University of Oregon Energy Profile hydroelectric power

Data:

Hydroelectric Power

Hydro in the Northwest:

While hydroelectricity makes up only 10% of the nation's energy profile, in the Northwest we derive most of our power from that source. For both EWEB and the BPA, over 66% of the total power resources comes from hydroelectric generated power plants, such as the Grand Coulee, John Day, Chief Joseph, Ice Harbor, McNary, Smith Creek, or Carmon-Smith projects.

EWEB contracts 3.6% of its electricity from the Grant County PUD, which runs the Priest Rapids and the Wanapum hydroelectric plants on the Columbia river. Another 0.9% of EWEB's total electricity load is generated by the Mica dam in British Columbia through a treaty with BC Hydro.

Benefits to the Region:

Hydroelectric power is considered a "renewable" energy. This type of energy production is free from air pollution and the primary fuel source (water) is not depleted in the generation process. Also, hydro plants have a long generation life, generally about 50 years.

Mica Dam, British Columbia

Source for photo: www.highwaylodge.com/highway/bc_23/images/mica_dam01.html

The Downside:

Dams have a remarkable impact on water downstream. In regards to flood protection, dams are highly successful. Unfortunately, this means that water flowing downstream is deeper and faster. These factors cause the reduction in nutrients or sediment (turbidity) in the water and also affect spawning practices. Dams also cause fluctuations in temperature of water. Changes in water temperature affect oxygen absorption, which is detrimental to salmon and other fish populations.

Due to the reduction in floods, as a result of the construction of a dam, the necessary nutrients and sediments do not replenish with the natural floodplain. This can affect the bio diversity of riparian vegetation along a waterway.

Dams also block passage along the waterway, making it difficult for salmon to return upstream for spawning. Fish ladders, although somewhat helpful to salmon passage, are not located at every dam (Grand Coulee for example). This has greatly decreased current salmon populations.

Why Should I Care About Salmon?

Not only do Salmon have an impact on the economony of the Pacific Northwest, they also play an essential role in the biological make up of this region. Over the past 100 years, the reduction in salmon populations has dramatically diverted huge amounts of nutrients away from rivers. Most salmon populations are anadromous, meaning, they spawn in small streams and other tributaries and eventually work their way to the ocean, where they spend the majority of their lives. In so doing, the fish grow over the years from feeding in the nutrient-rich ocean. In the last leg of their lives, these fish return to the small stream they once hatched from to spawn again. After spawning, these fish generally die and the nutrients they carry (from the ocean) are deposited. According to the Washington Wildlife Federation, currently only 3% of the nutrients once transported by anadromous fish actually reach these rivers.

Photo Source: http://www.pnl.gov/news/1999/99-16.htm

Back to Energy Production