Habitat protection

In Washington, our efforts on the Lewis River allow migrating fish access to approximately 100 miles of habitat that was previously unavailable.

We also manage 15,156 acres of land around our Lewis River hydroelectric projects to create a healthy place for elk and other wildlife to prosper. 

In 2016, PacifiCorp was named Landowner of the Year for southwest Washington by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. The achievement recognized years of "outstanding habitat management, willingness to share their knowledge with others and efforts to enhance fisheries while providing public access.”

More than 350 acres of additional land was acquired for conservation in 2016 along the Bear River in Franklin County, Idaho. This acquisition brings the total lands protected in Idaho to 3,358 acres, targeted for improving habitat and water quality along, and within, the Bear River.

Reclamation efforts at the Dave Johnston Mine in Glenrock, Wyoming, have been recognized with numerous awards from federal, state and environmental agencies for innovative reclamation techniques that enhance wildlife habitat. The former Dave Johnston Mine site is now home to three wind projects – Glenrock I, Rolling Hills and Glenrock III – which together produce 237 megawatts of renewable energy for customers.

The company’s land along the Bear River in Cache County, Utah, is recognized as an Important Bird Area (as designated by the International Audubon Society) for its remarkable habitat for migratory birds.

In 2022, we conducted avian-protection training for field employees and installed protective equipment companywide on 12,245 power poles and in 80 substations. We reframe poles and install covers on conductors to prevent birds from making electrical contact. In areas where bird collisions are a risk, lines are marked to make them more visible. We also install platforms to provide nesting sites away from energized lines. At company-owned wind projects, we monitor avian activity and curtail turbine activity seasonally. These efforts benefit birds and other wildlife and improve service reliability.

In the coming years, endangered sucker fish in the Klamath Basin will benefit from our continued partnership with The Nature Conservancy to restore wetlands and improve habitats.

Our ongoing partnership with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation is also implementing meaningful habitat restoration to benefit salmon in the Klamath River Basin.

The fish passage project on our facility along the North Umpqua River in Oregon provides fish access to historic spawning grounds unused for more than 60 years. Special bridges across project waterways allow animals to cross between habitats.

On the White Salmon River, fish swim freely through the former Condit Dam site as planted native trees, shrubs and grasses along the riverbank continue to grow.