Top 40 Issue, 2000
Issue: Relicensing Lake Chelan hydropower project
Goal: Implement annual schedule of Whitewater releases.
Current Status: American Whitewater volunteers participated in a whitewater controlled Flow Study in July 2000 on the Chelan Gorge. The study was designed to identify optimum minimum and maximum flows for whitewater boating. The results of the study will be used to develop an annual schedule of whitewater releases. Chelan Public Utility District is currently relicensing the Chelan Lake Hydropower Project. The current license expires in 2004. The Chelan River drops 400 feet between Chelan Lake and the Columbia River four miles downstream. The bulk of this gradient occurs in the 1.5 mile Chelan Gorge. A 40 foot high dam constructed at the end of Chelan Lake diverts outflows into a 2.2 mile penstock around the Chelan Gorge to the powerhouse. The flow study revealed five Class 5 rapids, one Class 6 and an abundance of Class 4 in this 500 foot deep gorge. The Chelan Gorge is truly a whitewater cathedral.
Precedent: Whitewater release into the Chelan Gorge have been shrouded in controversy over liability and perceived risk. American Whitewater worked through the liability issues associated with the study phase. Boaters participating in the flow sudy convinced Chelan PUD that the Chelan Gorge was not only navigable but a remarkable whitewater resource as well. Chelan PUD remains concerned that paddlers lacking the appropriate skills will attempt the run. American Whitewater is working to convince the Chelan PUD that boaters will regulate themselves based on skill level. Most states have recreational use statues that protect private landowners fromliability suits except in cases where the landowner creates a hazard through negligence. Hydropower operators are protected by these recreational use statues. Hydropower operators must not be allowed to leverage liability issues in attempt to forego whitewater releases.