PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT NO. 1 OF OKANOGAN COUNTY

Enloe Dam Hydroelectric Project Fact Sheet #4 Fall 2007

Draft License Application

The Public Utility District No. 1 of Okanogan County (PUD) has completed and released the Draft License Application (DLA) for the Enloe Hydroelectric Project. The DLA was made available for public review and comment beginning November 7, 2007. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) sets a 90-day comment period which will end on February 4, 2008. The DLA is a compilation of technical reports and studies which provided the necessary information required by FERC to license a hydroelectric facility under FERC’s Traditional License Process (TLP). These include a project description, information on operations and resource utilization, construction schedule, project history, cost and financing, and detailed environmental report, and maps. In developing a license application, the PUD must complete and document a three-stage pre-filing consultation process. During the first stage, the PUD issued an initial consultation document, conducted joint agency and public meetings and held a site visit. The resource agencies and tribes provided written comments and requests regarding studies to be conducted. These studies included topics ranging from aquatics to terrestrial features, as well as archaeological and social economics studies. As part of the second stage of consultation, reasonable and necessary studies have been completed and sent to resource agencies and tribes in the DLA document. This is the 90-day comment period, which has just begun.

The PUD has tentatively scheduled two public meetings, one in Oroville on January 9, 2008, and one in Okanogan on January 10, 2008, to discuss the DLA. Following closure of the current comment period, meetings will be held to resolve any environmental mitigation and or protection disagreements associated with the project. In addition, the PUD plans to continue informal consultation with stakeholders and agencies. The third stage of review is managed by FERC following the filing of the Final License Application (FLA). FERC will issue a public notice and invite comments and requests for additional studies. Deficiencies will be corrected to FERC’s satisfaction and a second public notice will be issued, allowing protests and interventions to be filed. If FERC deems the FLA to be ready for environmental review at that time, it will initiate a NEPA process, including public scoping.

Background Information The Enloe Hydroelectric Project is located on the Similkameen River about 3.5 miles northwest of the City of Oroville, in north-central Washington State, near the Canadian border. The history of hydropower development at this site, just upstream of Similkameen Falls on the lower Similkameen River, spans the past century. The Public Utility District No. 1 of Okanogan County (PUD) proposes to restore hydropower generation at Enloe Dam on the Similkameen River. The previous project, a 3.2-MW hydropower facility sited on the west bank of the Similkameen River, was located about 800 feet downstream of Enloe Dam and was decommissioned in 1958. Restoration of this power plant has been proposed by the PUD in previous license Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) applications. The present application proposes relocating hydropower generation facilities to the (east) left bank, to a site that is nearer to the dam which offers renewable energy development, environmental, and constructability advantages. The proposed 9.0 MW facility has a footprint that is about half the size of the existing facilities while providing nearly three times the generating capacity of the existing decommissioned plant and about twice the average annual energy output.

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Questions and Answers The current access on Enloe Dam road is steep and extremely eroded. How does the PUD intend to access the site? Currently, there are two unpaved roads providing access to the dam site: Enloe Dam Road and the old Oroville-Tonasket Irrigation District (OTID) ditch road. Enloe Dam Road is a county road, designated by Okanogan County as an unmaintained primitive road. However, due to its steep grade, the road is highly eroded and impassible to most passenger vehicles. The OTID ditch is no longer in use. The old OTID ditch access road enters the Project Area from the Loomis-Oroville Road (County Road #9425) approximately 1.3 miles northwest of Enloe Dam Road. This

access road is not maintained for passenger vehicles and is impassable in spring and early summer due to a high water table. Therefore, the District plans to maintain public access by constructing a new roadway segment, shown in Figure A-2, utilizing the old OTID ditch road access. The District plans to create the new roadway segment on top of the old irrigation ditch. Intended to protect the seasonally inundated wetland, the new access road will continue for 0.5 miles along the elevated bench. It will then descend an existing spur road to rejoin the road adjacent to the reservoir. From this point, it will continue past the existing unimproved boat launch to a proposed public parking area. The proposed new access route will require the use of culverts to traverse three small drainages, and will be approximately 1.4 miles long.

Enloe Dam Hydroelectric Project Page #3 How does the PUD plan to mitigate for potential impacts from the proposed project? Balancing the project in a cost-effective, yet environmentally protective manner, is a difficult and complex undertaking. Through consultation with multiple agencies and interested parties, the PUD has developed a list of Prevention, Mitigation, and Enhancement (PM&E) measures to define this balance. PM&E measures are the commitments the PUD is making to offset the effects of the Project, and protect or enhance resources within the Project Area. Since 2005, the PUD has held multiple consultation meetings with agencies and interest groups. Throughout the development of the FERC Draft License Application, the PUD has continued to consult with these parties to identify and address their issues of concern. The PUD’s efforts to protect, mitigate, and enhance resources affected by the project area will continue throughout the licensing process, and for the life of the project through adaptive management. The following is an initial list of PM&E measures that the PUD proposes in the DLA to implement.

Section PM&E

Install continuous monitoring of water temperature in 3 locations in Project Area to contribute information to the regional water temperature monitoring program. 5 year program Implement monitoring of TDG below the Project for one year to help define if and when TDG exceeds water quality standards. Implementation of BMP to prevent erosion and sediment reaching the water courses. Monitor during construction to identify excessive sedimentation of water quality standards.

Water Quality

Implement standard spill containment BMP for prevention of accidental releases of hazardous or toxic substances. Boulder clusters upstream of reservoir - 5 year program Movement of accumulated logs (Large Woody Debris) over dam Entrainment of Fish at Project Intake one year study Reservoir Fish Monitoring one year study Tailrace Monitoring two year study Gravel Augmentation - 5 year program Side Channel Enhancement Project Blasting BMPs including timing to avoid steelhead Tailrace modifications involving maximizing the velocities in the draft tubes to create a velocity barrier for the fish

Fish

Adaptive Management/Consultation Concentrate construction activities with the loudest noise to occur in summer and early fall to minimize effects to over wintering bald eagles as much as possible Planting of riparian vegetation along the road planned for closure along the reservoir

Wildlife

Transmission line poles in prime raptor habitat to be modified to

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prevent raptor electrocution In-kind mitigation of habitat flooded due to the crest gates Riparian restoration at sites along west and east banks of the impoundment Abandon the existing access road that traverses the riparian zone and construct a new road Plant woody riparian species in riparian areas of the abandoned road Plant woody riparian species in the riparian area on the east bank downstream of Shanker's Bend Monitor the restoration areas annually for three years and provide an annual report Replace planting if survival is low in restored areas Install grazing control measures to protect riparian plantings from cattle grazing Flag and temporarily fence wetland and riparian vegetation in the vicinity of project activities to protect from inadvertent harm during construction activities Provide environmental training on the sensitive biological resources to Licensee's employees, contractors, and subcontractors who work on the project during construction and operation Install grazing controls to protect sensitive areas Implement standard construction BMP's for erosion and sediment control Provide a biological construction monitor Seed or mulch exposed or disturbed soils

Botany

Control of noxious weed dispersal Installation of interpretative panels with information about the history of the powerhouse Site Closure of historic powerhouse Demolition of existing powerhouse Monitoring of the shoreline area to determine that no additional recorded or previously unrecorded archeological sites erode due to water fluctuations and recreational activities.

Cultural

Avoidance of all known NRHP-eligible archeological sites Socioeconomics No PM&Es (monitored through Adaptive Management) Geology & Soils Concerns addressed by terrestrial and water quality PM&Es

Limit vehicle access to the shoreline area immediately adjacent to the dam and the lower reaches of the impoundment with fencing and barricades Transfer ownership of the trestle bridge to the County for development into a public, nonmotorized, recreational use trail (only transaction costs are shown here; the value of the donation is estimated at $1 M) Replace the existing boat ramp with an improved ramp

Recreation

Clean up and restore the wooded area on the east bank of the reservoir to enhance visitor experience

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Implement river access improvements (including parking and loading areas, trail, and directional and interpretive signage) at Shanker’s Bend Develop a map of the Enloe Dam area that illustrates recreation sites and access Remove trash from recreation sites on both sides of the dam and also during an annual clean up event. Develop a parking area with a universally-accessible vault toilet near the dam with access to people with physical disabilities Install picnic tables, including a handicap accessible table, near the parking area Interpretive signs near the dam would include, at a minimum, one sign near the parking and picnic area and a second sign at or near the abutment of the old powerhouse access bridge, below Similkameen Falls

Aesthetics Use of visually compatible colors and building material textures that harmonize with the existing landscape for the new construction

Land Use No PM&Es (continue consultation with agencies) Construction Related Plans Sediment control plan Spill containment plan Stormwater runoff plan Inadvertent discovery plan for archeological resources Project Operation Plans Mitigation and monitoring plan - terrestrial Adaptive management plan - fish Develop an operations plan - fish Avian protection plan

Plans

Recreational user plan Short term The District will coordinate with the Department of Public Works regarding road approaches and signage Ongoing for term of the license The District will consult annually with BLM to review progress on implementation of PM&Es

Coordination and

Consultation

The District will coordinate with CCT What are the PUD’s plans for the old Power House structure? The overall deteriorated state of the old power house is defined by its missing roof, weak structural integrity and missing/broken windows. Even without the original footbridge, that once provided easy access to the powerhouse, vandalism continues to occur. The PUD is proposing to remove all but the concrete foundations of the existing powerhouse, and surge tanks. The remaining wooden penstock will also be removed.

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View on Similkameen River (PROPOSED) looking west towards old powerhouse (EXISTING) There is also an option to stabilize the existing Enloe Powerhouse, surge tanks, and penstock. This would include retaining the brick walls, the metal window frames, removing all remaining glass, cleaning up building debris, and removing the roof of the powerhouse. The stabilization option would retain the surge tanks, and the remaining wooden penstock.

Existing powerhouse showing stabilization option At this time, the PUD has not receieved bids for the removal or stablization options of the old powerhouse, surge tanks, and penstock. Our proposal to remove the structure verses stabilization is based on the presumption of continued vandalism and the continued deterioration of the sturcture if the stablization option is pursued.

Enloe Dam Hydroelectric Project Page #7 How do I get a copy of the Draft License Application? Copies of the DLA are available for free on a CD and can be requested through the PUD office in Okanogan. If you would like to view a hard copy of the DLA, copies will be available at the following PUD and local library locations:

• Omak Public Library (30 S. Ash Street, 509-826-1820) • Okanogan Public Library (228 W. Pine Street, 509-422-2609) • Oroville Public Library (1276 Main Street, 509-476-2662) • Tonasket Public Library (209 S. Whitcomb Ave, 509-486-2366) • PUD office in Okanogan (1331 2nd Ave. N.) • PUD office in Oroville (1500 Main Street)

How can I comment on the Draft License Applicaton? The PUD invites your comments. FERC provides for a 90-day public review period. The comment period began November 7, 2007 and will end February 4, 2008. Please submit written comments to the PUD at: Enloe Hydroelectric Project Draft License Application Comments 1331 Second Avenue North P.O. Box 912 Okanogan, WA 98840 Or via email at: enloe@okpud.org

Earlier Fact Sheets Previously released Fact Sheets can be found on the PUD website at (http://www.okanoganpud.org). Copies can also be requested from any of the PUD area offices: Brewster, Okanogan, Tonasket, Oroville, or Twisp.

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For more information, please contact: Dan Boettger or Nick Christoph Okanogan County PUD No. 1 1331 Second Avenue North Okanogan, WA 98840-9609 509-422-3310 phone 509-422-4020 fax enloe@okpud.org e-mail www.okanoganpud.org/ web page If you do not wish to receive any further information, please contact the Okanogan County PUD.

Okanogan County PUD No. 1 1331 Second Avenue North Okanogan, WA 98840-9609