Before the FERC Application for New License for the Annex Creek ...

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1.2.3 Topography, Vegetation, and Wetlands
The Annex Creek Component 1 s located in steep terra in and has a
watershed characterized primarily by exposed bedrock and alpine tundra vegetation.
The downstream portion of Annex Creek flows through forested land
dominated by western hemlock and Sitka spruce.
The Annex Creek dra i nage bas in above the Annex Creek Dam encompasses
6.15 square miles. The basin ranges in elevation from sea level to
4170 feet at Annex Peak. The Annex Creek. Dam is located on the southeast end
of Upper Annex Lake Reservoi r. Annex Creek flows southeast from the upper
lake outlet at E1 820 Mean Sea Level (MSl) to Lower Annex Lake at El 620 MSL.
Annex Creek then cascades steeply for a distance of approximately 0.5 mile
from the outlet of Lower Annex Lake to Taku Inlet at sea level.
The power plant and swi tchyard are located on Taku Inlet approximately
0.5 mile northeast of the mouth of Annex Creek. The transmission
lines from the Annex Creek Powerhouse follow the southeast shore of Taku Inlet
through a forested area, then extend northwest up llOunta i nous ri dges, past
Power1ine Ridge, into Thane, covering a total distance of 12 miles. The
precipitous slopes are sparsely vegetated; no wetlands have been identified
within or near the Project site, other than the lacustrine habitat of the
streambed itself.
1.2.4 Land Development
The Annex Creek Project is located in the Tongass National Forest
under the jurisdiction of the USFS. The Project site is located in a remote
area and can only be reached from Juneau by air or via a 22-mile boat trip up
Taku Inlet to the powerhouse, and then on foot along the penstock to Upper
Annex Lake. Fl yi ng condi ti ons to reach Upper Annex lake Reservoi r are often
highly hazardous. Existing land development in this area is related to AELP's
hydroelectric project. No other existing development occurs in or near the
vicinity of the Project boundary_
1.2.5 Population
The only permanent residents 1n the viCinity of the facility at
Annex Creek are AELP employees. The nearest popu1ation center is downtown
Juneau, whose population is described below (Section 1.3.5).
1.3 SALMON CREEK COMPONENT
1.3.1 Existing Project Features
The Salmon Creek facility (6.7 MW; 10,500 kVA) consists of a
l70-foot-high concrete arch dam that forms a reservoir with a storage capacity
of 12,000 acre-feet at the currently allowed maxinn. elevation of 1140 feet.
The water surface is maintained at this level, as required by the current