Your PUD

In response to strong interest  from the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology), Chelan County PUD is beginning preliminary investigations into the possibility of developing water storage projects involving the Columbia River.

This could include two primary methods:

• Raising the elevation of the reservoir behind Rocky Reach Dam by 1 to 3 feet and releasing the stored water during low-flow periods (late summer and fall) as needed for increased downstream flows for fish or out-of-stream uses such as irrigation 
• Pumping water out of the Columbia River during high-flow periods and storing it in suitable locations (lakes) where it could then be returned to the river when needed (known as pumped storage) – potentially generating electricity as it flows back into the river. 

Below are links to background information that will be updated as progress is made on studying the opportunities. If you have questions, please contact Kris Pomianek by e-mail or call her, 509 661-4186.

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Background information

• Nov. 11 commission meeting news release
• Washington State Department of Ecology
  Sept. 9, 2009, presentation
• Questions and answers about water storage
• Oct. 31 letter to Rocky Reach reservoir property owners
• Nov. 2 commission meeting news release
• Nov. 2 presentation to PUD Commissioners
• Memo and proposed DOE-PUD water storage agreement in principle