The Twin Lakes Canal Company has formally begun its application with FERC to construct a new hydropower dam in the Oneida Narrows section of the Bear River in southeastern Idaho. The Oneida Narrows is the last free-flowing stretch of the Bear River in Idaho.

In 2002, PacifiCorp reached a comprehensive settlement agreement for its four-dam Bear River Hydropower Project. FERC issued PacifiCorp a new license in 2003, including a provision to study removal of Cove Dam. Pursuant to the study, Cove Dam was removed in fall 2006. The license also includes responsibilities totalling millions in investments for Bonneville cutthroat trout and improvements to river flows.

At the same time, the Twin Lakes Canal Company is trying to build a dam in the Oneida Narrows, the last free-flowing stretch of the Bear River. Idaho Rivers United issued this press release when the Company issued its Pre-Application Document (PAD) and formally initiated the licensing process:

December 15, 2006

For immediate release

Contact: Kevin Lewis IRU, o) 208-343-7481 c) 208-830-4870

New Dam Proposed for Bear River

Project would impair water quality, destroy valuable fish habitat, and flood prime recreation area

BOISE— The Twin Lakes Canal Company has filed its official notice with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) that they are formally initiating the licensing process to construct a hydropower dam in the Oneida Narrows section of the Bear River in southeastern Idaho.

“This dam would result in a tremendous loss for families in Southeastern Idaho and Northern Utah who love the Oneida Narrows for the fishing, camping, and boating opportunities it provides,” said Kevin Lewis, Conservation Director for Idaho Rivers United.

“There is significant local opposition to this ill-founded proposal, and we will work with communities in Franklin County to fight this thing to the death.”

Initial review of the “Pre-Application Document” (PAD), filed yesterday with the FERC, reveals little more than a “warmed over” proposal from a previous licensing attempt in the early 1990s. The earlier licensing attempt was met with near universal opposition from federal and state agencies and conservation groups and caused a groundswell of local opposition. That project was finally withdrawn when the state of Idaho refused the company’s water right application.

In the November election, the Franklin County Commissioners placed an advisory measure on the ballot to gauge the level of public concern about the proposed dam. The project was opposed by 52% of voters.

Idaho Rivers United has significant concerns with this proposed project:

• Water quality in the Bear River will be further degraded and reservoir evaporation will reduce water supplies downstream.
• Critical fish and wildlife habitat will be flooded – including wintering ground for deer and elk.
• If constructed, this project will negatively impact the PacifiCorp hydropower project located just upstream and threatens to derail the Bear River Hydropower settlement – including restoration efforts for Bonneville Cutthroat Trout.
• The Oneida Narrows contains the largest piece of public lands along the entire Bear River in Idaho.

Flooding this land will forever destroy a valuable recreational resource for fishing, camping, kayaking, rafting, tubing and wildlife viewing. Twin Lakes Canal Company will hold a public scoping meeting in Preston, Idaho in March 2007 with a draft license application being submitted to the FERC in September 2007.

Idaho Rivers United is a statewide river conservation organization dedicated to protecting and restoring Idaho’s rivers. For more information please contact Kevin Lewis at (208) 343-7481 or visit http://www.idahorivers.org.