http://www.djc.com/news/en/12064466.html

Snohomish County PUD's new plan for power generation proposes no dam, but instead a deep-pool catchment and tunnel design to generate power.

This is what I hear from someone in the know:

"At the area of the proposed intake, the river creates its own little pond.  That natural pond eliminates the need for a weir which would have cost $10 million dollars.   If licensed by the Feds, this will still be a major industrial construction project.  SnoPUD will still have to blast a half mile, 19 foot diameter, tunnel out of the granite bedrock to get from the intake to the turbine(s)."

Here's a link to the details via pdf, the Sunset 'Fish Passage and Energy' part of it starts on page 21:

http://www.snopud.com/Site/Content/Documents/commpacket/20140415_BoardBook.pdf


Edited by irenen - 17 Apr 2014 at 4:45pm

Stoked to see this topic revived, otterend-
NOT stoked on these asshats tho...

From the PUD's propaganda page... er... press release:

"Starting May 1, the PUD will survey customers about the Sunset Fish Passage & Energy Project. The survey will cover public access, recreation, aesthetics and other background information. Visit www.snopud.com/sunset in May to take the survey. Prize drawings for restaurant gift cards will be awarded. The utility encourages customers to participate."

YO! All of you who are SnoHo PUD customers, like myself... Make sure you take that survey once it's up! I just hope that the survey is not so skewed as to not allow the answers that we really want to give. i.e. "Leave the river the hell alone"

Public works projects that impact areas of natural beauty provoke some of the most vigorous debates in local communities. River projects have a long history in the U.S., with mixed results, and
continuing environmental impacts. The Emerald Mile (2013), by Kevin Fedarko, is an excellent examination of the construction of the Glen Canyon dam, the creation of Lake Powell above and the dam’s impact on the Colorado River below through the Grand Canyon. For boaters, the book’s draw is irresistible, telling the story of the record speed run down the Canyon. To say there’s a moment at Crystal Rapid is not giving anything away. But it’s also worth the read to reflect on the history of the economics, politics and consequences surrounding the development of hydroelectric projects. Fedarko’s insights shed light on the Sky (even without a dam).