Permit for Hydropower Development on Talkeetna River Cancelled (AK)
Posted: 07/08/2015
By: Thomas O'Keefe
This week the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission cancelled the preliminary permit for the Talkeetna River Dam Hydroelectric Project effectively putting an end to any immediate plans to build a 370 foot high dam on the Talkeetna River in the middle of the classic overnight whitewater run.
The idea of building a dam was first proposed to federal regulators in a permit application filed
in September 2014. In December 2014 American Whitewater intervened in the proceeding and filed
comments in protest of this project and recommend against issuing a preliminary permit. We
identified several deficiencies with the permit application which was a hastily assembled and
poorly thought out plan. Despite the concerns we raised, federal regulators issued the permit
allowing the developer to begin studies to further investigate the site. The developer proved
unable to follow the basic requirements of maintaining his permit and missed deadlines resulting
in the cancellation.
In 1988, the Alaska State Legislature passed the Recreation Rivers Act, designating the Talkeetna
River and Clear (Chunilna) Creek as Recreation Rivers. The Alaska Department of Natural Resources
developed the Susitna Basin Recreation Rivers Management Plan. The plan outlines area-wide land
and water management policies for shoreline development and provides direction for the state to
“develop long-range guidelines and management priorities to ‘protect, maintain, or
enhance the free flowing nature of the river.’” Accordingly, the plan prohibits dams
on the main stem of the Talkeetna and its major tributaries.
The proposed dam was to be constructed in the scenic canyon just downstream of the confluence of
Disappointment Creek. The proposed reservoir would have flooded 4,454 acres and extended upstream
above the confluence of Iron Creek. It would have destroyed the last section of whitewater on the
run and a fun play spot and camping area that many groups use for their last night on the river
at the mouth of Disappointment Creek.
While we are pleased that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission decided to cancel the permit
we remain concerned that they issued a permit in the first place given the clear deficiencies in
the original application, the questionable ability of the developer to develop a serious
proposal, and the obvious conservation value of the Talkeetna River as recognized by the state of
Alaska. We will continue our efforts in calling for a more rigorous review of preliminary permit
applications for hydropower development that are filed.
Thomas O'Keefe
3537 NE 87th St.
Seattle, WA 98115
E-mail: okeefe@americanwhitewater.org
Phone: 425-417-9012
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