Earlier today the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission accepted the surrender of a preliminary permit that could have led to a new hydropower project on Idaho's Little Potlatch Creek.  Brookfield Power held the preliminary permit for nearly two years, during which they studied the potential of the site and held exclusive development rights. Brookfield did not note the reason for surrendering the permit

The proposed pump-storage project would have included a dam exceeding 200 feet tall on Little Potlatch Creek, flooding over a mile of the stream, as well as a second storage dam on the palouse prairie far above the Creek.  American Whitewater intervened in the project, noting the ecological and recreational values of the Little Potlatch, and recommending a different site be selected for the project that did not needlessly impact a navigable stream. 

The Little Potlatch will remain free-flowing!