Image provided by: The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs; Warm Springs, OR
About Spilyay tymoo. (Warm Springs, Or.) 1976-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 24, 2000)
,5GB TO. j 4, Cf2 Spilyay Tymoo (Coyote News) P.O. Box 870 Warm Springs, OR 97761 Change Service Requested U.S. Postage Bulk Rate Termit No. 2 Warm Springs, OR 97761 vxic,vv" ..ings, OR 97761 JA A- .flings, OR 97761 ' " " Experience the majestic beauty of eagles, "Eagle Watch 2000" 7J ' k k. 'Kit II I 1 fc. i V: i . I Bald Eagles are seen daily along the Deschutes River, across the highway from the Deschutes Crossing Restaurant in Warm Springs. "77? recovery of the bald eagle, once nearly extinct, is a cause for great celebration, " said Warren ft Clements, Tribal Relations Branch Director for The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. "Resident and migratory bald eagles can easily be seen around the lake area this time of year, as can a number of resident golden eagles," he added. ,1. 5 ! 1 x ! ( ! ! i I j Spilyay tymoo. This photo was taken by the boat landing across rrom Rainbow Market and Highway 26 Spilyay Tymoo photos by Bob Medina Understanding the Pelton Round Butte Hydroelectric project Using the mechanical power contained naturally in falling water as a tool to aid human work is an age old practice. Water was used by the Greeks to turn wheels for grinding wheat into flour more than 2,000 years ago, and by countless others in imaginative ways throughout history. In more recent times, water power has become an essential component of electricity generation for much in the world. i In central Oregon, the potential of the Deschutes River to generate electricity was first recognized as far back as 1 9 1 1 . Since that time, events "associated with the development of that potential, including the Jconstruction of the Pelton Round 'Butte Hydroelectric Project, have dramatically shaped history, influencing the economy, natural resources, and the Tribes, j On March 28, tribal members will now be asked to shape the future of hydropower in the region, by deciding if the Tribes should buy a majority 'share of the Pelton Round Butte Hydroelectric project. One-third of the project is located on tribal lands. This article will help readers better understand the hydroelectric project by answering some frequently asked questions. How big is the Pelton Round Butte project? In terms of electricity generated, the project is the largest privately-owned hydroelectric facility in Oregon. At 427 megawatts, it generates enough electricity each year to power an entire city the size of Salem. Geographically, the project extends about 10 miles on the Deschutes River. What facilities are associated with the project? It consists of three dams and associated structures. The most upstream element of the project is the Round Butte dam, completed in 1964. It is located about 14 miles north of Warm Springs. Made primarily of rock, the dam rises about 440 feet above the riverbed. The powerhouse is located at the bottom of the dam. The dam forms Lake Billy Chinook, the popular and economically important recreational attraction. About 7 miles downstream of Round Butte is the Pelton dam. Pelton dam, about 200 feet high, is made of concrete. At the time that it was built in 1958, this dam was the thinnest structure of its type in the US. The Pelton dam creates Lake Simtustus, also very popular with water sport enthusiasts. About 3 miles farther downstream is the reregulating development. The smallest facility of the hydro complex, its dam is made from a mixture of concrete and rock and stands about 90 feet high. Since 1 982, the Tribes have owned the generation equipment at the reregulating facility. The Tribes sell the power from this facility under a long-term contract to PacifiCorp. What about the environment? Hydroelectric facilities do not emit air pollution and do not rely on oil, gas, or coal-resources that are non renewable. Electricity from hydropower has traditionally been viewed as a renewable resource, but unlike wind, geothermal, biomass, and other renewable energy sources that are characterized by having relatively few environmental consequences, hydropower does have environmental impacts. While hydropower's energy source-water-is renewable, the river ecosystems that dams affect are not. The decline of numerous salmon species throughout the Northwest is generally attributed to the presence of dams, in combination with other reasons. Majority ownership by the Tribes of the project will result in greater control over the management of natural resources in the Deschutes River watershed. The environment and the Deschutes River fisheries could be a major beneficiary of the Tribes gaining increased ownership. PGE and the Tribes have already , agreed on a goal of restoring fish populations above the dams. What's the market like for electric power? Electricity from hydro projects is the least expensive way to generate power in comparison to every other method. Demand for this power is currently very solid, and expected to grow in the coming years parallel with the exploding population of the Northwest area. Pelton Round Butte Project fTt Warm Springs Of I tomt.hood J I I AND PORTLAND -m Rmgultflng MM 197 Kmtmlmlmmmmmmimlmmm Owtook - V V k26 I mimdhi "ri f SimtusiA pgb ,. , Vf , iund M Dm 1 offl Madras A" MAohsKwtai tomihm -MX I TO PRINEVILU Jf OiMookliUml I W Caomj J"W J 1 J 1 SuiePifi K I I jf I TO (END A NO CaMnnl Trfbd af ike Wan RmmltM af OnfM VOTE March 28! On March 28, tribal members will be asked to approve the Settlement Agreement between PGE, the Tribes and the US Department of the Interior. The Settlement Agreement defines the terms of and price for the Pelton Round Butte Hydroelectric Project. Under the agreement, the Tribes would purchase portions of the project from PGE over a proposed 50-year license period. On December 31, 2001, the Tribes would acquire one-third interest and PGEis rental payment of about $10 million to the Tribes would stop. Instead, the Tribes will earn money directly from the sale of electricity. Twenty years later, the Tribes will have the option to increase their share to 49.99 percent. The Tribes could later elect to increase their ownership to 50.01 percent by 2037. The purchase price for the hydroelectric project is well below market value. Seeking tree thinners The Warm Springs Branch of Forestry has determined that nu merous areas on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation forest are over stocked with young trees and need to be thinned. The Precommercial Thinning Program is seeking tribal member thinners to submit bids for contracts. Those submitting bids must be tribal members, have a minimum of one year of thinning experience, proper equipment, a vehicle, appro priate insurance and knowledge of the bidding process. They will also be required to complete a question naire on thinning experience. For more information, please contact Kevin Senderak or Victor Switzler at 553-2416 or write to Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Attn.: Forestry, PO Box C; Warm Springs, OR 97761. Tribal Land Use Committee to consider cell phone towers Notice is hereby given that the Tribal Land Use Planning Committee is taking under consideration the following land use request application which would be situated on Tribal Lands. An application was submitted by Wireless Personal Communications System Towers. This application applies to Property located as follows: in, on, and near Beaver Butte (customer reference name) area, in the NE 14 of Section 3, along the S592-C road. Township 6 South, Range 10 East, Willamette Meridian, Wasco County, Oregon, containing 0.625 acres, more or less, in on and near HeHe Butte area, in the SW 14 of Section 18, Township 7 South, Range 1 1 East, Willamette Meridian, Wasco County, Oregon, containing 0.625 acres, more or less. Construction plans may be viewed at the Realty Office, Administration Building. This application is for the purpose of Transmission towers for cell phones. Any comments, remarks or objection, should be addressed to the attention of the Land Use Planning Committee, Tribal Administration Building.
