The ongoing conflict between operators of a privately-owned, power-producing dam and Pierce County government reached a new high this month.
At issue is Electron Dam which – for more than a century – has spanned the Puyallup River in the south section of the county.
The recent brouhaha between Electron Hydro and the county was jump-started when dam operators placed artificial turf in the river. That included the rubber “crumbs” that typically form the base of the turf to give it a more natural feel. The county had already initiated a stop-work order but a Sept. 14 press release ratcheted things up a notch: County Executive Bruce Dammeier outlined a list of mitigation steps that must be taken but made one thing very clear – he wants the dam gone.
ABOUT THAT TURF
According to reports, dam operators used thousands of yards of artificial turf during a reconstruction project, a late-July procedure that was not permitted.
That was reportedly brought to light by an employee who walked off the job and resigned in protest, then posted the developments to social media. The turf was battered by the river, unleashing a wave of tiny, black pebbles that quickly traveled downstream. Making matters worse, there was a “fish kill” at the dam on the same day, the result of dewatering a section of river during routine maintenance.
According to news accounts, among the fish perishing were species protected by the Endangered Species Act.
The issue of the artificial turf and the ensuing spill of crumb rubber was reported to regulators Aug. 4 and the stop-work order was issued Aug. 7.
PIERCE COUNTY BLASTS OPERATION
Pierce County’s Sept. 14 press release noted that Dammeier cited “inexcusable environmental harm” and “irresponsible management” as part of a letter to dam operators. He outlines steps the dam owners must take but made clear his intention to see the 12-foot tall wooden dam removed from the Puyallup River.
“The harm caused by this obsolete, 116-year-old dam in a river that supports threatened salmon runs far exceeds any possible benefit the owners might claim,” said Dammeier. “Electron Hydro deliberately placed artificial turf full of crumb rubber into the river, and that’s simply unacceptable. The damage to future salmon runs is impossible to measure.”
The Puyallup River Watershed is home to the only spring Chinook salmon run in the region, as well as other fish species. The long-term health of Chinook salmon carries significant weight, as Chinook are a critical food source for orca whales.
The letter sent to Electron Hydro said the stop-work order will remain in effect and requires the company to immediately stabilize the dam site, remove the potentially toxic artificial turf and buried concrete culverts, along with a long list of other obligations.
The county release states that Dammeier “intends to move forward with all parties and agencies involved to have the dam removed as soon as possible.”
Additional bad news for the operators came from Puget Sound Energy. PSE formerly owned the Electron Dam but still purchases energy created by the operation; PSE has halted its agreement with Electron Hydro and, further, has indicated it will file a lawsuit due to the environmental damage done to the river.
ABOUT THE DAM PROJECT
The company website notes that the Electron Dam operation first generated energy in April 1904.
At the dam, water from the Puyallup River is diverted into a wooden flume that stretches downhill for 10.2 miles and delivers water to a 26 megawatt powerhouse. One of the unusual features is a rail car that travels on top of the flume, transporting workers and materials.
It is a run-of-river dam, meaning water continuously flows, instead of being backed up into a reservoir.
