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Lake Chelan level discussed

Chelan County PUD
News Release
3/20/2006

How yearly differences in mountain snowpack, spring rainfall and temperature can result in varying Lake Chelan levels was discussed with PUD commissioners Monday.

Deep snow has resulted in a mid-March forecast for spring runoff into the lake of 112 percent of normal. That has also resulted in the spring lake level being lower than the past few years as it is drawn down to make room for the runoff to come, explained Scott Buehn, power resource engineer. Monday’s lake level was 1084.35 feet above sea level. It can go no lower than 1079.

Since 1960, the minimum lake level has dropped below 1085 feet in 55 percent of the years; but only 35 percent of the years since 1990.

Gregg Carrington, Hydro Services director, noted that lake levels will change slightly when the new Lake Chelan Hydro Project license is approved by federal regulators, although maximum and minimum levels will be the same. The first priority will be to maintain minimum flows in the Chelan River for fish and to protect against high river flows that could cause erosion and hurt fish habitat.

The result will be slightly higher spring lake levels during normal runoff and slightly lower levels during the fall.  

Jack Raines, Lake Chelan Boat Co. owner, asked commissioners to check sediment buildup on the lake bottom near Chelan. The company provides state-regulated ferry service to Stehekin at the head of the lake.

He’s concerned about possible damage to the boats as the water level drops this year. But more than that, “It’s the future I’m concerned about,” Raines said. 

PUD board President Gary Montague thanked Raines for recognizing and understanding the regulatory constraints facing the PUD as well as the boat company.

In other business, commissioners:

• Received an update on Wenatchee River watershed planning from Mike Kaputa, Chelan County Natural Resources Department director, and Dave Johnson, PUD Water/Wastewater Department director. The seven-year process is approaching approval of the plan next month by the 30 agency participants. Chelan County commissioners will be asked to approve the plan by midsummer. After state approval, steps in the plan will be put into place over four years.
• Declared the four bids received for construction of the 8.5-mile Rocky Reach to Andrew York/Monitor Switchyard transmission line unresponsive and authorized staff to negotiate a construction contract.
• Heard from General Counsel Carol Wardell that the state Department of Ecology has issued its 401 Water Quality Certificate for the relicensing of Rocky Reach Dam, an important step in the relicensing process. Hydro Services Director Gregg Carrington commended DOE for its willingness to try a new approach in developing the certificate for Rocky Reach, a collaborative procedure that may serve as a beneficial model for future relicensing efforts in the state of Washington. The District will now wait 30 days to see if there are any appeals from other parties to the certificate. 

***

Commissioners adjourned Monday’s meeting and will continue it at 9 a.m. Wednesday in the PUD boardroom for more discussion on Balanced Scorecard strategic objectives.  The next regular meeting of the PUD commission is at 1 p.m. Monday, March 27, 2006, in the boardroom, 327 N. Wenatchee Ave.

Most PUD commission meetings are recorded, and a link to the audio is available on the PUD’s home page at www.chelanpud.org.

Kimberlee Craig
Public Information Officer
661-4320, direct line
679-6858, cell
kimc@chelanpud.org