Condit
Project Overview
The Condit Hydroelectric Project is located in south-central Washington on the White Salmon River in Klickitat and Skamania Counties. The project has a nameplate capacity of 13.7 MW. Condit dam is located 3.3 miles (5.3 km) upstream from the confluence of the White Salmon and Columbia Rivers. Constructed between 1911 and 1913 by Northwestern Electric Company, the facility includes a concrete gravity dam, a powerhouse, a wood-stave pipe connecting the dam, a surge tank and two penstocks leading to the powerhouse, and a 1.7-mile (2.7 km) project impoundment, and Northwestern Lake. PacifiCorp Electric Operations (PacifiCorp) acquired the project in 1947. To read more, PacifiCorp prepared a History of the Condit Hydroelectric Project (PDF) in accordance with the Historic American Engineering Record (HAER). View fact sheet (PDF).
The White Salmon River originates on the southwestern slope of Mount Adams. The river flows south, draining a basin of approximately 386 square miles (1,004 km 2) before entering Bonneville pool on the Columbia River (NPPC 1990a). Major tributaries upstream of Northwestern Lake include Rattlesnake and Trout Lake creeks. Other tributaries that enter Northwestern Lake include Buck, Mill, and Little Buck creeks. No significant tributaries enter the White Salmon River downstream of Condit dam.
The project is located within portions of four land-use planning jurisdictions: Klickitat County, Skamania County, U.S. Forest Service (USFS), and the Columbia River Gorge Commission. The White Salmon River upstream of Northwestern Lake (RM 5.0 to RM 12.7) is part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers system. The portion of the river downstream of Northwestern Lake (RM 3.3 to the mouth) is included in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area (CRGNSA).
Access Restored to White Salmon River, successful Condit Dam Removal
November 5, 2012
A year after a dynamite blast punched a hole in the Condit Dam, the last remnants of the structure are gone and access restrictions on the White Salmon River are now lifted downstream of Northwestern Park. Caution is still advised as the rapids on the lower river are significant. Read full News Release (PDF).
White Salmon Outfitters and Local Paddlers
September 21, 2012
The lower river section remains closed at this time due to the ongoing demolition of concrete structures and slope restoration along the flowline alignment above the east bank of the river. This work is taking place on steep slopes immediately adjacent the river channel and poses significant risk of debris and rock falling into the river. Up to two weeks may be needed to complete this portion of the Project.
On a more positive note, we have successfully completed the removal of the dam structure from the river. Additionally, we have removed a number of logs from the log jam in the narrows but a considerable amount of wood remains jammed in this location posing significant risks. PacifiCorp is currently evaluating the feasibility of removing additional woody material from the jam. Due to the current fall Chinook spawning run, any additional wood removal is suspended until early October.
Pacificorp will keep you updated on the status of the flowline restoration effort and when this reach of the river will be open for public use.
White Salmon River near Condit Dam still off limits
November 1, 2011
WHITE SALMON, Wash. — Following the breach of Condit Dam that quickly drained Northwestern Lake, the White Salmon River remains an unsafe place to be both above and below the dam. (Read more)
Condit Dam breach marks new turn in river’s future
October 26, 2011
WHITE SALMON, Wash. – After nearly a century of producing electricity for PacifiCorp customers, the White Salmon River in south central in south central Washington is again running unimpeded to the Columbia River. A muffled roar and a puff of pulverized concrete preceded a rush of water today at the dam, about three miles upstream from the White Salmon’s confluence with the Columbia River. (Read more)
Safety closures near Condit Dam in south central Washington
October 20, 2011
WHITE SALMON, Wash. — With public interest growing in viewing the breach of the Condit Dam scheduled for approximately noon Oct. 26, PacifiCorp and local law enforcement officials are announcing a series of safety-related closures near the White Salmon River and Northwestern Lake. (Read more)
Decommissioning Activities
Condit Dam Final Blast
Watch the final moments leading up to the 12:11 p.m. blast of the Condit Dam tunnel. Video could take a minute to download.
Another view of the reservoir draining using timelapse.
Video of breach includes sound. Video by Andy Maser Films. Andy Maser and Steve Stampfli.
Webisode 1 - Pre-Breach
Webisode 1 – Watch some of the tunnel construction efforts and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's project to capture and transport fall Chinook salmon. File is 454 MB, so downloading time is lengthy. Quicktime is required to view this video.
Webisode 2 - Condit's Last Day
Webisode 2 – PacifiCorp operator talks about the powerhouse, early construction, flowline removal and sediment transportation. File is 120 MB, so downloading could be lengthy.
Webisode 3 - Demolition
Webisode 3 - The third video installment about the breach of Condit Dam and the work done to dismantle the dam to wind down operations on the White Salmon River.
White Salmon Restored: A Timelapse Project
White Salmon Restored: A Timelapse Project - Website by Andy Maser and Steve Stampfli uses timelapse photography to document the deconstruction of Condit Dam and the river restoration to follow.
October 26, 2011
Condit dam is scheduled to be breached on October 26, 2011. During this event, a tunnel at the base of the dam will be opened and the reservoir will drain in approximately 6 hours. We will not have public viewing of the event due to the lack of safe and accessible viewing areas. To ensure public safety, the banks of the river downstream of the dam and area around the dam will be closed. Similarly, there will be no parking available along the river. The best way to see the event will be over the internet via a live webcast that will be available from this web site. Check back for details.
October 2011
August 2011
June 2011
Condit Decommissioning Overview
PacifiCorp Energy owns and operates the Condit Hydroelectric Project, which was completed in 1913 on the White Salmon River in Skamania County and Klickitat County, Washington. The project is regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) as project number 2342. The project is located approximately 3.3-miles upstream from the confluence of the White Salmon and Columbia Rivers. Project facilities consist of a 125-foot high, 471-foot long concrete gravity diversion dam, an intake structure that directs water into a 13.5-foot diameter by 5,100-foot long wood stave flowline, and through a 40-foot diameter concrete surge tank. The flowline bifurcates inside the surge tank into two 9-foot diameter penstocks that supply water to the powerhouse. The powerhouse contains two double horizontal Francis turbines with an installed capacity of 14,700 kilowatts. The project creates a reservoir, Northwestern Lake, which extends 1.8-miles upstream of the dam and covers approximately 92 acres.
PacifiCorp Energy has regulatory approvals to remove the project in accordance with the amended Condit Settlement Agreement and the Project Removal Design Report. Regulatory approvals include Clean Water Act permits issued under Section 401 by the Washington Department of Ecology, and issued under Section 404 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and a Surrender Order from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The method for dam removal involves clearing sediment and debris immediately upstream from the tunnel and then drilling and blasting a 13-foot by 18-foot drain tunnel in the base of the dam to within a few feet of the dam’s face. During the month of October, sediment and debris immediately upstream from the dam will be cleared to form a pathway and then the remainder of the tunnel will be blasted to drain the reservoir and flush impounded sediments out of the reservoir as rapidly as possible. Following the final tunnel blast, the drain tunnel will discharge at a rate of about 10,000 cubic feet-per-second – approximately 25 percent of the estimated peak discharge during the February 1996 flood event on the White Salmon River. This will drain the reservoir in approximately six hours. Rapid draining of the reservoir is expected to mobilize much of the estimated 2.4-million cubic yards of sediment that has accumulated behind the dam since its construction. Previous modeling has indicated that between 1.6 million to 2.2-million cubic yards of sediment will be discharged into the White Salmon River immediately following dam removal.
Once the reservoir is drained, activities will focus on addressing the sediment and slope stability within the former reservoir area. In the spring of 2012, the dam will be excavated and removed along with the flowline, surge tank, and penstocks. Concrete from the dam will be buried onsite; other materials will be salvaged or transported to the Klickitat County waste facility. The powerhouse will be left intact. The upstream cofferdam in the White Salmon River present from original dam construction will be removed from the river as soon as practicable after the breach. PacifiCorp Energy expects to complete the dam removal process within one year, start to finish. Subsequently, restoration of the former reservoir areas may take an additional year or more.
Removal of Condit dam is expected to provide the following benefits:
- Anadromous salmonids will be provided access of up to 18 miles of White Salmon River mainstem and tributary habitats that have been inaccessible since the early 1990s. Restoration of natural runs of anadromous fish upstream of the project dam is consistent with the fishery management goals of the National Marine Fisheries Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Yakama Nation
- Dam removal offers the greatest potential for full utilization of anadromous fish habitat, including habitat inundated by Northwestern Lake, and therefore, full restoration of anadromous salmonids within the White Salmon River basin.
- Dam removal will benefit wildlife dependent upon anadromous fish in the area of the river reach upstream of river mile (RM) 3.3.
- Dam removal will provide increased whitewater recreation opportunities. Whitewater recreation is an important and popular use of the White Salmon River.
Decommissioning Fact Sheets & Newsletters
Newsletters
Decommissioning Management Plans
The following decommissioning management plans have incorporated agency comments, as well as more detail from the decommissioning contractor. These plans were submitted to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for approval.
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Transmittal Letters for FERC
March 15, 16 & 18, 2011 -
Project Removal Design Report
Version: March 15, 2011 -
Project Removal Design Report Appendices A - M
Version: March 15, 2011 -
Project Plans 1
Sheets GK-20 thru CA-0207 -
Project Plans 1b
Sheets CA-0208 thru CL-0522 -
Project Plans 2
Sheets CL-0531 thru CL-0556 -
Project Plans 2b
Sheets CL-0557 thru CL-0601 -
Project Plans 3
Sheets CM-1101 thru CM-1212 -
Project Plans 4
Sheets CM-1213 thru CM-1217 -
Project Plans 5
Sheets CM-1218 thru CM-1304 -
Project Plans 6
Sheets CM-1305 thru CS-1003 -
Project Specifications
November 2010 -
Project Preliminary Construction Schedule
Version: February 17, 2011. Approved by FERC May 20, 2011. -
City of White Salmon 2011 Water Transmission Line Relocation
Version: January 20, 2011. Approved by FERC May 20, 2011. -
Northwestern Lake Bridge Stabilization Design & Overview
Version: February 17, 2011. Approved by FERC May 20, 2011. -
Mt. Adams Orchard Replacement Line
Version: February 18, 2011. Approved by FERC May 20, 2011. -
Sediment Assessment, Stabilization, and Management Plan
Version: March 15, 2011. Supplements to the plan were submitted to FERC on May 5, 2011 and May 11, 2011. Plan approved by FERC on May 12, 2011. -
Erosion Control Plan
Version: March 15, 2011. Approved by FERC May 20, 2011. -
Revegetation and Wetlands Management Plan
Version: March 15, 2011. Approved by FERC May 9, 2011. -
Aquatic Resources Protection Plan
Version: March 15, 2011. Approved by FERC May 10, 2011. -
Capture and Transport of Lower Columbia River Fall Chinook Salmon
Version: March 15, 2011. Approved by FERC May 24, 2011. -
Anadromous Fish Upstream Passage Plan
Version: May 18, 2011 -
Woody Debris Management Plan
Version: March 15, 2011. Approved and modified by FERC on April 29, 2011. Modifications include consultation prior to performing any log jam removal and submitting annuals reports. -
Recreation Resources Management Plan
Version: May 26, 2011 -
Public Safety and Traffic Control Plan
Version: March 15, 2011. Approved by FERC May 20, 2011. -
Road Impact Assessment Proposed Scope of Work
Version: March 9, 2011. Approved by FERC May 4, 2011. -
Quality Control and Inspection Program
Version: May 10, 2011. Approved by FERC May 20, 2011. -
Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure Plan
Version: March 15, 2011. Approved by FERC on May 6, 2011. -
Temporary Construction Emergency Action Plan
Version: March 15, 2011. Approved by FERC May 20, 2011. -
Environmental Monitoring Plan
Version: September 22, 2010. This plan is a requirement of the State of Washington Department of Ecology 401 certification. This plan has not been submitted to FERC. -
Dust Control Plan
Version: May 27, 2009. This plan is a requirement of the State of Washington Department of Ecology 401 certification. This plan has not been submitted to FERC.
- USACE Clean Water Act Section 404 Permit
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Enclosure 1 - Maps and drawings Enclosure 2 - 401 Certificate Enclosure 3 - Compliance Certification (of project completion) Enclosure 4 - Management Plans Enclosure 5 - Memo, Proposed Revegetation and Wetland Management Plan Enclosure 6 - NOAA Biological Opinion Enclosure 7 - USFWS Biological Opinion
Enclosure 8 - HPMP (This document is considered Privileged Information and is not available for viewing)
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WDOE Clean Water Act Section 401 Certification
Issued October 12, 2010 -
FERC Order Accepting Surrender of License, Authorizing Removal of Project Facilities, and Dismissing Application for New License
Issued December 16, 2010
- 90-day Post-Breach Preliminary Sediment Behavior Report
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Appendix A - Photo Point Map / Photo Sequences Appendix B - Aerial Photography Sheets B1-B6 Letter to FERC dated January 24, 2012
- 120-day Post-Reservoir-Dewatering Assessment Report
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Appendix A - Topographic Comparison Maps Appendix B - Sediment Instability Zones Appendix C - Proposed Grading Plan Maps Appendix D - Photo Point Map & Sequences
Photos
October 26, 2011 - Reservoir Before Breach
October 26, 2011 - Reservoir After Breach
Condit Dam historical photos
View to the south – June 23, 1912
Coffer Dam No. 2 from upstream – Aug. 5, 1912
Looking into 13 ft 6 in wood stave pipe – Dec. 10, 1912
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Documents
- Orders Approving and/or Approving and Modifying Decom Mgmt Plans
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May 24, 2011 - Order Modifying and Approving Columbia River Fall Chinook Salmon Capture and Transport Plan May 20, 2011 - Letter Approving the following Management Plans
- Construction Schedule (3/15/11)
- Quality Control Inspection Program (3/15/11)
- Erosion Control Plan (3/15/11)
- Temporary Construction Emergency Action Plan (3/15/11)
- Public Safety and Traffic Control Plan (3/15/11)
- Road Impact Assessment Plan (3/9/11)
- Northwestern Lake Bridge Stabilization Design & Overview (2/17/11)
- Water Transmission Line Relocation, City of White Salmon (1/20/11)
- Mt. Adams Orchard Replacement Line (2/18/11)
May 12, 2011 - Order Modifying and Approving Sediment Assessment, Stabilization and Management Plan May 10, 2011 - Order Approving Aquatic Resources Plan May 9, 2011 - Order Approving Revegetation and Wetlands Management Plan May 6, 2011 - Order Approving Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasures Plan May 4, 2011 - Order Approving Road Impact Assessment Plan April 29, 2011 - Order Modifying and Approving Woody Debris Management Plan
- Six-month Updates
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Settlement Agreement
Explanatory '99
Agreement '99
Agreement 05'
Settlement Agreement Amendment with cover letter to the settlement parties. February 2005
Parties
Relicensing Documents
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Docs
- USDA Forest Service Docs
- Noxious Weed Info
- SEPA
- JARPA
- Sediment Docs
- Biological Opinions
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Docs
USDA Forest Service Docs
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Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area - Consistency Determination for FEIS - December 1996
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Pacific Northwest Region - Consistency Determination for FEIS - December 1996
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Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area - Consistency Determination for FSFEIS - August 2002
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Pacific Northwest Region - Consistency Determination for FSFEIS - August 2002
Noxious Weed Survey and Wetland Inspection Report
The Noxious Weed Survey and Wetland Inspection Report was sent to the State of Washington Department of Ecology and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on January 30, 2008.
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Cover Letter
Transmittal letter to the State of Washington Department of Ecology and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. -
Appendix D - Wetland Review, Inspection, and Potential-Site Data Sheet
Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement
The Final SEIS supplements the following National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documents: Condit Hydroelectric Project Final Environmental Impact Statement, FERC No. 2342-005, Washington (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, October 1996); and Final Supplemental Final Environmental Impact Statement, Condit Hydroelectric Project, Washington, FERC Project No. 2342, (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, June 2002). As part of the SEIS, Ecology is adopting these documents pursuant to provisions of WAC 197-11-610 and 630.
JARPA
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Joint Aquatic Resources Permit Application
Transmitted to Washington Department of Ecology on July 14, 2009.
- Sediment Sampling and Analysis Rpt - March 2007
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Sediment Sampling and Analysis Report - March 2007
RSET is the Regional Sediment Evaluation Team Appendix A - 1994 and 1997 Data - March 2007 Appendix B - Correspondence and Approval Letters - March 2007 Appendix C - Boring Logs - March 2007 Appendix D - Chemical Laboratory Results - March 2007 Appendix E - Physical Parameter Laboratory Results - March 2007 Appendix F - Northwestern Aquatic Sciences Report - March 2007
- Supplemental Evaluation of Mercury in Sediments - December 2007
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Distribution List for RSET
RSET is the Regional Sediment Evaluation Team Appendix A - Supplemental Sampling and Analysis Plan with Addendum Letter Appendix B - Correspondence and Approval Letters Appendix C - Columbia Analytical Services Chemical Laboratory Results Appendix D - Northwest Testing's Physical Parameter Laboratory Results Appendix E - Northwestern Aquatic Sciences Report Appendix F - Brooks Rand Bioaccummulation Testing Analytical Report
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Elevation of Tributary Samples - January 2008
Letter sent to the State of Washington Department of Ecology on January 23, 2008. Letter contains additional information about the sediment sampling locations at Northwestern Lake and the surrounding area.
- Updated Evaluation of Mercury Bioaccumulation - December 2008
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Appendix A - Sampling and Analysis Plan Appendix B - Correspondence and Approval Letters Appendix C - Apex Labs and Columbia Analytical Services Chemical Laboratory Results Appendix D - Kleinfelder Physical Parameter Laboratory Results Appendix E - Northwestern Aquatic Sciences Report Appendix F - Brooks Rand Bioaccummulation Testing Analytical Report