Projects

Post Falls Dam Relicensing Project

Prior to construction of Post Falls Dam in 1906, the surface water elevation of Coeur d'Alene Lake was determined by the elevation of the natural lake outlet, the hydraulic capacity of the Spokane River outlet channel above Post Falls, and the amount and timing of inflow. During spring runoff and rapid snowmelt events, total inflow often exceeded the natural outflow capacity of the Spokane River, causing the lake to fill and its surface elevation to rise. A maximum lake surface elevation of 2139 feet was recorded during an extreme flood event on December 25, 1933. As inflows decreased and were exceeded by outflow, the surface elevation, which is controlled by the elevation of the lake outlet, receded to its minimum level of 2119.9 feet (recorded on February 9-10, 1977). In most years, Coeur d'Alene Lake probably reached minimum levels by mid-summer. Data suggest that in a normal year, the surface elevation of Coeur d'Alene Lake would reach 2126 feet by the first of June. The lake would recede to 2123 feet by the end of June, and to 2121 feet by the end of July. At the end of August, it elevations would approach 2120 feet.

Post Falls Dam construction and operation has resulted in Coeur d'Alene Lake surface water elevations being held at higher levels throughout the summer months. The lake is then drawn down in the fall to provide water for hydroelectric power generation. So, the lake level remains higher for a longer time period and does not reach its minimum elevation until much later in the year. Initially, the summer lake level was held at approximately 2126.5 feet but increased, presumably to maximize power generation during World War II in the early 1940s, to an elevation of 2128 feet, where it currently remains.

All non-Federal hydroelectric dams in the US must be licensed, and the Federal Power Act (FPA) of 1920 provides the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) exclusive authority to do this. Hydroelectric projects are typically licensed for a 30 to 50-year period. Post Falls Dam is currently licensed as part of the Spokane River Project to Avista Corporation (formerly Washington Water Power). The FERC license for this project was first issued in 1977 and it is scheduled to expire in 2007. Since 2001, the Spokane River Project has been preparing for relicensing (see Spokane River Project relicensing pages at: http://www.avistautilities.com/resources/relicensing/spokane/ .

The FERC relicensing process requires years of extensive planning, including environmental studies, agency consensus and public involvement. The FPA was amended in 1986 by the Electric Consumers Protection Act (ECPA) and the amended law requires that FERC give equal consideration to the non-generating benefits of the natural resource (fish, wildlife, aesthetics, water quality, land use, and recreational resources, for example) along with the benefit of power production. This range of issues is addressed through a consultation process, outlined in FERC rules. In addition, other reviewing and conditioning authorities come into play, including the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, and several portions of the Federal Power Act that create specific licensing conditioning authorities.

Consequently, the relicensing process can be very complicated, and at times has led to extended conflict between interests. In an effort to resolve the range of issues in a more productive fashion, relicensing efforts have more recently shifted to provide increased opportunity to collaborate on issue resolution. This shift, recognized as the "Alternative Licensing Procedures," (ALP) also aims to improve coordination between the various authorities that come into play during relicensing.

The Tribe has been actively involved in the Spokane River relicensing process along with many other stakeholders. The Tribe, as a Native Sovereign Nation, has certain unique responsibilities, including the capacity to protect Tribal Trust resources by placing conditions on the final license. Tribal staff have participated in all of the technical work groups that were established for this relicensing: Water Resources, Fisheries, Terrestrial Resources, Cultural Resources, Recreation and Plenary. The Plenary Group has the special responsibility of considering the results of research efforts and "PM&Es" (protection, mitigation and enhancement measures) developed by the technical work groups and developing a comprehensive agreement that will be the basis of a new license application. The Tribe also is involved in reviewing and commenting on the Preliminary Draft Environmental Assessment (PDEA) developed by the proponent (Avista) in support of their license application.