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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
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Experience the majestic beauty of eagles, "Eagle Watch 2000"
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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.
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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
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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.