The Lewis River Hydroelectric Projects - PacifiCorp

Lewis River Interpretive & Education Plan
introduction
PacifiCorp is one of the West’s leading utilities, serving more than 1.6 million
customers in six western states: Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Utah,
and Wyoming. PacifiCorp operates 68 power generating plants, including
hydroelectric facilities, coal-fired plants, gas-fired plants, wind facilities, and
geothermal facilities. 52 of the plants are hydropower facilities which generate
approximately 11 percent of the company’s annual power production. The Lewis
River Project is one of these. Along the Lewis River, PacifiCorp operates 304
camping sites, 278 picnic sites, several boat ramps, swimming beaches, fishing
access, and day use areas.
Privately owned or non federal hydroelectric projects [such
as the Lewis River Project ] generally operate under licenses
issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
A hydroelectric license includes terms and conditions for project
operations, as well as environmental protection, mitigation
and enhancement measures to mitigate project impacts on the
surrounding environment and natural resources.
At least five years before a license expires, an owner notifies
FERC of its intent to seek a new operating license for the
hydroelectric project. The project, its surrounding environment
and related resources are extensively studied during this process,
in consultation with state and federal agencies, tribes, nongovernmental
organizations and local community interests. The
purpose of the licensing process, which can take several years, is
to determine what new license conditions will most effectively
balance developmental values (electric power, flood control and
water supply) with nondevelopmental values (environmental
resource protection and values) and best reflect the public
interest. 1
PacifiCorp is currently involved in relicensing projects on the North Fork of the
Lewis River (Merwin FERC No. 935, Yale FERC No. 2071, Swift No. 1, FERC
No. 2111) in southwest Washington. As part of the requirement of the new
license, PacifiCorp will be enhancing recreational facilities and implementing an
interpretation and education plan.
This document summarizes the approach, research, rationale, recommendations,
and products for an interpretive and education program for the recreation sites
along Merwin, Yale, and Swift Reservoirs.
1 PacifiCorp website: www.pacificorp.com, “Hydro Relicensing”
Sea Reach Ltd • 146 NE yamhill Street • Sheridan, OR draft 3 • November 2008 • page 1