This newsletter provides updates about the federal relicensing of the Skagit Hydroelectric Project. More information is available on the project website or by emailing the project team at scl_skagitrelicensing@seattle.gov.

Seattle City Light works closely with its partners to protect people, property, and the environment from the impacts of flooding. This includes partnering with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which takes control of Ross Dam operations when river flows are predicted to exceed 90,000 cubic feet per second at Concrete.

The Corps of Engineers took over Ross Dam during heavy rains on the evening of December 4, 2023 and continued directing operations until the morning of December 6. Once river flows began to recede and threat of flooding subsided, City Light took back control of the dam.

Early December’s flood warnings are a good reminder of the importance City Light places on protecting the Skagit Valley from flooding. Flood protection is one of City Light’s four priorities for managing the Skagit Dams, along with fish, recreation, and power.

You can read more about the role the Skagit Project plays in flood protection in the October 2022 issue of the Skagit Relicensing Newsletter.

Sweeping views of Diablo Lake

The following are some highlights from a recent update on Skagit relicensing. You can find additional Final License Application highlights in this blog post.

Fish Passage

City Light’s Final License Application expresses our commitment to a comprehensive fish program that includes a plan for fish passage across all three dams.

The most common approach to fish passage on dams of this size—30, 39, and 54 stories—is a “trap-and-haul” program. This would involve transporting fish to and from the Ross reservoir and the river below Gorge Dam and would involve building upstream and downstream fish collectors and a new road through North Cascades National Park to Ross Lake.

Other Measures

In addition to fish passage, City Light is committed to estuary restoration, mainstem habitat restoration and flow management to reduce the risk of floods while protecting salmon habitat. As always, we operate the dams according to our long-established priorities:

• Flood risk management
• Fish habitat protection
• Recreation
• Power generation

We remain committed to pursuing a new license that balances the needs and interests of many parties and we deeply appreciate the collaboration and contributions of our partners.  

Burn scars along the slopes high above Diablo Lake

The first snow of the season fell on the North Cascades in early November, bringing with it enough precipitation to extinguish the remnants of the Sourdough wildfire.

The fire began in late July with a lightning strike high on Sourdough Mountain and quickly spread. It reached 7,000 acres at its peak and prompted precautionary measures like the evacuation of the North Cascades Institute’s Environmental Learning Center, repeated closures of State Route 20, and the decision to twice take two of the three Skagit dams offline for several days. Hundreds of fire crew, operations personnel, and City Light staff from Boundary, Newhalem, and Seattle worked in tandem with many regional and federal agencies to protect infrastructure and mitigate the fire’s impact.

Luckily, fire activity turned away from public areas and critical infrastructure in September and the multiagency team that had been working to contain and limit the impacts of the wildfire was able to hand over operations to the National Parks Service.

Now that the fire is out, Seattle City Light is focused on addressing impacts to the region’s land, vegetation, and wildlife. For example, we worked with the Washington Department of Natural Resources to identify areas of land vulnerable to landslides and responded by installing and constructing a variety of barriers to help keep employees and operations protected. We have also created trails and placed equipment to address any slides that do occur as quickly as possible.

Read more about the Sourdough fire and City Light’s planning for the months ahead in this Powerlines blog post.

American Pikas can be found in the boulder fields and talus near the Skagit Project. (c) William C. Gladish

Established in response to federal licensing requirements related to the Skagit Project, Seattle City Light’s Wildlife Research Program provides funding for research projects aimed at the understanding, management, and protection of wildlife resources in the North Cascades, with an emphasis on the Skagit River Watershed.

Since 1995, we have funded a wide range of research projects on topics like lynx ecology, bumblebee species, riparian plant communities, beaver dam analogs, climate impacts on American Pikas, and mountain goat reproduction. Projects have helped to inform agencies on such topics as mountain goat reintroduction, assessment of potential grizzly bear habitat, and substantial new information on wolverine movements and ecology.

Individual grants are awarded annually and can range from $5,000 to $65,000, depending on the scope and quality of the proposal.

The 2024 grant schedule begins on January 9. Visit the Wildlife Research Grants Program webpage to learn more about the grant schedule, qualifications, and application process.

Bald Eagle Season in the Skagit

December is peak eagle season in the Skagit River Watershed, when hundreds of bald eagles migrate down from Canada and Alaska to feast on the winter run of chum salmon in the Skagit River. New and experienced eagle watchers will find a variety of opportunities to learn about and spot the birds of prey, including guided nature walks and boat-based photography tours.

The Skagit River Bald Eagle Interpretive Center in Rockport will be open December 16, 2023 through February 11, 2024. Visit their website for tour information, eagle viewing tips, and a list of the best viewing locations. 

City Light's Hydroelectric Resources

Learn more about the Skagit River Hydroelectric Project and other City Light hydroelectric resources.

Skagit Relicensing Project Resources

Learn more about the relicensing process, including the library of public documents.

OUR MISSION

Seattle City Light provides our customers with affordable, reliable and environmentally responsible energy services.

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