PacifiCorp filed the Recreation Settlement Agreement for the Bigfork Hydropower Project to the FERC on November 8, 2002. American Whitewater negotiated river access improvements through the removal of chain link fencing and building pedestrian walkways across the canal, easements for public access for the 30 year life of the new license on non-project lands and Wednesday evening whitewater releases July 1 through August 31 annually.

In addition the Settlement Agreement gives the local community of Bigfork the option to purchase 500 acres of non-project land along the river and reservoir with the goal of protecting water quality and wildlife habitat (grizzly bear) and increased instream flows below dam to enhance habitat conditions for bull trout and west slope cutthroat.

We anticipate the FERC to issue a new license for the Bigfork Project in early 2003.

This Settlement Agreement solidifies continued public access to the Swan River previously threatened by sale of PacifiCorp's 500 acres of non-project lands adjacent to the Swan River and reservoir. The Agreement also provides significant access improvements over existing conditions and simultaneously protects wildlife habitat close to the Bigfork downtown area. Once the PacifiCorp staff recognized our collective interests in the Swan River corridor they focused on developing a settlement agreement to meet our needs. The final outcome is an agreement PacifiCorp and the local parties support.