full House of Representatives and look forward to timely Senate action.”

(Pumped storage project proposed) Preliminary permits filed for hydropower By Kim Swindell Wood, Editor, June 13, 2011, spartaexpositor.com

A Massachusetts based company has filed two applications with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission proposing to study the feasibility of hydropower near the Ravenscroft and Bon Air communities in White County, TN. According to information from the FERC, Reliable Storage 1 LLC, with a contact address of Boston, Mass., has filed the document in relation to Doe Creek and Wildcat Creek. According to documentation from FERC, both permits were filed April 21, 2011. The preliminary permits, if issued, would grant Reliable Storage 1 LLC priority to file license applications during the permit term. However, the preliminary permits do not authorize the permit holder to perform any “land-disturbing activities or otherwise enter upon the lands or waters by others without the owners’ express permission.”

At the Doe Creek site, the proposed pumped storage project would consist of: 1) a 70-foot-high, 7,500-foot-long earth embankment dam; 2) an upper reservoir with a surface area of 100 acres and a 7,100 acre-foot storage capacity; 3) a 150-foot-high, 1,300-foot-long earth embankment dam creating; 4) a lower reservoir with a surface area of 150 acres and a 10,500 acre-foot storage capacity; 5) one 30-foot-diameter, 5,800-foot-long penstock; 6) a bifurcation to three penstocks each 16-foot-diamtete and 100-foot-long; 7) an underground powerhouse/pumping stations containing three pump/generating units with a total generating capacity of 600 megawatts; 8) a 30-foot-diameter, 850-foot-lkong tailrace tunnel; 9) a 24-foot-diameter, 1,500-foot-long access tunnel; 10) a substation; 11) a 12.8-mile-long, 500 kV transmission line to an existing distribution line. The proposed project would have an average annual generation of 1,500,000 megawatt-hours, which would be sold to a local utility.

At the Wildcat Creek site, the proposed pumped storage project would consist of the following: 1) a 70-foot-high, 7,500-foot-long earth embankment dam;

7 Copy obtained from the National Performance of Dams Program: http://npdp.stanford.edu

2) an upper reservoir with a surface area of 100 acres and an 7,100 acre-foot storage capacity; 3) a 120-foot-high, 7,430-foot-long earth embankment dam creating; 4) a lower reservoir with a surface area of 101 acres and an 7,594 acre-foot storage capacity; 5) one 30-foot-diameter, 6,800-foot-long penstock; 6) a bifurcation to three penstocks each 16-foot-diameter, and 100-foot-long; 7) an underground powerhouse/pumping station containing three pump/generating units with a total generating capacity of 700 megawatts; 8) a 30-foot-diameter, 1,200-foot-long tailrace tunnel; 9) a 24-foot-diameter, 1,000-foot-long access tunnel; 10) a substation; and 11) a 16-mile-long, 500 kV transmission line to an existing distribution line. The proposed project would have an average annual generation of 1,600,000 megawatt-hours, which would be sold to a local utility.

The Expositor spoke with Jon Guidroz, director of projects for Free Flow Power Corp., which is the name of the company listed as the applicant contact. Guidroz said these preliminary permit applications are only the first step in an approximate five-year process. “We will conduct public outreach over the next few years from all the stakeholders and anyone who might be affected,” said Guidroz. “We will tell them what we are thinking about doing. We may find that any one of these projects may not be viable.” FERC records also indicate preliminary permits have been filed by this same company for Hancock, Union, Grainger and Hawkins counties.

Hydroelectric Plant Planned At Red Rock kcci.com, June 13, 2011

Knoxville, Iowa -- A plan to harness the power of water pouring out of Lake Red Rock could be online by 2015, KNIA/KRLS radio reported. The radio station said Nelson Energy, of Golden Valley, Minn., is working on plans for the hydroelectric power plant at Lake Red Rock. Company spokesman Robert Larson told KNIA/KRLS the company has been working on the project since 2005 and in April a license was issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Construction could begin by 2013, and the plant could be online by 2015. Larson told KNIA/KRLS that the plant would be able to generate in excess of 30 megawatts, which could power more than 7,700 homes.

(Geez, I hope when I’m 112 that they can put in some new parts to keep me going) 112-Year-Old Hydro Plant Gets Modern Makeover By Jim Ross, June 16, 2011, wboy.com

Glen Ferris, NY -- For more than a hundred years, water from the Kanawha River flowed through generators at Glen Ferris, providing electricity for nearby industry. In 2005, those generators went silent. Later this year and early next year, they will turn again, providing renewable power for the region, Brookfield Renewable Power, a Canadian company, acquired the old Elkem Metals power plant in Fayette County in 2006, a year after it ceased production following 106 years in service. The plant is small by many standards, with eight turbines producing a total of 5.45 megawatts, enough to power about 4,500 homes. 8 Copy obtained from the National Performance of Dams Program: http://npdp.stanford.edu

The Glen Ferris plant consists of two buildings. The older one, on the northern shore, was built in the mid- to late-19th century. It contains six small turbines. The newer one, with two larger generators, was built in 1917. Brookfield is investing $25 million to retrofit the old plant with new machinery. Work began last year and is expected to be finished sometime next year. To avoid time-consuming problems with applying for permits that would be necessary to remove the old buildings and put in new ones, Brookfield decided to use the old buildings, the dam and the draft tubes. The buildings were stripped of their old machinery and electrical wiring. The older one received a new roof. A new access bridge was built. New transformers, generator breakers and controls are being installed. It's a blending of old technology with new. As with many hydroelectric projects that are built at existing dams or, in this case, involve retrofitting and older project, engineers use what is available and try to avoid changing the basic structures already in place, said David Barnhart, general manager of Mid-America operations for Brookfield. "All these interfaces are engineering challenges," Barnhart said. "We re-use as much as possible." At present, the turbines are being rebuilt in Michigan. The larger ones should be re-installed and generating electricity in December. The smaller units should go back on line next year, Barnhart said. While the old plant supplied electricity for specific industrial operations in the Glen Ferris area, the new one will send its power into the regional American Electric Power grid, Barnhart said. Power lines will transmit electricity to AEP's nearby Kanawha River power plant, where it will go into the grid, he said. When the retrofitting is finished, the Glen Ferris power plant operation will be controlled by a central control center near Boston. The Montgomery office looks after the maintenance needs of the Glen Ferris and Hawks Nest hydroelectric plants along with one plant in Maryland, one in Pennsylvania and two in Minnesota. White & Reader Associates of Central Square, N.Y., is overseeing the rebuilding. Ed White, president of White & Reader, said he admires the engineering that went into the original plant. "Either you like the old girls or you don't. I like the older plants," he said.

(Wonder if any other companies will join in this case. This involves a significant pile of money. Always thought settling with the State was premature.) PPL Gets U.S. High Court Hearing on $50 Million Montana Award By Greg Stohr - Jun 20, 2011, bloomberg.com

The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to review a decision requiring a PPL Corp. (PPL) unit to pay more than $50 million to Montana for the use of riverbeds under the company’s hydroelectric facilities. PPL Montana is appealing a Montana Supreme Court ruling that said the state owns the riverbeds and is entitled to demand rent payments. The company argues in its appeal that the riverbeds are owned either by private parties or the federal government. A Montana state trial court ordered the company to pay $40 million in past rent, plus an unspecified amount for rent starting in 2008. PPL Montana last year recorded a pre-tax charge of $56 million to cover estimated payments through the first quarter of 2010. The company said last month that its total accrued loss as of March 31, 2011, was $78 million. The justices agreed to hear the appeal against the advice of the Obama administration, which urged rejection without a hearing. The dispute centers on dams on the upper Missouri, Madison and Clark Fork rivers. PPL is based in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The case is PPL Montana v. Montana, 10-218.

Water: (In the end, Mother Nature is in charge) Missouri Will Run High All Summer; Heavy Rains Could Bring Ruin 06/17/2011, By Tim O'Neil, St. Louis Post-Dispatch

9 Copy obtained from the National Performance of Dams Program: http://npdp.stanford.edu

June 17--St. Louis -- Water rushing down the Missouri River from swollen reservoirs in the Great Plains won't break area levees, but the added power of widespread heavy rain probably would, federal flood-watchers warned Thursday. Any such breaks would be of agricultural levees, swamping bottomland farms. The big levees protecting Chesterfield, Maryland Heights, West Alton and other developed areas would hold. That picture was offered by the National Weather Service and the Army Corps of Engineers in a news conference called partly to calm doomsday fears inspired by images of levee breaks in northwestern Missouri. Normal rainfall spread evenly won't be serious trouble, but officials warned of major flooding if heavy storms pound the river's wide basin. On Tuesday, the corps opened the Gavins Point Dam, near Yankton, S.D., to five times normal flow because the massive flood-control reservoirs on the upper Missouri are at brimful, compliments of heavy snowmelt and record rain in Montana and the Dakotas. Gavins Point is the last of five dams on the river. That water is expected to reach St. Charles late next week and be enough to keep the river about 3 feet over flood stage through August. Normally, it takes 10 days for water at Gavins Point to reach St. Louis. "Because of that flow coming down the river, we will be close to flood stage all summer. That's the new normal," said Wes Browning, chief of the weather service office in Weldon Spring. "But if we get much above normal rainfall, or big bursts of rain, there's likely to be trouble."

Browning's "new normal" at St. Charles is 9 to 14 feet above the normal summertime levels on the lower Missouri. Browning and Col. Tom O'Hara, commander of the corps St. Louis district, showed maps of potential flooding on the lower Missouri and Mississippi. They show that widespread heavy rain would boost the Missouri to 12 feet over flood at St. Charles. That would be only three feet shy of the crest during the Great Flood of 1993, enough to break most of the agricultural levees on the lower Missouri. "The water from the reservoirs has not produced, and will not produce, overtoppings in the St. Louis area," O'Hara said. "If we get (heavy) rainfall, we could have issues with some of the levees." He said the high water that has broken some levees in northwestern Missouri won't have the same effect here because the lower Missouri "has more capacity to absorb that flow." Browning said the five-day forecast calls for heavy rain in the upper Missouri and upper Mississippi river basins. The long-range outlook, issued Thursday, predicts above-normal chance for rain across the upper reaches of the Missouri's watershed. "That could be serious," Browning said. Browning said normal rainfall amounts, if dumped in concentrated bursts, can create major floods. He compared it with giving a lawn 1 inch of water by sprinkler overnight or by fire hose in five minutes. "You get very different outcomes," he said.

Dave Garrison, of the St. Charles County Emergency Management Agency, said a major flood "would be devastating to farmers, with thousands of acres underwater." Recent heavy rain to the north is also boosting the Mississippi River, which has been high for weeks. In Hamburg, Ill., population 128, across from Elsberry, volunteers ringed houses with sandbags Thursday, said village clerk Koni Proctor. Upriver at Clarksville, Mo., where crews built a temporary floodwall in April, the city has 100,000 sandbags "ready if we need them," said Mayor Jo Anne Smiley. If the current crest forecast holds true, she said, the bags will remain on standby. At St. Louis, the river is expected to crest 3 feet over flood stage Sunday and begin falling.

Environment: (And, there is this one. As the article says, the “yuk” factor was too much. Mmmm! What if they didn’t have the surveillance camera? Have some other people done the same thing and weren’t caught on camera?) Eight million gallons of water drained from reservoir after man urinates in it By Nick Allen, Los Angeles, 19 Jun 2011, telegraph.co.uk

10 Copy obtained from the National Performance of Dams Program: http://npdp.stanford.edu

The operation is costing the state's taxpayers $36,000 (£22,000) and was ordered after Joshua Seater, 21, was caught on a security camera relieving himself in the pristine lake. Health experts said the incident would not have caused any harm to people in the city of Portland, who are supplied with drinking water from the reservoir. They said the average human bladder holds only six to eight ounces, and the urine would have been vastly diluted. But David Shaff, an administrator at the Portland Water Bureau, defended the decision to empty the lake. "There are people who will say it's an over-reaction. I don't think so. I think what you have to deal with here is the 'yuck' factor," he said. "I can imagine how many people would be saying 'I made orange juice with that water this morning.' "Do you want to drink pee? Most people are going to be pretty damn squeamish about that." Mr. Seater had been out drinking with friends when he decided to relieve himself in the open air reservoir at 1.30am. He has not been arrested or charged with a crime, but may ultimately face a fine. He apologised publicly for his behaviour, adding: "It was a stupid thing to do. I didn't know it was a water supply, I thought it was a sewage plant. "I wouldn't mind paying for it but I don't have a job right now. I'm willing to do community service to clean up the place because I feel bad and feel pretty stupid." Sergeant Pete Simpson, of Portland Police, said: "It's really an unfortunate incident that probably could have been avoided if he had just chosen a bush."

iThis compilation of articles and other information is provided at no cost for those interested in hydropower, dams, and water resources issues and development, and should not be used for any commercial or other purpose. Any copyrighted material herein is distributed without profit or payment from those who have an interest in receiving this information for non-profit and educational purposes only.

11 Copy obtained from the National Performance of Dams Program: http://npdp.stanford.edu