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Major construction starts at Lake Chelan dam and powerhouse
Chelan County PUD
News Release
3/12/2008
Five construction projects at the Lake Chelan Hydro Project are under way to ensure the long-term reliability of its two generating units and to improve habitat for steelhead and Chinook salmon as called for in the dam’s new 50-year federal license.
For safety, security and cost control, Powerhouse Park, a small picnic area and swimming beach at Chelan Falls, will be closed for at least two years during the work, said Chris Church, PUD Engineering Services and Project Management director.
“We understand the park’s popularity with neighbors and considered alternatives to the closure, but none provided adequate safety for visitors and workers plus the security needed for multiple projects,” Church said. “It will also help reduce construction time by providing adequate staging area and reliable access to the habitat and pump station construction sites.”
The cost of the projects will total $60 million to $65.5 million through 2010.
Three of the five projects will improve spawning and rearing habitat for steelhead and Chinook salmon by improving water flow in the powerhouse tailrace and creating a new stream channel in the lower section of the Chelan River. A pump station will be built to supply water to the new stream channel, and modifications will be made at the dam to supply year-round water flow in the Chelan River. A pond for yearling summer Chinook salmon will be built between the park and powerhouse to improve fish homing instinct to the Chelan River.
Modernization of the two generating units in the Lake Chelan Project powerhouse, which produce about 48 megawatts of electricity, is estimated at $42 million to $45 million. Preparation and entrance work has started. Installation of the new units is scheduled for 2009-2010.
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For more information contact Chris Church, 661-4231, or Michelle Smith, Licensing and Compliance manager, 661-4180.
Kimberlee Craig
Public Information Officer
Chelan County PUD
(509) 661-4320 office
(509) 679-6858 mobile