Environmental Stewardship

The Wildlife Programs' mission is to meet the District’s regulatory requirements and stewardship responsibilities for wildlife and wildlife habitat in coordination with the District, resource agencies, and the public to improve service and benefits to customers, local citizens, and visitors in a safe, cost-efficient, and professional manner.

Chelan County PUD maintains a wide variety of programs along Rocky Reach and Rock Island reservoirs on the Columbia River, within the Lake Chelan basin, and within the PUD's electrical service area. These programs are designed to meet specific license requirements for monitoring wildlife and related habitats to effectively address wildlife issues that may arise. Chelan PUD’s wildlife programs also enhance conditions for wildlife where practical.

PUD biologists take part in many interagency cooperative efforts, interpretive programs, community events, and PUD-related discussions to promote awareness of PUD wildlife programs, local wildlife issues, and to allow the PUD to respond to the needs of the community as they relate to natural resource management. The PUD works with other resource agencies to enhance wildlife habitat and gather data for wildlife management. 

Chelan County PUD provides nesting structures for both wood ducks and Canada geese along Rocky Reach and Rock Island reservoirs to meet specific license requirements for our hydropower operations. Chelan PUD biologists monitor populations of threatened and endangered animals and plants, and coordinate management of noxious weeds on District non-parks properties. 

PUD biologists monitor wintering big game populations along Lake Chelan. This data is provided to other agencies who manage mule deer, mountain goat, and bighorn sheep populations in Chelan County. PUD biologists also monitor numbers of wintering bald eagles along Rock Island and Rocky Reach reservoirs. During the spring and summer months, biologists study populations of piscivorous (fish-eating) birds at our hydroelectric projects and along our reservoirs.  Information gathered from the surveys assist the PUD in managing piscivorous bird populations to reduce predation on salmon smolt and minimize impacts on the birds.

In an effort to reduce animal-caused power outages and increase service reliability, we monitor our power line structures in compliance with the District’s Avian Protection Plan. This plan identifies structures that pose a high risk to birds or other animals. High risk structures are monitored, re-designed, or retrofitted to reduce the potential for animal-caused power outages and to protect animals. PUD biologists studied fall raptor (birds of prey) migration to evaluate the potential for raptor collisions with a proposed transmission line and made recommendations to reduce collision potential.  PUD biologists also manage wildlife problems at District facilities.  Solutions range from humane relocation of animals to changing structure designs. Animal control at PUD facilities reduces repair costs to landscaping and equipment and also keeps employees, visitors, and animals safe.