Seattle Spends $979M on Fish Passage at Skagit River Dams

Seattle City Light to Invest $979 Million for Fish Passage at Skagit River Dams

Seattle City Light has agreed to invest $979 million to improve fish passage at its three Skagit River dams, aiming to restore miles of salmon habitat blocked for nearly a century. This significant commitment covers the Ross, Diablo, and Gorge dams, marking a reversal from the utilitys previous stance that the dams posed no harm to fish.

The decision comes after years of negotiations with tribes and federal agencies, following the discovery of outdated research claiming salmon never reached the upper river due to steep terrain. Experts from NOAA Fisheries, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, and state agencies refuted this research, highlighting its inaccuracy.

Local tribes, including the Upper Skagit, Sauk-Suiattle, and Swinomish, view this as long-overdue justice. The Skagit River has been integral to their culture for thousands of years, supporting all five Pacific salmon species. The dams provide twenty percent of the citys power but have cut off forty percent of fish habitat, negatively impacting Chinook salmon and endangered orcas.

A 2019 video showed a Chinook salmon spawning in a river stretch previously deemed inaccessible, providing further evidence of fish upstream. This evidence weakened Seattles arguments during relicensing talks that began in the 2010s.

The total deal amounts to $3.8 billion over fifty years, including habitat work and monitoring. Federal regulators must still approve the plan, and constructing the complex passage systems will take several years. The investments impact on future power rates for Seattles 460,000 customers remains a key concern.

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