The 1.1 megawatt (MW) Wallowa Falls Hydroelectric Project, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Project No. 308, is located in Wallowa County in north east Oregon, on the East Fork Wallowa River, West Fork Wallowa River and Royal Purple Creek.
The project is approximately seven miles south of the town of Joseph near Wallowa Lake and is partially within the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest.
The 1.1.-megawatt (MW) Wallowa Falls Hydroelectric Project, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) Project No. 308, is located in Wallowa County in north east Oregon, on the East Fork Wallowa River, West Fork Wallowa River and Royal Purple Creek. The project is approximately 7 miles south of the town of Joseph near Wallowa Lake and is partially within the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest.
The Wallowa Falls Hydroelectric Project was initially constructed in 1921 by the Enterprise Electric Company with a generating capacity of 800 kilovolts (kVA). The original license was issued on June 27, 1924 and expired on March 31, 1974. On October 19, 1928 the Commission approved the transfer of the license to the Inland Power and Light Company. By order dated November 23, 1942, the Commission approved the transfer of the license from Inland Power and Light Company to Pacific Power and Light Company. At the time of completion, the Project replaced several small generation sources in the Wallowa Valley and was connected to an existing transmission line servicing the communities of Joseph, Enterprise, Lostine and Wallowa. By order issued April 8, 1929 the Commission amended the license to include the construction of minor Project works for the diversion of water from Royal Purple Creek. In 1967 the original generator was replaced with a new 1,375 kVA (1,100 kW) unit which is still in service.
The current license was issued January 5, 2017 for a period of 40 years and describes actions the company will take to protect bull trout and their habitat and to improve the recreational experience for visitors to the adjacent area.
Project facilities include:
Recreational uses around the Project include camping, hiking, horseback riding, day-use/picnicking and fishing. PacifiCorp provides trail opportunities and manages Pacific Park, a 10-unit campground near the powerhouse tailrace on lands owned by the company.
Additional recreation facilities in the immediate vicinity of the Project include the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) managed trailhead adjacent to the powerhouse, USFS managed East Fork and West Fork trails, Eagle Cap Wilderness, Little Alps State Park (day use), Wallowa Lake State Park (day use and camping), Wallowa Lake Tramway, and two private campgrounds. The little Alps State Park and a State Park maintenance facility are on lands owned by PacifiCorp and leased to the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Department.
PacifiCorp WF Updated Study Reports – January 14 & 15, 2014 Meeting
Presentation for Day 1 am – Cultural Resources – Not for public distribution
Presentation for Day 1 pm – Land Use, Visual and Aesthetic Resources, Recreation Resources
Proposed Mitigation Measures from PLP - USDA FS & OPRD Comments
PacifiCorp WF Preliminary Licensing Proposal
Wallowa Falls Preliminary Licensing Proposal - October 1, 2013
Wallowa Falls Habitat Modeling Preliminary Results
PacifiCorp WF Initial Study Reports – January 15 & 16, 2013 Meeting
Initial Study Report Meeting Summary - January 15, 2013
Initial Study Report Meeting Summary - January 16, 2013
Presentation for Day 2 am – Land Use, Aesthetic Resources, and Recreation Resources
Presentation for Day 2 pm – Cultural Resources – Not for public distribution
PacifiCorp WF Study Progress Reports (Draft Technical Reports) – December 2012
PacifiCorp Initial Study Report – January 2013
Geology and Soils Report Figures and Exhibits
PacifiCorp WF Revised Study Plans – December 2011
WF Response Matrix to Agency and Tribe Comments on Proposed Study Plans
WF Response Matrix to Comments on PAD and Study Requests
Aesthetics & Visual Resources Revised SPs
Aquatics Resources Revised SPs
Cultural Resources Revised SPs
Recreation Resources Revised SPs
Terrestrial Resources Revised SPs
Terrestrial Resources Appendices A-E
PacifiCorp WF Proposed Study Plans – August 2011
Aesthetics and Visual Resources
WF Additional Information Requests – PacifiCorp Responses
PacifiCorp Transmittal Letter Wallowa Falls Operations Info to FERC 08.08.2011
Wallowa Falls Outage Report from 03.01.1986 thru 07.31.2011
Stakeholder Comments on PAD, SD1 and Study Requests
Potential Sensitive Plant List
Threatened Endangered Sensitive Plants Survey
Threatened Endangered Sensitive Plants Element Occurrence
FERC Request for Additional Information 06-23-2011
FERC Scoping Meeting No. 1 Minutes 05-24-2011
Trans Letter to FERC 02-23-2011 Re. NOI and PAD
Notice of Intent (NOI) 02-23-2011
Pre-Application Document (PAD) February 2011
FERC’s NOI to File License App for a New License and Commencing Pre-filing Process
Initial Statement, Exhibits A and G
Exhibit E - Environmental Report
Exhibit E - See February 2014 filing for Appendices B, and D through O
Appendix A - Wallowa Falls Project and Vicinity
Appendix C - Preliminary Design Drawings for Proposed Facilities
Exhibit F - General and Preliminary Design Drawings (CEII), not for public distribution
Cultural Resources - Traditional Cultural Properties Reports (CONFIDENTIAL), not for public distribution
PacifiCorp Revised Biological Assessment for Bull Trout - March 2015
Exhibit A - Project Description
Exhibit E - Environmental Report
Exhibit E - Appendices
Appendix A Wallowa Falls Project and Vicinity
Appendix B Exhibit G – Current License
Appendix C Preliminary Design Drawings for Proposed Facilities
Appendix D Turbidity Monitoring Plan for Maintenance Forebay Flushing
Appendix E Access Road Inspection and Maintenance Plan
Appendix F Simulated Habitat as an Indicator of Upstream Conditions
Appendix G Terrestrial Study Area
Appendix I Riparian and Wetland Area Map
Appendix J Vegetation Cover Map
Appendix K Noxious Weeds Management Plan
Appendix L Vegetation Management Plan
Appendix M Recreation and Aesthetic/Visual Resource Management Plan
Appendix O Draft Unanticipated Discovery Plan
Exhibit F - General and Preliminary Design Drawings (CEII), not for public distribution
PacifiCorp Biological Assessment for Bull Trout - February 2014
FERC - Request for Additional Information - March 27, 2014
Response to Deficiency of License Application and Request for Additional Information - June 25, 2014
FERC - Request for Additional Information - July 24, 2014
Response to Request for Additional Information - October 22, 2014
Schedule A, Attachment D Transect Data - Available upon request. Please contact kimberly.mccune@pacificorp.com
Notice of intent to request an amendment to pending License Application, November 24, 2014
Bull Trout Redd Monitoring Report, November 2023
Fish Salvage & Temporary Tailrace Barrier Report, November 2023
Bull Trout Redd Monitoring Report, December 2022
Fish Salvage & Temporary Tailrace Barrier Report, December 2022
Bull Trout Redd Monitoring Report, December 2021
Fish Salvage & Temporary Tailrace Barrier Report, December 2021
Water Quality Monitoring and Management Plan, January 2021
Bull Trout Redd Monitoring Report, December 2020
Fish Salvage & Temporary Tailrace Barrier Report, December 2020
Bull Trout Redd Monitoring Report, December 2019
Fish Salvage & Temporary Tailrace Barrier Report, December 2019
Bull Trout Redd Monitoring Report, December 2018
Fish Salvage & Temporary Tailrace Barrier Report, December 2018
Bull Trout Redd Monitoring Report, December 2017
Fish Salvage & Temporary Tailrace Barrier Report, December 2017
Bull Trout Genetics Monitoring Plan, June 2017
Bull Trout Redd Monitoring Plan, June 2017
Turbidity Monitoring Plan for Forebay Flushing, June 2017
Water Quality Monitoring and Management Plan - March 2017
Noxious Weed Control Plan Annual Report, December 2023
Noxious Weed Control Plan Annual Report, December 2022
Noxious Weed Control Plan Annual Report, December 2021
Noxious Weed Control Plan Annual Report, December 2020
2020 Special Status Plant Report - October 2020
Noxious Weed Control Plan Annual Report, December 2019
2018 Special Status Plant Report - January 2019
Noxious Weed Control Plan Annual Report, December 2018
Noxious Weed Control Plan Annual Report, December 2017
Noxious Weed Control Plan, June 2017
Wallowa Falls 2021 Annual Report and Rolling 4-Year Project Management Activities Calendar Years 2021 - 2024
Recreation and Aesthetics/Visual Resources Management Plan, March 2018
Oil Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure Plan (SPCC), December 29, 2014
2023 Annual Operational Compliance Report, December 2023
No forebay flushing took place in 2023 due to ongoing coordination with the US Army Corps of Engineers, Oregon Division of State Lands, and Oregon Department of Environmental Quality to renew the Clean Water Act Section 404 permit for Project forebay flushing.
2022 Annual Operational Compliance Report, December 2022
Forebay Flushing Report, August 2022
2021 Annual Operational Compliance Report, December 2021
Forebay Flushing Report, July and August 2021
2020 Annual Operational Compliance Report, December 2020
Forebay Flushing Report, August 2020
2019 Annual Operational Compliance Report, December 2019
Forebay Flushing Report, August 2019
2018 Annual Operational Compliance Report, December 2018
Forebay Flushing Report, August 2018
Geology and Soils Updated Study Report
Water Resources Updated Study Report
Aquatic Resources Updated Study Report
Instream Flow and Habitat Updated Study Report
Terrestrial Updated Study Report
Recreation Resources Updated Study Report
Aesthetics and Visual Resources Updated Study Report
Sediment and Substrate Characterization Updated Study Report
Cultural Resources Updated Study Report - not for public distribution answer.
State Historic Preservation Office - January 8, 2016
State Historic Preservation Office - September 21, 2015
Additional Information Requests (AIR); DRAFT Project Status Meeting Summary, November 4, 2014
Additional Information Requests (AIR); Project Status Power Point, November 4, 2014
Updated Study Report Meeting Summary - January 14, 2014
Updated Study Report Meeting Summary - January 15, 2014
July 10, 2013 - Instream Flow Incremental Method Meeting Summary
June 13, 2013 - Instream Flow Incremental Method Meeting Summary
June 11, 2013 - Recreation Meeting Summary
April 25, 2013 - Instream Flow Incremental Method Meeting Summary
January 16, 2013 - Initial Study Reports Meeting Summary
January 15, 2013 - Initial Study Reports Meeting Summary
October 23, 2012 - 1st Year Studies Field Work Progress Meeting Summary
June 12, 2012 - Instream Flow Incremental Method Meeting Summary
August 31, 2011 with October 12, 2011 Comments - Study Plan Meeting Summary
Russ Howison
Project Manager
PacifiCorp
825 NE Multnomah Street, Suite 1800
Portland, Oregon 97232
(503) 813-6626
russ.howison@pacificorp.com