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Mar 10 , 2010
“ Columbia Country,” which airs Sunday afternoons on Fox stations throughout the northwest, is featuring two Avista projects as part of its “Safekeeping” segments. “Safekeeping” is a sponsored segment that highlights environmental activities, often focusing on efforts to protect and enhance fish habitat.
The Clark Fork Project segment features an ongoing collaborative project on Lake Pend Oreille to reduce the population of invasive lake trout. Lake Pend Oreille was once a world-class fishery for rainbow trout, bull trout and kokanee. In recent years, the lake has been taken over by lake trout (also called mackinaw), which do not coexist well with native bull trout, and which prey on kokanee, depleting the food sources for rainbow and bull trout. This project offers angler incentives and brings in commercial netters to “fish out” the invasive lake trout.
Avista helps fund the Lake Pend Oreille project through our Clark Fork Project license, which includes Noxon Rapids Dam in Montana and Cabinet Gorge Dam in northern Idaho.
The Spokane segment features a new rainbow trout spawning study on the Spokane River, part of our new 50-year operating license for the five hydroelectric developments that make up Avista’s Spokane River Project. The spawning study is part of a ten-year collaboration with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to better understand the relationship between river flow and the rainbow trout population and their spawning habitat from Monroe Street Dam downstream to Nine Mile Dam.
A similar project has been in effect for several years in the Upper Spokane River, and we hope this project will help us better understand how managing river flows affects water levels in Lake Coeur d’Alene and habitat for rainbow trout downstream. By doing so, we hope to ultimately encourage growth of the rainbow trout population in the Spokane River.
Both of these projects show how Avista works with others to care for the natural resources affected by our projects. They are great examples of how we make our commitment to environment part of our daily operations throughout Montana, Idaho, Washington and Oregon.
Jan 25 , 2010
If you had a chance to visit downtown Spokane over the last few weeks, you might have caught a glimpse of Avista’s Post Street Substation, decked out in red, white and blue in honor of the 2010 U.S. Figure Skating Championships. Most people refer to his building as the Washington Water Power building near the falls, which is a fine identifier really, given the big green words on the roof. Interestingly enough, the building is a working Avista substation that helps deliver clean, renewable hydroelectric juice to downtown Spokane.
Local photographer John D. Moore, who seems to have a knack for capturing the beauty of Spokane when the lights go out, grabbed a few shots of the WWP building that turned out great. I caught his photos on his blog, http://spokanescenes.blogspot.com/.
Moore graciously allowed us to share his photos here and then told me though e-mail, “In my view, we live in a beautiful place and if I can make a few people envious...then I'll feel good about that.”
He’s right.
Jan 20 , 2010
Yesterday marked the end of an 80-year era for Avista, with the release of wooden flashboards at our Nine Mile Falls Dam on the Spokane River. Watch the two-minute video to see what it looked like to release the flashboards.
In 1928 Avista began installing the five-foot high, hand-built flashboards at the top of the face of the dam, extending the normal dam height to 63 feet (without the flash boards its 58 feet). Later, the flashboard height was doubled to a total height of 10 feet. Flashboards are installed annually in four sections: two upper and two lower. Yesterday we released the two upper sections, and we’ll release the remaining sections later this spring, for the final time.
The flashboards, constructed with sheets of plywood and solid wood beams, allow operators to hold back more water in the forebay for power generation when river levels are lower. They are installed each summer and removed in late winter or early spring, as river levels begin to rise again.
Beginning this summer, Avista will replace the wooden flashboards at Nine Mile with an automated spillway that will give operators the ability to raise and lower the height of the spillway as needed. This new spillway, required under our FERC Spokane River Project license, will allow us to maintain the reservoir pool at a more constant level throughout the entire year, partly because it eliminates the need to lower the reservoir each summer to install flashboards.
Just a reminder – if you’re out on the river for any reason, be careful. High river levels, run-off from recent storms and the flashboard release have resulted in extra debris in the water, especially downstream from Nine Mile Dam. The video shows a few rather large trees and other items floating down the river.
Dec 22 , 2009
We sent out this media release earlier today and I wanted to make sure everyone saw it. We lower the water level at Lake Spokane – I’ve always called it Long Lake – every year, but if you own property out there or know someone who does, you should start getting prepared.
Avista to Begin Lake Spokane Drawdown
-Water level to drop up to a foot per day
Avista Utilities will start to draw down the water level at Lake Spokane (Long Lake Reservoir) the week of December 28, 2009. It is expected that the reservoir will be lowered up to one foot per day for a two- to three-week period, dropping the level of the lake 13 to 14 feet below its maximum summer elevation of 1,536 feet.
Under the right (extreme cold) weather conditions, the drawdown is expected to help with control of Eurasian milfoil, an invasive weed found in many area waterways. The drawdown also allows for repair and construction by property owners along the lake shoreline.
Property owners and lake-users are reminded to make any necessary preparations, including removing boats from the water and securing docks and boathouses for low-water conditions.
Water levels are subject to change due to a variety of factors, such as weather or equipment problems at the Long Lake dam. Lake users should always be alert to signs of such changes and exercise the highest level of personal caution and safety when using the waterways.
Updated reservoir level information is available by calling Avista's recorded Lake Information Line at (509) 495-8043.
Nov 10 , 2009 The Q’emiln Park boat launch ramp on the Spokane River in Post Falls, Idaho will be closed for the season beginning Friday, Nov. 13. The ramp, located upstream of Avista Utilities’ Post Falls Hydroelectric Development, is typically closed each year in mid-November due to weather conditions and dropping water levels.
The boat launch must remain closed for safety reasons whenever water is spilled through gates at the Post Falls Dam, which can be the case for much of the fall through spring. The ramp will re-open in the late spring or early summer, depending on the amount of inflows into Coeur d’Alene Lake
As a result of Avista’s annual drawdown of Coeur d’Alene Lake, Spokane River levels above the dam will be approximately three feet below summer elevation on Nov.13. Water levels may drop by as much as five additional feet by the end of January. These water levels are subject to change due to weather conditions.
Avista has a 24-hour telephone information line that provides notification of anticipated elevation changes on Coeur d’Alene Lake, Lake Spokane and the Spokane River during the subsequent 24-hour and one-week periods. In Idaho, call (208) 769-1357; in Washington call (509) 495-8043.
Oct 19 , 2009
This notice, re-published below, was just sent to local media concerning the accidental release of a lightweight lubricating oil at Upper Falls last night.
Spokane, Wash. Oct. 19, 2009: Avista is working with the Washington Department of Ecology to assess and manage the accidental release of a lightweight lubricating oil at its Upper Falls Hydroelectric Development on the Spokane River.
The spill was discovered at about 7:30 this morning after operators at the powerhouse found an auxiliary bearing pump seal had failed during the night. Avista immediately implemented emergency spill procedures and began working with the appropriate agencies to begin clean-up measures as quickly as possible.
Initial estimates are that 50-100 gallons of the oil leaked inside the powerhouse building before it was discovered. Nearly all of the oil appears to have been contained within the powerhouse; however there is a small visible oil sheen on the river next to the powerhouse. Avista and Ecology have deployed a boom and that area is contained. They are now in the process of assessing whether any oil has traveled downstream.
The oil does not contain PCBs. Avista is not aware of any immediate threat to wildlife or aquatic life, and believes the spill does not pose a long-term threat to the health of the river. Avista will continue working with Ecology to mitigate any environmental impacts and will follow up to ensure that there are no lasting impacts to the environment.
This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding the company’s current expectations. Forward-looking statements are all statements other than historical facts. Such statements speak only as of the date of the news release and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the company’s control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations. These risks and uncertainties include, in addition to those discussed herein, all of the factors discussed in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2008, and the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2009.
Sep 03 , 2009
Avista will begin lowering the water level at Lake Coeur d’Alene and the Spokane River behind Post Falls Dam on Tuesday, September 8 in accordance with its new Federal Energy Regulatory Commission license.
Avista manages the lake level to prepare for spring runoff, to mitigate flooding in the winter and to optimize power production. The drawdown will take several months to complete.
Aug 06 , 2009
The Coeur d’Alene Press ran a good story today about floating on the Spokane River. They even got in some safety messages from one of my co-workers, Anna Scarlett. Seeing as we’ve been hitting the 90s for about two weeks now, hanging out on the shores of the river or floating down on a tube seems really, really enticing. I saw some kids splashing around the shore earlier this week, just off the Centennial Trail – not a care in the world and not a parent to be found either. Don’t let the cool water fool you. A quick dip isn’t worth injuring yourself and playing or floating upstream of a dam is a big no-no. So, for you parents out there, take note of these safety tips and make sure your kids (and you), know the rules. Read Safety Around Dams from the Avista Utilities website. Shutting off the fallsYou might have also heard in the news yesterday that we shut off the flow of water at the Monroe Street Dam to aid fire and law enforcement officials in searching the area for a potential swimmer in danger. The water was slowed for just a few hours and word is that searchers came up empty, which in this case was probably a good thing. Read the Spokesman-Review story here. You’ll need a Spokesman login to read the whole thing.
Read the Coeur d’Alene Press story, “ Lazy River,” by reporter Rick Thomas.
Read the Spokesman-Review story, “ River scare stalls traffic,” by Thomas Clouse. You’ll need a Spokesman login to read the whole thing. Jul 27 , 2009
If you’re in downtown Spokane this week, you might notice attendees of the largest hydropower event in the country milling about the area. According to Hydro Review, the event organizer, there are expected to be 1,600 hydro experts from 40 countries in attendance at the nearly week-long conference.
I’m not exactly sure how you’d recognize them, so I suggest a little on-the-spot pop quiz. If they answer these three questions correctly, they just might be attendees of Waterpower XVI, the largest hydropower conference in the country.
Question 1
Hydro power is made from: a. water, b. wind, c. coal. If they answer anything other than ‘a. water,’ they are in big trouble.
Question 2
Avista’s electric resource mix includes how much hydro power? a. 15%, b. 55% or c. 100%. This one’s a little harder, but the correct answer is b. 55%, based on our 2008 figures.
Question 3
Utilities with hydro projects (dams and such) should be concerned with: a. environmental impacts, b. being classified as renewable energy, c. area recreation, d. new technology, or e. all of the above. OK, loaded question, of course, it’s all of the above and probably much more.
The conference brings together utilities, suppliers, consultants and regulators in the industry to share new ideas, technology, and approaches in hydropower. The conference focuses on hydro as the world's leading source of renewable energy. Avista is involved in the conference as the host-city sponsor, given our long history of hydropower innovation and leadership on many issues. It also doesn’t hurt that attendees can easily walk through Riverfront Park to see Avista’s hydro projects that directly power much of the surrounding area.
“It’s a great thing for Spokane to host a conference of this size that focuses on hydropower,” Steve Fry, Avista Hydro Projects Manager and a member of the Waterpower XVI Advisory committee, said. “It’s a real credit to Avista and the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau to get Waterpower here.”
Jun 19 , 2009
Post by Dan KolbetOn Thursday Avista received a new 50-year license from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for operating its hydroelectric dams on the Spokane River. For most of us living in this region, the dams have become part of the landscape, intimately tied to the river and how we view it. So, the commitment that Avista will continue to protect and enhance natural resources connected with the river means this view will continue. It also means clean, renewable hydropower from the Spokane River will remain a staple resource for Avista customers.
We’ve been working with hundreds of stakeholders to secure this license for seven years. Now that it’s been issued, we’re excited to get started with certainty about our operations. Some of the new items that will be implemented through out the life of the license include:
• Year-round aesthetic flows in the downtown Spokane area
• Increased minimum flows from Post Falls Dam and recreation water levels on Coeur d'Alene Lake
• Water quality improvements in the Spokane River and Lake Spokane (also known as Long Lake)
• Fish habitat studies and fishery enhancements
• Wetlands mitigation
• Improvements to recreation facilities, such as park improvements and campground upgrades
We received some solid press coverage about the license in newspapers today. Check out Becky Kramer’s article in the Spokesman-Review, which includes a detailed Q and A - Power play: Avista dams relicensed
You might also want to catch Brian Walker’s article in the Coeur d’Alene Press - Avista awarded 50-year dam licenseFERC Commissioner Philip D. Moeller released a statement on FERC’s website yesterday commending all parties involved in the license process, but added a personal note that I think ties into many individuals’ feelings about the river. He said, “As a child I held a season pass to “Expo ’74,” the World’s Fair based in Spokane. The fairgrounds were located around the Spokane River with a focus on the needs of the world’s environment. Today’s order [issuing the license] balancing the various attributes of the Spokane River system honors the legacy and theme of Expo ’74.” Read the full statement.
We heard from many, many customers and stakeholders throughout this process. Any additional thoughts or questions on the new license you’d like to share? Click "comments" below to sign in.
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