On October 24, 2013, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission formally cancelled the permit granting North Hydro, LLC exclusive rights to persue a hydropower development on Idaho's Boulder Creek.  The project would have largely dewatered 2 miles of Boulder Creek, an otherwise scenic and largely intact stream.  The Federal action came after the permit holder failed to file a required update, presumably indicating no farther interest in the project.     

American Whitewater challenged the permit, asserting that the project could only generate at full capacity (93 cfs) during the three spring months of April, May and June when there is a glut of cheap hydropower available in the region.  We also argued that during high water months the project would impact whitewater paddling, while during low water months the project would harm threatened bull trout by largely dewatering the stream.  Thus the proposed hydropower project would have yeilded very little (if any) economic value while causing significant environmental impacts.        

The failure of the Boulder Creek project makes a clean sweep of the five similar projects proposed in the Northern Rockies, including failed projects on Boundary Creek (ID), West and East Rosebud Creeks (MT) and on the Madison River (MT).  These projects represented 100-year-old technology, would have generated little power, and were proposed on spectacular wild streams.  In a region so severely affected by dams, American Whitewater is pleased to have played a role in protecting some of the regions treasured remaining free flowing rivers.