PGE And Confederated Tribes to Restore Fish Passage in Deschutes River Basin

For the first time in 40 years, salmon and steelhead could soon be swimming their way down the Metolius, Crooked and upper Deschutes Rivers as a result of new equipment now in advanced stages of construction.

Portland General Electric (PGE) (NYSE:POR) and the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon, co-owners of the Pelton Round Butte Hydroelectric Project, will be restoring fish passage around the Pelton and Round Butte dams on the Deschutes River through a one-of-a-kind solution — a 273-foot underwater tower and fish collection station.

The new underwater tower is designed to modify currents and temperatures to mimic natural conditions and attract migrating fish into the collection facility. These fish will be sorted, and young salmon and steelhead will be trucked downstream below the dams to continue their journey to the Columbia River and the Pacific Ocean. When they return as adults, the fish reaching the lowest dam will be sorted and the salmon and steelhead will be trucked above Round Butte Dam to reach the upstream rivers to spawn.

“This is an innovative solution to restoring fish passage in the Deschutes River Basin,” said Stephen Quennoz, PGE’s vice president of power supply and generation. “With this new facility, we will be able to continue providing an important source of clean, renewable power for the region while being good stewards of the environment.”

“This new tower is the result of a commitment the tribes made 10-plus years ago when relicensing was in its infancy. This helps restore a fishery that has been a vital part of our culture,” said Bobby Brunoe, general manager of natural resources, Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. “An abundant, vibrant and healthy river also supports the numerous benefits to the river and its reservoirs.”

Jan Lee, executive director of the Northwest Hydroelectric Association agrees. “This one-of-a-kind solution allows our region to maximize its renewable energy potential while protecting our salmon and steelhead resources,” Lee said.

Construction on the project, which is located above Round Butte Dam in Lake Billy Chinook, is underway with crews on target to have the facility constructed and operational in spring 2009, at a cost of about $108 million.