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February 10, 2025

National Finalist: Gold Award
Environmental

Photo from ACEC Washington [enlarge]
The facility includes eight structures and three residences for staff.

HDR

Native Salmonid Conservation Facility

Seattle City Light

Since its completion in 1967, the Boundary Dam, standing 340 feet tall, has provided Seattle City Light (SCL) with 1,117 megawatts of electricity. As part of the dam’s 2009 Federal Energy Regulatory Commission license renewal, SCL committed to evaluating the impact of its operations on threatened and endangered species.

Located in Usk, Washington, the $27 million Native Salmonid Conservation Facility represents SCL’s latest initiative to protect and restore the threatened Westslope Cutthroat Trout (WCT) in the Pend Oreille River watershed.

This facility works to establish self-sustaining WCT populations by capturing genetically pure fish from local tributaries, spawning them, and releasing the progeny as eyed eggs, unfed fry, or fingerlings. The project also involves eradicating non-native species that compete with the WCT. Each population is carefully preserved by segregating fish based on their geographic origins.

In addition to breeding, the facility rescues trout from local streams, using advanced aquaculture techniques to increase their chances of survival before returning them to their native habitats. With Westslope Cutthroat Trout numbers having dropped by 90%, these fish serve as an indicator of watershed health and were nearly placed on the endangered species list. The hatchery will eventually raise other endangered species, such as the Bull Trout and Mountain Whitefish.

The project faced several challenges, including replacing a small dam, ensuring a sufficient domestic water supply, dealing with shallow groundwater and managing severe weather. The facility includes eight structures and three residences for staff.

The project was a collaborative effort, involving SCL, the Kalispel Tribe, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and others. The ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 29, 2024, celebrated the opening of the facility, and highlighted the partnerships and vision for long-term sustainability.


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