Proposed dams move forward on Washington's Similkameen River.  Enloe Dam (Project No. 12569-001) announces scoping meetings, preliminary permit issued for Shankers Bend Project (Project No. 12804-000).

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Public Utility District No. 1 of Okanogan County filed for a new license for the 9 MW, 54 foot high Enloe Dam on August 22, 2008.  On December 16th, FERC issued its Notice of Scoping Meetings and Site Visit, and Soliciting Scoping Comments.  The deadline for submitting comments to FERC is February 16, 2009. Evening Scoping Meetings are scheduled for Wednesday, January 14, 2009 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm.  The daytime scoping meeting is scheduled for the next day, Thursday, January 15 from 2:00 to 4:00 pm.  Both meetings are being held at The Depot, 1210 Ironwood Street, Oroville, WA.  FERC staff will attend these meetings and present a list of issues to be addressed in the Environmental Assessment being prepared for this project.

The project site visit is set for Thursday, January 15, 2009, from 9:00 am to noon.  Participants should meet at the Depot at 9:00 am.

A list of intervening comments is attached below. 

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On December 18, 2008, FERC issued a preliminary permit for the proposed Shankers Bend Project to be located just one mile upstream of the Enloe Project.  Shankers Bend is a 42 MW project with a 260 foot high and 1,200 foot long dam.  This project will impound an 18,000 acre reservoir with an average (as listed in the FERC Notice ) depth of 1,289 feet. This project would impound lands located in both Washington State and British Columbia.

Coalition members have repeatedly requested that FERC review these projects together, given their one mile distance and FERC's comprehensive planning requirements.  To date, FERC has maintained that both projects are seperate.  Rumors have existed for months that the Shankers Project is no longer feasible (given political opposition from British Columbia), but the preliminary permit granted is for the full impoundment.