Sunset Falls Presentation March 5, 2013 SaveTheSkyRiver.org
Don’t dam the Skykomish River SaveTheSkyRiver.org
What is Savetheskyriver.Org ? We are part of a coalition of conservation groups and individuals opposed to new hydropower on the Skykomish River
Supporters Of Savetheskyriver.Org Friends of Heybrook Ridge
What is the problem? Snohomish PUD wants to dam the Skykomish River Gold Bar Wild Sky Wilderness Index Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest
This site has been studied and rejected 5 times from hydropower development: Puget Sound Energy in the 1920’s Snohomish County PUD in the early 1980’s Pacific Hydro in the mid 1980’s Sunset Falls LP in the early 1990’s Tacoma Public Utilities in the 1990’s
The Skykomish River is protected from hydropower development The Skykomish is one of only four rivers in the Washington State Scenic River System The Skykomish River has been nominated for National Wild And Scenic designation by the U.S. Forest Service. Sunset Falls is in a Northwest Power And Conservation Council Protected Area because “ such development would have major negative impacts that could not be reversed.” The Skykomish is listed by the U. S. Department of Fish and Wildlife as Designated Critical Habitat for ESA-Threatened Salmon and Bull Trout.
New dams do not qualify under I-937 as renewable energy Washington’s clean energy laws exclude new fresh water dams . I-937 was designed to encourage advancements in clean energy technology. Dams are obsolete technology from the last century. Washington already gets more than 80% of its power from hydro . SNOPUD is actively lobbying the the Washington State Legislature to change I-937 – despite the clear intent of Washington State voters!
Proposed NEW hydropower project Diversion Tunnel Sunset Falls Power House Canyon Falls Intake Structure Dam
Proposed dam site Mount Index
Canyon Falls would be dramatically de-watered
Sunset Falls would be reduced to a trickle
Proposed intake structure above Canyon Falls 190’ 355’
Huge underground intake 142’ x 355’ x 190 ’ Required to prevent fish and wildlife from being sucked into the turbines
The Marbled Murrelet designated “Critical Habitat” 1 mile south of proposed intake ESA “Threatened” species Northern Spotted Owl Proposed “Critical Habitat” one mile south of proposed intake
Peregrine Falcon – lives within riparian zones and open areas and cliffs Federal species of concern State Sensitive Federally protected Bald Eagle – documented nest sites are commonly observed at project site
Underground blasting may harm aquatic birds Water Ouzel (American Dipper) Harlequin Duck A priority species and of tribal importance
Black Bear – documented occurrence in project area Roosevelt Elk – documented band in South Fork drainage
North American River Otter – Our Mascot Present in the project location
Juvenile Fish In The Project Area Chinook Salmon ESA Threatened Bull Trout ESA Threatened Coho Salmon Pink Salmon Chum Salmon Sockeye Salmon Steelhead Cutthroat Trout Designated Critical Habitat for Chinook Salmon and Bull Trout
Other species known to exist in the Sunset Falls area Rainbow Trout Brook Trout Mountain Whitefish Largescale Sucker Pacific Lamprey Western Brook Lamprey Longnose Dace Sculpin
165,000 cubic yards of granite to be excavated for construction Aggravating to both humans and wildlife
142’’ Intake cavern = 95,000 cubic yards of excavation 19 foot diameter tunnel requires 35,000 cubic yards of excavation 355’ LOW IMPACT?! 190’
150’ 100’ Underground powerhouse requires 35,000 cubic yards of excavation 57’ 30’ 77’
This would be a major industrial construction project on one of our only State Scenic Rivers
440 million lbs. of granite to be blasted and hauled Hundreds of dynamite blasts Thousands of heavy equipment operating hours 16,500 truck sorties just to remove blasted bedrock Massive diesel exhaust Tens of thousands of truck trips on deadly Highway 2
Estimated cost is at least $170 million Energy output would average 13.7 Megawatts Could only run at capacity from April – June when additional power is not needed Project site requires costly Fisheries upgrades Project reduces available funding for investing in new clean energy technologies
Total small hydro potential = less than 1% of portfolio Snohomish County PUD - Energy Resources Plan for 2022 Geothermal, 5.4% Tidal, 0.5% Customer Owned Solar, 0.2% Biomass, 0.1% Landfill Gas, 0.3% Utility Scale Solar, 0.1% Packwood Hydro, 0.1% All Small Hydro, 0.7% Wind, 7.0% , 0 Jackson Hydro, 3.2% BPA , 82.3% All small hydro = 0.7% BPA = 82% PUD projects through 2022
Alternatives Energy efficiency - 85% of new demand can be achieved through energy savings New incentive programs – To replace baseboard heaters with heat pumps Expand Solar Express Program – Incentives for residential solar and hot water Modular energy storage – Aligns renewable energy production to demand Add utility-grade solar energy in eastern Washington Upgrade existing hydro facilities – In accordance with I-937 Develop clean local geothermal resources – Mt. Baker area studies underway
Conclusions Previous studies have determined site is not viable Construction would be lengthy, very high impact Project would be low energy – less than 1% of demand Project would violate existing river protections and I-937 If developed, project impacts could not be reversed
How smart people can make bad decisions
Apathy is our enemy
What can people do to help? Learn more and discover great resources at SaveTheSkyRiver.Org
Citizen Action Can Prevent This Project • Speak your mind before the PUD Commissioners at public meetings held every two weeks. • Email us at SaveTheSkyRiver.org to learn more. • Write to your elected officials to make sure they understand your opposition to the project. • Templates and sample letters on the website
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