| Environment
development of a communication and stakeholder outreach plan as well as an initial application of a water allocation model to estimate current and future water supply for the Dolores Basin, and to analyse infrastructure and operations. Four Tribal water projects in Oregon and California’s
Klamath River Basin are also set to receive US$5.8 million through the Reclamation to restore aquatic ecosystems, improve the resilience of habitats, and mitigate the effects of the ongoing drought crisis. The funding is made available through Reclamation’s Native American Affairs Technical Assistance to Tribes Programme. Secretary Deb Haaland made the announcement
while touring the Iron Gate Fish Hatchery to celebrate the imminent surrender and decommissioning of the Lower Klamath Project, a four-dam hydropower project on the Klamath River. On 17 November 2022, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued an order approving the surrender and decommissioning of the project. This was the culmination of nearly two decades of effort to find a path to remove the dams, open up historic salmon habitat, improve water quality, and restore the river and the fishery the basin tribes have rely upon since. Dam removal activities will begin next spring, with full removal completed in 2024.
“Clean water, healthy forests and fertile land made
the Klamath Basin and its surrounding watershed home to Tribal communities, productive agriculture, and abundant populations of migratory birds, suckers, salmon and other fish. But over the past 20 years, the basin has been met with unprecedented challenges due to ongoing drought conditions and limited water supply,” Secretary Haaland said. “The projects we are funding today – combined with millions of dollars in water and habitat resilience investments from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law – will help restore this once abundant ecosystem for the benefit of all its inhabitants.” Reclamation said it is committed to working with Tribes in the Klamath River Basin on important water
resource issues, and the funding will help facilitate collaboration with tribes as they address the severe and continuing drought impacting their lands.
Environmental impact statement In other news, the Washington Department of Ecology
has completed an environmental impact statement for the proposed Goldendale Energy Storage Project. Under development by Free Flow Power Project 101, the scheme would be a closed-loop hydropower system along the Columbia River in Klickitat County. The power produced would feed into the electrical grid at the nearby John Day Dam. Ecology’s final EIS examines potentially significant adverse impacts if the project is built and whether they can be reduced or eliminated. It found that the proposed project would have significant adverse impacts on terrestrial species and habitats, leading to the permanent loss of over 193 acres of habitat and impacts on special status species, such as the golden eagle and rare plants. Mitigation would reduce impacts below the level of significance. Furthermore the EIS states that the project would
result in significant and unavoidable impacts on tribes. To date no mitigation has been identified that would reduce impacts on tribal and cultural resources and no mitigation is supported by tribes. Stated impacts include: ● Disturbance and destruction of multiple traditional cultural properties and archaeological sites.
● Destruction of culturally important plants, tribal food and medicine gathering areas.
● Restrictions to access, visual changes, and removal of areas for cultural practices.
● Reduced presence of wildlife and reduction of habitat for culturally important species.
The comprehensive, science-based EIS will now be used by the relevant agencies as they make decisions on permits needed for the project. These include a water quality certification, a reservoir and a construction permit. Decisions will be made over the next two years as project details are finalised. ●
www.waterpowermagazine.com | February 2023 | 33
Above: Great Salt Lake in Utah. A basin study will help water managers across Utah, Wyoming, Idaho and Nevada support sustainable water management
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