Cowlitz Falls Hydroelectric Project
Columbia River Basin; Cowlitz River, Lewis County, Washington
Project Profile
This dam is 140 feet high and spans about 700 feet across the Cowlitz River. It affects ESA-listed fish by inundating their habitat, stranding and entrapping them, elevating temperatures in Lake Scanewa, and other harmful actions.
Listed Species
Lower Columbia River steelhead
Licensee
Lewis County Public Utility District No. 1
FERC Relicensing Status
FERC issued the license in 1986 and the dam was completed in 1994. NMFS completed a biological opinion on June 2, 2009. Bonneville Power Administration constructed and oversees operation of a downstream facility that collects fish at the dam.
Resources
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
FERC eLibrary: Docket #P-2833
NOAA Fisheries Biological Opinion dated June 2, 2009; NMFS Consultation No. 2002/00945
Related videos
West Coast Region
NOAA Fisheries Service
