WRIA 62 WMP 032305 - Washington State Department of Ecology

March, 2005 -56- 023-1289-003.3040
The Pend Oreille PUD No. 1 is currently operating on annual licenses and is negotiating for a long
term license. Once the long term license is granted, there may be opportunities for the Watershed
Planning Implementing Body to voice concerns, if any, through implementation of projects and
studies required as components of the license.
4.1.4.5 Actions for Consideration
During the issue development process, the following actions were proposed for consideration by the
Watershed Planning Implementing Body to reduce the potential for flooding in Pend Oreille County.
These are not included in Chapter 3 since they were not further developed into Plan actions.
WRIA 62 WMP 032305
1. Recommend that Lake Pend Oreille is held at 2051 ft amsl during the winter.
2. Recommend changes to the pumping capacity at Cusick inside the dikes based on
available funding.
3. Request that upstream dams that have the most potential to impact flooding in Pend
Oreille County (Albeni Falls and Hungry Horse) consider flooding in Pend Oreille
County as a component of their operations.
4. Recommend that the Watershed Planning Implementing Body have a seat at the table
for future relicensing of facilities.
5. Recommend that the Watershed Planning Implementing Body write a letter to the local
congressional representative expressing concerns about flooding in WRIA 62.
Regarding listed item No. 5 above, Hungry Horse and Albeni Falls Dam are operated under
authorization from Congress. Therefore, a letter voicing concerns about flooding in Pend Oreille
County sent to local Congressional representatives would be passed on to Bureau of Reclamation
(owner / operator of Hungry Horse) and the Army Corps of Engineers (owner / operator of Albeni
Falls) for consideration.
Application for Flood Control Assistance Account Program (FCAAP) funding may be considered by
the Implementing Body to assist with flood control actions. In 2005, two Flood Control Assistance
Account Program (FCAAP) grant funding applications were received by Pend Oreille County:
1. The Town of Ione for removal of Cedar Creek Dam; and,
2. The Pend Oreille Conservation District applying on behalf of Diking District #3 to complete
a Flood Hazard Mitigation Plan.
4.1.5 QUANT-4 Background and Rationale
Problem Statement: There is a need to promote water conservation, reclamation and reuse
strategies in WRIA 62.
With limited availability of water for competing needs, particularly in the summer months, the
Watershed Planning Unit acknowledges the importance of water conservation, reclamation and reuse
to efficiently use available water in WRIA 62.
In terms of water conservation, reclamation and reuse, the Watershed Planning Unit recognizes the
following ongoing efforts in WRIA 62:
• The Pend Oreille Public Utility District No. 1 implemented a rate structure in 1995 to encourage
water conservation.