Electron Hydro's Salmon Power proposal
The Impacts of Salmon Power!
Washington's Orcas are Hungry. Hydropower Can Help!
Washington’s Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKW) are comprised of three pods; J, K and L. Their combined 2019 population is at a 35 year low of approximately 75 individuals. They were originally listed as Endangered by the National Marine Fisheries Service in 2005. J pod generally stays within Puget Sound & the Salish Sea while K & L pods will migrate along coastal waters.
Unlike other whales, the SRKW feed only on salmon, primarily Chinook salmon which are listed as a threatened species in Puget Sound as of March 1999. Chinook salmon are the largest and most fatty, nutrient-rich salmon species and are essential to the whales’ survival. Each whale needs between 150 and 300 lbs. of salmon per day to survive. There aren’t enough Chinook and other salmon now to feed the whales.
Puget Sound Chinook salmon populations have not met state and federal agency recovery goals and current populations are deemed insufficient to provide for the whales’ long-term survival. There needs to be both an immediate increase in Chinook production and a long-term strategy to maintain healthy populations of both Chinook and whales. The Governor’s Orca Task Force has developed recommendations primarily to increase Chinook salmon. A recovery budget proposal is presented at $1.07 Billion for 2019-21.
The figure below illustrates the spawner abundance shortfall in Chinook recovery goals set by the National Marine Fisheries Service for each Puget Sound river system. Notice the decline and shortfall for the Puyallup River (lower right side of graphic).
The Puyallup River is host to the Electron Hydropower Project. The Project is located at river mile 41.7, about 7 miles downstream and west of Mt. Rainier National Park. The Project began operation in 1904 as a run-of-river diversion supplying water to a 26 MW powerplant via a ten-mile long wooden flume. The Project produces enough energy for more than 20,000 homes. The original 1904 diversion obstructed upstream fish passage and did not prevent fish from entering the flume and becoming entrained in the Project.
In 2001 a fish ladder was installed at the diversion allowing upstream migrating salmon access to approximately 26 miles of river habitat above the intake for the first time in nearly 100 years. Downstream migrating salmon could still enter the flume at the intake however. Shortly thereafter a continuous trap & haul facility was installed at the end of the flume in the forebay. Salmon were then transported back to the river by tank truck and released downstream of the powerhouse.
In November 2014, Electron Hydro, LLC (EH) purchased the Project from Puget Sound Energy (PSE). EH proposed an aggressive program to develop an intake screen to prevent fish (and sediment) from entering the flume and returning both to the river immediately downstream of the diversion unharmed.
To date, EH has provided maintenance of the existing PTI rearing ponds on the upper Puyallup River and has built a new rearing pond on Electron property below the diversion for Chinook rearing in 2020.
Hydropower projects are often well situated to participate in salmon enhancement programs. Although hydropower projects usually have license and regulatory requirements to minimize adverse impacts on salmon, they also have opportunities to go beyond mitigation and provide a net increase in Chinook population enhancement. The Electron project is one example of a hydropower project that can substantially enhance Chinook and Orca recovery with adequate public and agency support.
EH owns 10 miles of Puyallup River frontage, possesses multiple water rights, can manage river flows, has personnel, heavy equipment and 24-hr staff availability. EH employs a full spectrum of professional and operational staff with extensive knowledge and supportive capacity for water projects. EH staff designs, obtains permits, builds, and operates project facilities in a very cost-effective manner. A new voluntary Chinook salmon enhancement facility is now in the design/feasibility stage on EH property.
Hydropower and salmon share common waters. Developing these renewable resources together will result in the greatest public benefit. Hydropower projects are uniquely able to assist in enhancing Chinook salmon and Orca whales as well.