West Coast Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Licensed Hydroelectric Projects

The Federal Power Act (FPA) requires hydropower project owners to obtain a license from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The FPA authorizes NOAA Fisheries to issue mandatory improvements for fish passage (pursuant to FPA section 18) and to recommend other measures (pursuant to FPA sections 10(a) and 10(j)) to protect anadromous salmon, steelhead, and sturgeon and to improve their habitats. Some of these fish are listed as threatened or endangered and have critical habitat designated under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

NOAA Fisheries biologists and engineers participate in FERC re-licensing projects on the West Coast, many of which negatively affect aquatic habitat and lack adequate facilities for safe fish passage. NOAA Fisheries staff set standards for upstream and downstream fish passage as well as recommend improvements to water quality, spawning gravel, and other important aspects of salmonid habitat. We work collaboratively with project owners to design solutions based on the unique conditions of each river, including state of the art fish passage facilities that help fish pass dams in a manner that is more aligned with their natural behavior.