With financial support offered from the Washington State Department of Ecology, Chelan County PUD is going to explore new ways of storing and using water in the Columbia River.

Ideas include looking at pumped-storage projects and at the possibility of raising the water level behind Rocky Reach Dam as much as three feet.

PUD commissioners Monday afternoon heard from Derek Sandison of Ecology, who said there is state money available to pay for feasibility studies.

Ecology is interested in finding more water for fish flows and for additional out-of-stream uses. The PUD is interested in collaborating because additional stored water might make it possible to generate more electricity that could be used to meet local load growth or be sold on the open market to help hold down local power rates that are the second lowest in the nation. More water rights for local uses might also be an important benefit, and building local projects could boost jobs as well.



Sandison came to the PUD to present an agreement in principle between Ecology and the PUD that would clarify how feasibility studies would be paid for and how projects would be looked at. Commissioners expect to decide next week on authorizing PUD General Manager Rich Riazzi to sign the agreement.

"I support the idea of joint efforts to solve joint problems," said PUD Commissioner Randy Smith following the presentation. Added Commissioner Dennis Bolz, "I think it has tremendous potential."

No PUD funds other than staff time will be used for the studies at this point. The PUD is facing a tight budget year again in 2010, but Sandison explained that Ecology has a legislative mandate to aggressively look for new water storage opportunities and has approximately $120 million available for study and construction.

In a letter mailed to property owners along the Rocky Reach Dam reservoir, the PUD explained that any proposed pool raise or water-storage project would have to go through years of study and discussion in order to get approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. That could take five to 10 years, and public input would be invited all through the process.

PUD commissioners next week will also consider authorizing Riazzi to hire a consulting firm to look at a rare and threatened plant that grows along the Rocky Reach reservoir - Ute Ladies' Tresses. Mitigation plans would have to be developed to protect the plant if any water storage project is to proceed. Results of the plant study would be expected early in 2010.

Riazzi introduced the water-storage ideas to PUD commissioners by showing maps of how many other projects are being proposed nationwide to take advantage of hydropower's potential. Pumped storage is gaining increasing favor, he said, as a way to provide more clean, renewable hydropower to complement additional wind and solar projects that are being developed.

Additional information is available on the PUD Web site Click Here, under "water storage studies."

In other action, commissioners:

* Asked PUD staff to work with city of Wenatchee staff to refine a memorandum of understanding setting forth guiding principles for establishing a local revitalization financing district near Riverfront Park.

The item will be reconsidered on Nov. 16.

The next regular commission meeting is at 1 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 9, 2009, in the PUD boardroom at 327 N. Wenatchee Ave. Commissioners will meet with members of the Peshastin-Dryden Customer Partnership Group at noon on Tuesday, Nov. 10, at the Icicle Ridge Winery.