Electrical Power for Valdez and the Copper River Basin-1981

Cumulative impacts to the Port Valdez fishery are now occurring. Theconstruction of the ALPETCO facility and docK, the city docK expansionand the Solomon Gulch hydroelectric project and proposed development onMineral CreeK are reducing salmonid fishery resources by both directimpacts to habitat and migration routes and indirect impacts associatedwith the additional stress placed on the fish. The proposed and actualdevelopment in Port Valdez adds to the value of the Allison fishery,again in an unquantifiable amount.Maintenance of the powerhouse and penstock system would occur periodically.During penstock maintenance, no water would be added to thecreek. If this occurs for an extended period of time while natural flowsare low, adverse impacts on the fishery resources could occur. Theprobability of maintenance of the penstock system is low and anyscheduled maintenance would occur during periods of high natural streamflows. Turbine shutdown would occur more regularly. However, at leastone of the two turbines could be run at a lower output to meet fisheriesneeds.F. CUMULATIVE IMPACTSDiesel - Pressure Reducing Turbine (PRT)1. Diesel generation alreadY exists in the Valdez area and this planwould not increase the number or output of diesel generators. Theaddition of the PRT would not cause cumulative adverse effects, but thenew impacts would only occur with the construction, operation, andmaintenance of the PRT facility.Diesel - Hydroelectric2. The cumulative impacts of this plan are similar to those describedbelow.Pressure Reducing Turbine - Hydroelectric3. The cumulative impacts of this plan are both biological andsocio-economical. The construction of both power sources and theirancillary facilities would create a disturbed area between Port Valdezand the Chugach Mountains on the south side of Port Valdez. This mayimpede movement of wildlife species and offers no areas of relief betweenthe two projects. The extent of this impact is unknown, butsuperficially appears minor.The combination of laboran effect on the economyfacilities and services.consist largely of localeconomy.forces to construct the two facilites may haveof Valdez. At this time, Valdez is limited inThe addition of a labor force which does notresidents may place a strain on the localEIS-17