Cutler

The Cutler Project (P-2420) Dam is located in Box Elder County, Utah, approximately 13 miles northwest of the town of Logan, in Cache County, Utah, although the vast majority of the project lands are located in Cache County. The project lands take up much of the western portion of the Cache Valley.

Finished in 1924, Cutler is the lowest PacifiCorp hydroelectric facility on the Bear River.

The Cutler project receives summer water from the Bear Lake Irrigation Project that pumps water from Bear Lake into the river during the irrigation season. Two irrigation canals divert water from the east and west sides of Cutler Dam during the irrigation season, which reduces or eliminates power generation during the summer months.

The historic Cutler powerhouse is a three story steel framed brick building. It is located on the north bank of the river below the dam.  The powerhouse contains two generating units with a total of 30 megawatts of renewable, emission-free energy. 

There are approximately 9,200 acres of project-land habitat around the reservoir.  This vast emergent marsh wetland and adjacent uplands area supports abundant water fowl, shorebirds, and other wildlife. In consideration of the importance of this habitat, water fluctuations of the reservoir are maintained within specific guidelines. Every five years PacifiCorp reports to federal, state and non-governmental partners the monitoring results of its license implementation activities related to the management of these habitat lands.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued a 30-year license for the Cutler Project on April 29, 1994 (FERC License No. 2420). The license requires the provision of a Cutler Resource Management Plan and specifies recreational enhancements, shoreline buffers, bank stabilization, fencing, fish habitat structures, wildlife habitat and water quality enhancements, improvements to agricultural leases, mitigation for impacts on wetlands, and the preparation of a cultural resource plan.

Cutler Hydroelectric License - Project No. 2420

2018 Water Quality Analysis and Summary Report for Cutler Reservoir, Utah

Cutler Resource Management Plan - July 1995

2013 - 2017 Resource Management Plan 5-Year Monitoring Report - March 2018 (corrected Appendix E April 2020)

2008 - 2012 Resource Management Plan 5-Year Monitoring Report - March 2013

2003 - 2007 Resource Management Plan 5-Year Monitoring Report - March 2008

1995 - 2002 Resource Management Plan 5-Year Monitoring Report - December 2002

Revised Technical Study Plans - Volume III, January 2020 (Clean)

Revised Technical Study Plans - Volume III, January 2020 (Redline)

Proposed Technical Study Plans - Volume III, September 2019

Notice of Intent to File Application for New License - March 29, 2019

Cutler Pre-Application Document - Volume I, March 2019

Cutler Pre-Application Document (Appendices) - Volume II, March 2019 

Cutler Helpful Links

FERC page on eFiling and eSubscriptions, as well as their Help link

Federal Power Act regulations governing hydroelectric power generation and the Integrated Licensing Process specifically

 

WQC Application

Aerial Map of the Cutler Project Site

Response to FERC Additional Information Request - June 3, 2022

Transmittal Letter to FERC

Attachment A - Exhibit E Supplemental Text 

Final License Application - March 28, 2022

Transmittal Letter to FERC

Volume I - Initial Statement; and Exhibits A, B, C, D, E, F (Public), G, and H, with Appendix A

Volume II - Exhibit F - Project Drawings and Supporting Technical Information Document - Confidential, not for public distribution

Final License Application - Volume I, March 2022 (Redline)

Draft License Application - October 29, 2021

Transmittal Letter to FERC

Volume I: Intital Statement; and Exhibits A, B, C, D, E, F (Public), G, and H, with Appendix A

Volume II: Exhibit F - Project Drawings and Supporting Technical Information Document - Confidential, not for public distribution

Updated Study Report and Draft License Application PM&E Measures Workshop Meeting Summary - August 31, 2021  

Cutler USR Meeting Agenda – August 31, 2021

Cutler Request to Expedite Updated Study Report Process - August 18, 2021

Cutler Updated Study Report and Notice of Intent to File Draft License Application - August 17, 2021

Cutler Initial Study Report Response to Comments - May 5, 2021

Cutler ISR Meeting Agenda – February 23, 2021

Cutler ISR Meeting Summary - February 23, 2021

Cutler ISR PowerPoint Presentation - February 23, 2021

Cutler Initial Study Report (ISR), Volume I - February 2021

Cutler ISR, Volume II – Appendix J Privileged Attachments (Confidential, Not for Public Viewing) – February 2021

 

Cutler First Study Season Progress Update -  July 31, 2020

Cutler Visitor Survey

Cutler Relicensing Study Plan Meeting – October 8, 2019 

• October 8, 2019 Meeting Notes
• Meeting Agenda
• Powerpoint Presentation 
• Posters
• FERC Study Criteria

Cutler Relicensing Stakeholder Kickoff Workshop - June 25, 2019

• Workshop Notes 
• Meeting Agenda
• Powerpoint Presentation
• Posters
• Study Topic Evaluation

Study Plan Annotated Outlines

• Cultural Resources
• Fish and Aquatic Resources
• Hydraulic Modeling
• Land Use
• Recreation
• Sedimentation
• Shoreline Habitat
• Threatened and Endangered Species 

Announcements

• Cutler Relicensing Stakeholder Workshop Announcement - June 25, 2019
• FERC Cutler Relicensing Site Visit Announcement - June 26, 2019
• FERC Cutler Relicensing Public Scoping Meeting Announcement - June 27, 2019

Cutler Project Stakeholder Kickoff Workshop - February 13, 2019

• February 13, 2019 Agenda and Meeting Minutes
• Cutler Overview PowerPoint Presentation 
• Cutler Map

May 9, 2017

Bear River Capacity Discussion: Concepts Under Evaluation PowerPoint

Cutler Hydroelectric Project Map

Cutler Hydroelectric Project Map with Adjoiners

Map of Cutler Reservoir Recreation Facilities & Boater Use Zones

June 2017 Recreation Day-Use Rules

Spring 2015 - Canoeing Cutler Marsh, Photo courtesty of Shelley Dyer

Cutler Boater Zone Definitions

PacifiCorp recreation facilities are for use to all members of the public without regard to race, color, religious creed, or national origin, or any other status protected under applicable local, state, or federal law.

Cutler Outflows - Historical through Water Year 2012

Site Number 10118000 - BEAR RIVER NEAR COLLINSTON, UT

Site Number 10117000 - HAMMOND (EAST SIDE) CANAL NEAR COLLINSTON, UT

Site Number 10117500 - WEST SIDE CANAL NEAR COLLINSTON, UT

Public Safety Notification

Safety is a top priority for PacifiCorp. To ensure public safety at Cutler, emergency evacuation sirens have been installed at Cutler Dam and near the Camp Fife Boy Scout Camp.

The sirens have been installed as a proactive measure to prevent delays in communication in the unlikely event that sudden flooding or rapid changes in water flows force evacuation of the campground or areas immediately below Cutler Dam. These sirens are not intended to communicate evacuation orders to residences outside the area.

The sirens will not be used to alert people for other types of emergencies. Although residents outside the Cutler Dam area may hear the sirens, they are not expected to take any evacuation actions and should instead listen for emergency information from local authorities.

Any necessary evacuations at other Cutler recreational areas will be conducted by PacifiCorp staff or local authorities as appropriate.