HomeMy WebLinkAboutE3-140326-PCA_DNR_WaterRtsAppXmtlENGINEERS • PLANNERS - ENERGY CONSULTANTS
March 26, 2014
Clint Gundelfinger
Alaska Department of Natural Resources
Division of Mining, Land, and Water
400 Willoughby Avenue, Suite 400
PO Box 111020
Juneau, AK 99801
Subject: Water Rights Application for New Burro Creek Hydroelectric Project
Dear Mr. Gundelfinger:
Enclosed please find a water rights application and associated supporting information for a
proposed run -of -river hydroelectric project on Burro Creek near Skagway, Alaska. The
proposed project would be entirely located on USS 1560, which is owned by the applicant,
Burro Creek Holdings, LLC (BCH). BCH is currently studying the project, and needs to secure a
priority date for the water rights to support continued investment in the project. A feasibility
study for the new project was completed in 2011, and a stream gauge has been maintained on
the creek since December 2009 to collect discharge data.
There are existing water rights on Burro Creek for an existing smaller hydroelectric project (ADL
100019) and other uses (ADL 55358 and ADL 100819). These water rights are also held by BCH.
Allocation of water between these uses and the proposed new hydroelectric project would be
addressed internally by BCH.
There is a 15-foot waterfall located at river mile 0.15 that is a barrier to fish passage. The
current development concept calls for the new powerhouse to be located above the waterfall,
so no fish habitat permit would be required for the project. If the powerhouse site is revised to
a different location, the need for a fish habitat permit would be reevaluated.
Please contact me with any questions.
Sincerely,
Joel D. Groves, PE
Project Engineer
cc:
Jan Wrentmore, Owner/Member, Burro Creek Holdings, LLC
Attachments:
1. Water Rights Application
2. Documentation of Property Ownership
3. Maps showing project location and proposed project development
4. Most recent project stream gauging memo (February 2013)
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