Enloe Hydroelectric Project FERC License Application

Client: Okanogan Public Utility District (PUD) No. 1

Location: Similkameen River, WA

Summary: Cardno ENTRIX led the development of a license application to FERC for the Enloe Project, a small hydroelectric facility on the Similkameen River, near the Canadian border in Northcentral Washington. The proposed design for redeveloping the Enloe project would provide important environmental benefits and, with the restoration of crest gates, would more than double the previous project?s generating capacity to 9 MW.

The Enloe Project ceased operation in 1959 and most of the equipment was removed. Over the past 50 years, the PUD made several efforts to license the project, however new licenses issued in 1983 and 1996 were rescinded due to fish passage cost and controversy. Fish passage is strongly opposed by the upstream Canadian Provincial government and First Nations. A new consensus developed with the Colville Confederated Tribes in support of this position, followed by U.S. agency agreement, is allowing the Project to move forward.

Using the FERC Traditional Licensing Process (TLP), the Final License Application was filed with FERC in August, 2008. Consultation throughout the licensing process has moved well beyond TLP requirements, and has included tribes in Washington and Canada; BLM (the underlying land owner); ESA Section 7 (NOAA Fish, USFWS); U.S. Army Corps Section 404 wetlands; streambed (Hydraulic Project Approval); Department of Ecology Section 401 Water Quality Certificate; Washington SHPO Section 106; and Okanogan County.

Since Enloe dam was constructed in 1923, nearly 2.5 million cubic yards of sediment have accumulated in the reservoir, creating a shallow, warm pool. Sediment transport modeling and sediment coring were conducted to assess water quality effects. Other key issues have included (in addition to fish passage), downstream listed anadromous fish; reservoir fisheries; water quality (DO, TDG, water temperatures); recreation; aesthetic flows; water storage; water rights; and dam safety; geology/geomorphology; cultural resources; land use; socioeconomics; and terrestrial resources.