Your PUD News Release

Rocky Reach 4th-grade education program adds Douglas County PUD, Eastmont classes

Chelan County PUD
News Release
5/10/2010

River of Power, a series of fourth-grade classroom lessons about the science, math and history of local hydropower that finishes up each spring with a daylong visit to Rocky Reach Dam, is expanding participation this year.

Created in 2003 by the Wenatchee School District in collaboration with Chelan County PUD, River of Power began as a program for Wenatchee students. Since then it has expanded to include several private schools in the Wenatchee area as well as students from Entiat, Manson, Chelan and Leavenworth. This year, with support from Douglas County PUD, two Eastmont classrooms will be trying out the program. Support also comes from the North Central Educational Service District (ESD).

The educational program has been honored by the National Hydropower Association. When students get to their daylong class at Rocky Reach Dam in June, they participate in lessons that teach the salmon life cycle, water quality, solar power, how hydropower changes water power into electricity, art, and they build their own miniature dams out of sand and cardboard to see which techniques work best.

At Monday’s Chelan PUD commission meeting, Visitor Services Manager Debbie Gallaher of Rocky Reach Dam introduced supporters who make the program work each year. Susan Ballinger of the Wenatchee School District explained what’s taught. Ballinger created the curriculum originally with Karen Rutherford and with support from materials provided by Chelan PUD.

Ballinger told commissioners the program meets state educational standards and that all participating teachers get a full day of on-site training at Rocky Reach Dam with the instructional materials. She said the program also shows students a place they can return with their families to take advantage of the grounds and free Visitor Center activities at the dam.

Superintendent Rich McBride told commissioners the ESD is excited to be continuing its long-term partnership with the growing program. Bob Busk of the Eastmont School District said he is hoping Eastmont can expand participation in coming years.

In other discussion, PUD commissioners:

• Heard a quarterly financial update that indicates the PUD still faces another tough financial year. Record low river flows in January and March have reduced the amount of water available to generate electric power to sell on the open market. Revenue this year from wholesale power sales is now about one-fourth of what was forecast in the budget. The PUD expects to lose about $28 million in Utility Services net assets if conditions don’t improve. Despite the financial challenges, John Janney, chief finance officer and chief risk officer, said the PUD continues to provide highly reliable services. A new strategic plan is being developed this year that is expected to put the PUD on a sustainable financial path starting in 2012.

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The next regular commission meeting is at 1 p.m. on Monday, May 17, 2010, in the PUD boardroom at 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.

Steve Lachowicz
Communications director
509-661-4639, direct line
509-679-0148, cell
steve.lachowicz@chelanpud.org