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Home My WebLink AboutAPA2972SOUTHCENTRALRAILBELTAREA,ALASKAINTERIMFEASIBILITYREPORTHYDROELECTRICPOWERANDRELATEDPURPOSESFORTHEUPPERSUSITNARIVERBASINTHESTUDYANDREPORTPREPAREDBYTHEALASKADISTRICT,CORPSOFENGINEERSDEPARTMENTOFTHEARMY12DECEMBER1975 SYLLABUSThepJtuerLte£ec.tJU.e.ai..poweJt.6Y.6.:tem06.:theRtU1.be£.:tMea.06South-centJtal.Ala!.>kae.o1U>.io.:t.6pJr.J..maJU.1..y06na..:tuJ1.a1.ga!.>.:theJtmal.and.:twtbinep.tan.:Uin.:theAnc.hoJtageaJtea.andc.oal.-6iJted.:theJtmai..pfun..:t.6in..:theFMltbank.6Me,a.Powe/tdemand,pJtuenily2bUlionWowa.:t.:t-hoUJl-6annu.a.liy,.iopJtojec..:ted.:toJteae.h5.5blt£ionWowa..:t.:t-hoUJl-6by1980and15bUlionby.:theyeM2000.Twdemande.olLtdbeme.:t.:thJtoughexpandedU.6e06na.:tuJta.i.ga!.>,e.oai..,andpe.:tJto.teum;howeveJt,Jtec.ogn.i.:tion06.:theUmlied.6Upp.tyandJtapid!lAte06dep.te.tion06.:thuev-Lt.o...tnOMene.wa.b.teJtUOUltc.udemand.6.:theiJte.oIU>eJtvaUonandm0.6.:tben.e6J..c.ia.i.U.6e.Tfl..ioin..:tvWn.6.:tudy.io.:tode.:teJtrrl,{ne.:the6eMibilliy06pltovidinge,te,c..:tJtie.a1.eneJtgy.:to.:theRtU1.be£.:tMea..:tW1..Ough.:thedeve£opmerLt06.:theJtme,Wabf.ehydJtoef.ec.tJU.e.JtuOUlte.epo.:tential.06.:theUppeJtSU.6linaRiveJtBa!.>in.The.6.:tudy6ind.6.6ue.hdevef.opmerLt.:tee.hnie.all..y,ec.onomie.all..y,ande,nv,Utonme..nta.Uy6e..a!.>ibf.eandjU.6ti6ied.The.6.:tudy6ind.6.:that.:theplanbe.6.:t.6eJtving.:thepublie.in..:teJte.6.:te.OIU>.io.:t.606a.:two-dam.6y.6.:temutilizing.:theWa.:tanaandVevilCanyondam.6lieAnea/tmilu165and134,Jte.6pec..:tivef.y,on.:theSU.6linaRiveJt.The,Wa.:tanaVam,.:tobee.olU>.:tJtuc..:ted6iM.:t,wolLtdbean810-600.:t-higheaJt.:th6ill.6.:tJtuc..:tuJtewithapoweJtpfurLtandappuJt.:ten.arLtae.c.u.6,.:tJta.1U>-m.io.6ion,ando.:theJt6ac.ilitie.6.TheVevilCanyonVamwolLtdbea635-6oo.:t-fughc.onc.Jte.:te.:thin.-Me.h.6.:tJtuc..:tUltewlihapoweJtpla.n..:tandappuJt.:tenarLt6ac.ilitie.6•The..6Y.6.:tem,inc...e.udingfulledvi.6lioJtandJtec.Jtea.tion6ac.iliUeA,wOlLidhaveapJtojec..:te.0.6.:t06$1,520,000,000,andpJtovide6.91blt£ion~owa.:t.:t-hoUJl-606mexgyanl1Ua..t.ty.Annual.e.o.6.:t.606$104,020,000wolLtdbeexe.eededbyannual.bene6i.:t.606$137,876,000,andwouldgiveabme6li-.:to-e.O.6.:tJtaUo061.3a!.>c.ompMed.:toae.onven.:tional.e.oa..t-6iJtedgen.eJta.tionaLteJtnative.Revised1Jun76 SOUTHCENTRALRAILBELTAREA;ALASKAIlnERI~1FEASIBILITYREPORTFORHYDROELECTRICPOWER.ANDRELATEDPURPOSESFORTHEUPPERSUSITNARIVERBASINTHESTUDYAt'JDREPORTPURPOSEANDAUTHORITYDuetothecontinuingrapidpopulationgrowthintheSouthcentralRailbeltareaofAlaskaandbecauseoftheincreasingnationalconcernovertheneedtoconservethenation'snonrenewableenergyresources,theCommitteeonPublicWorksoftheU.S.Senateadoptedaresolutionon18January1972requestingareviewofthefeasibilityofprovidinghydropowertotheSouthcentralRailbeltarea.Theresolutionisquotedasfollows:"ThattheBoardofEngineersforRiversandHarborscreatedundertheprovisionsofSection3oftheRiverandHarborActapprovedJune13,1902,be,andisherebyrequestedtoreviewthereportsoftheChiefofEngineerson:CookInletandTributaries,Alaska,publishedasHouseDocumentNumber34,Eighty-fifthCongress;CopperRiverandGulfCoast,Alaska,pub-lishedasHouseDocumentNumber182,Eighty-thirdCongress;TananaRiverBasin,Alaska,publishedasHouseDocumentNumber137,Eighty-fourthCongress;YukonandKuskokwimRiverBasins,Alaska,publishedasHouseDocumentNumber218,Eighty-eighthCongress;andotherpertinentreportswithaviewtodeterminingwhetheranymodificationsoftherecommendationscon-tainedthereinareadvisableatthepresenttime,withparticularreferencetotheSusitnaRiverhydro-electricpowerdevelopmentsystem,includingtheDevilCanyonProjectandanycompetitivealternativesthereto,fortheprovisionofpowertotheSouthcentralRailbeltareaofAlaska."Whiletheprimarypurposeofthisreportistorespondtothisresolution,planformulationwillbebasedonexistingnationalpolicyandwillgivefullconsiderationtotheeconomic,social,andenviron-mentalconcernsofthepUblic,inorderthatanyrecommendedplanwillinsurethemaximumsustainedpublicbenefitfromtheuseofthewaterresourcesoftheregion. SCOPEOFTHESTUDYThestudyandreportareoffeasibilityscopeandarenotintendedtobeadetailedprojectdesign.ThereportisanInterimReportontheUpperSusitnaRiverBasininpartialresponsetotheCongressionalResolution.Thestudyisasystematicexaminationoftheeconomic,social,andenvironmentalconditionsoftheRailbeltareaastheyrelatetoelectricalenergyneedsandhydroelectricandrelatedwaterresourcepotential.Itembodiestheconceptsofmulti-objectiveplanninginaccordancewiththedirectivesandguidanceprovidedbytheNationalEnvironmentalPolicyActof1969(NEPA),Section122oftheRiverandHarborandFloodControlActof1970,andthePrinciplesandStandardsforPlanningWaterandRelatedLandResources,promulgatedbytheWaterResourceCouncilin1973.Findingsof preliminarystudiescompletedaresummarizedandanevaluationofpossibleelectricpowergenerationalternativesispre-sentedalongwiththeselectionofthemostfeasibledevelopmentplanfortheUpperSusitnaRiverBasin.Investigationsandcoordinationrelativetothisstudyweremadeinsufficientdetailtopermittheidentificationofpublicneeds,anassessmentofexistingandprobablefutureconditionsandresourcecapabilities,theestablishmentofspecificplanningobjectives,andtheformulationandselectionoftheplanwhichrepresentsthebestpossibleresponsetothestudyauthorityandplanningobjectives.STUDYPARTICIPANTSANDCOORDINATIONTheCorpsofEngineershadprimaryresponsibilityforconductingthestudy,consolidatinginformationfromotheragencies,formulatingtherecommendedplan,andpreparingthereport.TheAlaskaPowerAdministrationhadtheresponsibilityofpreparinganalysesonthemarketabilityofpowerintheRailbeltandonthetransmissionsystemwhichwillberequiredtodeliverthepowertothedemandcenters.OtherFederal,State,andlocalagenciesprovidingadviceandinformationinclude,butwerenotlimitedto:FederalPowerCommission,U.S.BureauofReclamation,BureauofLandManagement,BureauofOutdoorRecreation,FishandWildlifeSer-vice,EnvironmentalProtectionAgency,NationalMarineFisheriesSer-vice,U.S.BureauofMines,SoilConservationService,AlaskaRailroad,Federal-StateLandUsePlanningCommissionforAlaska,AlaskaStateClearinghouse,AlaskaDepartmentofFishandGame,AlaskaDivisionofParks,CookInletRegionalCorporation,andAhtna,Incorporated.THEREPORTTheresultsofthestudiesfortheRailbeltareaarepresentedintwovolumes--themainreportandtheappendixes.Themainreport2 presentsanontechnicalsummaryoftheresultsofthestudyfortech-nicalandnontechnicalreviewers.Thefirstappendixisatechnicalreportcontainingmoredetailedinformationonenvironmentalandeconomicresources,planformulation,anddesignconsiderationsnecessaryforthetechnicalreviewertoconductanindependentevaluationofthevalidityofthestudyresults.Appendix2containsallpertinentcorrespondenceaffectingcoordinationamongFederal.State,andlocalinterests;andreportsofotheragencies.PRIORSTUDIESANDREPORTSCorpsofEngineersReports:1.CookInletandTributaries,Alaska,HD34,85thCongressTheChiefofEngineersrecommendedconstructionofsmallboatbasinsatSeldovia;attheendofHomerSpit;andatNinilchik;improvementoftheharboratAnchorage;andthestabilizationofabout1.500feetofriverbankbyrockrevetmentalongtheTalkeetnaRivertoprotectthedownofTalkeetnafromflooddamage.2.CooperRiverandGulfCoast, Alaska,HD182,83dCongressTheChiefofEngineersrecommendedimprovedprotectionforsmallboatharborsatSewardandValdez.TheSecretaryoftheInteriorinhisreportstatedthatnomarketwasavailableforuseofpotentialpowerdevelopment.3.TananaRiverBasin,Alaska,HD137,84thCongressTheChiefofEngineersrecommendedtheimprovementofChenaandTananaRivers,toprovideforadiversiondamandcontrolstructureacrossChenaRiver,adiversionchannelfromChenaRivertoTananaRiver,alevee.andnecessarydrainagefacilities.4.YukonandKuskokwimRiverBasins,Alaska,HD218,88thCongressTheChiefofEngineersrecommendedthatnoprojectbeadoptedatthistimeforimprovementoftheYukonandKuskokwimRiversfornavigationandfloodcontrol.HerecommendedfurtherthatthereportoftheDistrictEngineerbeadoptedasaguideforfutureinvestigationsofwaterresourcedevelopmentsintheYukonandKuskokwimRiverbasinsaseconomicconditionswarrant.3 5.ReviewofInterimReportNo.2,CookInletandTributaries,PartNo.1,HydroelectricPower,BradleyLake,HD455,87thCongress,2dSessionTheChiefofEngineersrecommendedtheconstructionofadamandreservoiratBradleyLake,withapower-generatingplantonKachemakBayandappurtenantpowerfacilities.6.RampartCanyonProject,VolumesIandII,1971TheAlaskaDistrictEngineerrecommendedthataprojectforhydro-electricpowergenerationattheRampartCanyonsiteontheYukonRivernotbeundertakenatthistimebecauseofmarginalfeasibilityandofenvironmentalandecologicalproblems.DepartmentoftheInteriorReports:1.U.S.BureauofReclamation,AReconnaissanceReportonthePotentialDevelopmentofWaterResourcesintheTerritoryofAlaska,December1948ThisreportdescribedtheresourcesoftheTerritoryofAlaskaandindicatedpotentialforpowerdevelopmentat72sites.Theterritorywasdividedinto5regionsandpotentialhydropowersiteswerestudied,ofwhich5wereintheSusitnaRiverbasin.2.U.S.Bureauo~Reclamation,AReportonPotentialDevelopmentofWaterResourcesintheSusitnaRiverBasinofAlaska;August1952ThisreportdescribedtheresourcesandpotentialitiesoftheSusitnaRiverbasin.Anultimateplanofdevelopmentofhydropowerresourcesforthebasinwasdescribed,andincluded12majordams.Intheultimateplan,thetotalpowerplantcapacitywouldbe1.249millionkilowatts,andwouldprovidefirmannualenergyof6.18billionkilowatt-hours.Totalreservoircapacitywouldbe22.69millionacre-feet.3.U.S.BureauofReclamation,DevilCanyonProject,Alaska,~1arch1961TheCommissionerofReclamationrecommendedtheproposedDevilCanyonProject,whichconsistedoftwomajordamsandreservoirsontheupperSusitnaRiver,apowerplant,andtransmissionlinesandappurte-nantfacilitiestodeliverpowerandenergytoFairbanksandAnchorage.ThelargeststructurewouldbetheDevilCanyonDamwhichwouldpossessmanyadvantagesfordevelopmentofhydroelectricpower;however,storagecapacitywasnotadequate.Therefore,aseconddamattheDenalisitewasproposed.wherealargerreservoircouldbecreatedwithalow4 earthfilldam.Basedonthehydrologicdataavailableatthetimeofthereportgtheestimatedenergypotentialofthesystemwhichconsistedultimatelyoffourdamswithfirst-stagedevelopmentofDevilCanyonandDenaliwere7.0and2.9billionkilowatt-hoursgrespectively.4.AlaskaPowerAdministration,DevilCanyonStatusReport,May1974ThisreportwasapartialupdateoftheMarch1961reportoftheU.S.BureauofReclamationontheDevilCanyonProject.Thisreportincludedupdatingthedesignsfortheprojectfeatures,preparationofnewcostestimates,andbriefanalysisofpowermarket,environmental,andeconomicaspects.5.AlaskaPowerAdministration,1974AlaskaPowerSurvey,preparedfortheFederalPowerCommission,infivevolumesThereportincludedinformationanddataonresourcesandelectricpowergeneration,economicanalysis,loadprojections,environmentalconsiderationsgandconsumeraffairs.Other:AReassessmentReportonUpperSusitnaRiverHydroelectricDevelopmentfortheStateofAlaskagSeptember1974gbytheHenryJ.KaiserCompany.ThecompanywasconsideringthedevelopmentofalargealuminumplantwithintheRailbeltareacontingentuponavailabilityoflargequantitiesofinexpensiveenergy.Tomeetthisdemand,Kaisersuggestedafirst-stageupperSusitnaRiverdevelopmentconsistingofasinglehighdam(termed"DevilCanyonHigh"and/or"SusitnaI"inthisreport)fivemilesupstreamfromtheUSBRDevilCanyondamsite.Subse-quentdevelopmentwouldincludepowerprojectsbothupanddownstreamfromthehighdam.5 SCALE1:5,000,000INCH=Al'PROXIMATELY80MILES6SOUTHCENTRALRAILBELTSUBREGIONS/(MILES/\ RESOURCESOFTHESTUDYAREATHESTUDYAREAInkeepingwiththedirectiveofCongress,thestudyareaforthisreportencompassestheSouthcentralRailbeltareaofAlaska.ThisareacontainsAlaska'slargestconcentrationofpopulationandeconomicactivity.Becauseofitsgreatsizeanddiversity,thestudyareaisdividedintothreesubregionsforpurposesofdescription.ThesearedenotedastheCookInlet,GulfofAlaska,andTananasubregions.ThefollowingdiscussionofthestudyareaanditseconomyisdesignedtoprovideinformationonwhichtobasejUdgmentsastowaterresourcedevelopmentneedsandimpactsofanyproposedsolutions.(MostoftheinformationinthissectionofthereporthasbeentakenfromResourcesofAlaska,compiledinJuly1974bytheResourcePlanningTeamoftheJointFederal-StateLandUsePlanningCommissionforAlaska.Itisthemostcomprehensiveandup-to-datecompendiumofresourceinformationforthestudyarea.)CLIMATECookInletSubregion:AtAnchorage,averageannualprecipitationis14.7inches,withhalftotwo-thirdsfallingduringtheperiodJulythroughNovember.ThemeandailyJanuarytemperatureis+12.loFandthemeanJulytemperatureis+58.2oF.RecordlowandhightemperaturesatAnchorageare-38oFand+86oF.Thereareabout125frost-freedaysperyearwiththelastfreezeinthespringoccurringabout11May,andthefirstfallfreezeoccurringabout18September.GulfofAlaskaSUbregion:InlandoftheChugachMountainsisanareacharacterizedbyasemi-aridclimatewithrelativelyclearskiesandextremetemperatures.Themeanannualtemperatureisgenerallyabout290F.Thesouthernflankofthesemountainsissomewhatwarmer.Thefirstfreezeinthefalloccursabout14September,andthelastfreezeinthespringusuallyoccursabout24May,givinganannualaverageofabout110frost-freedays.Precipitationvarieswidely,asdemonstratedbyannualaveragesof60inchesatValdez,and80inchesatCordova,with100-300percentmoreprecipitationinthemountainsthaninthelowlands.Earthtremorsarecommon,especiallyalongthesouthernportionofthissubregion.TananaSubregion:Theaverageannualprecipitationis11.3inchesatFairbanks,andoverone-halfoftheannualprecipitationfallsinthespringandsummermonths.AtFairbanks,recordhighandlowtempera-turesareabout990Fand-650F.ThemeandailyJanuarytemperatureisabout-16oFandthemeandailyJulytemperatureisabout600F.Fairbanksaverages89frost-freedaysperyear.7Revised1Jun1976 TOPOGRAPHYANDHYDROLOGYCo~k.l~letSubregion:ThesubregionischaracterizedbyruggedmountainrangessurroundingacentrallowlandandtheoceanarmofCookInlet.Moderateprecipitation,includingtheannualsnowpackcombinedwithglacialmelt.generallyprovidesaplentifulwatersupply.OnthewestsideofCookInlet.thelargestriversaretheChakachatnaandBeluga.TonorthofCookInletistheSusitnaRiver,sixthlargestriversysteminAlaska,withatotaldrainageareaof19,400squaremiles.Thissystemincludesthemajortributaries:Yentna,Chulitna,Talkeetna.andTyonekRivers.TotheeastoftheSusitnaarethedrainagesofthe~1atanuska(2,170squaremiles),KnikandEagleRivers.TheriversoftheKenaiPeninsulaarerelativelysmall.thelargestbeingtheKenaiRiverwitha2.000-square-miledrainagearea.Thelowgroundareawithinthesubregionisgenerallyfreeofpermafrost,whilepermanentlyfrozengroundmayexistinthehigherelevations.TheKenaiMountainsandtheAleutianandAlaskaRangescontainglaciers.TheCookInletsubregioncontainsAnchorage.Alaska'slargestcity,aswellasthecommunitiesofKenai.Soldotna.andHomer.ItalsocontainsoneofAlaska'simportantfarmingareasintheMatanuska-Susitnavalleys,withPalmerbeingthehubcity.Thesubregioncontainsthe"Railbelt,"extendingfromthedeepwaterportsofSewardand\olhittierthroughAnchoragetoFairbanks.AmajorshareoftheState'shighwaysystemisalsohere;however,largeareasremainwithoutroadaccess.GulfofAlaskaSubregion:ThissubregionincludespartsoftheAlaskaRange,theWrangellandChugach-KenaiMountains,andtheCopperRiverLowland.Massivemountains,risinginaltitudetomorethan16,000feetintheWrangellssupportthelargesticefieldsandglaciersinNorthAmerica.PrincipalwatershedofthesubregionistheCopperRiversystemwitha24.400-square-miledrainagearea.ItdrainsthesouthslopesoftheAlaskaRange,southandwestslopesoftheWrangellMountains,mostoftheChugachMountains,theCopperRiverBasin,andasmallsectionoftheTalkeetnaMountains.Thelandsurfaceislargelyroughandmountainous,withanarrowcoastalplainalongtheGulfandbroadlakebasinintheGulkanaareabetweenthemountainsystems.Thecoastal portionofthesubregionisgenerallyfreeofperma-frost,whiletheinteriorportionisunderlainbydiscontinuousperma-frost.GlacierscovermostofthehigherpeaksintheWrangellMountainsandnearlyallofthecrestoftheKenai-ChugachMountains,whichseparatethecoastalareafromtheinterior.8 Mostofthelargercommunitiesinthissubregionareaccessiblebyroad.AnotableexceptionisCordova.WhittierislinkedtoPortagebyrailandtoValdezbyferry.TananaSubregion:Abroadleveltorollingplainoccupiesthecentralandsouthwesternpartofthesubregion.flankedbymountainstothenorthandsouth.TheentiresubregionisdrainedbytheTananaRiveranditstributaries.TheTananasubregionlieswithinthediscontinuouspermafrostzoneoftheState.Glaciersoccuralongmostofthesouthernboundaryofthearea.TheTananasUbregionhasoneofthemostdevelopedsurfacetrans-portationsystemsinAlaska.TheAlaskaHighwaybisectsthearea;theTokcutoffandRichardsonHighwaybothprovideall-weatherroutestoAnchorage,asdoestheParksHighway.WILDLIFE--FISHERIESAlaskaisendowedwithgeographiccharacteristicsthatmakepossibleahighlyproductivefishingregion.Alaska1scoastcoversabroadgeographicalrangeinlatitudeandlongitude,andincludeseverytypeofcoastalsystemfoundintheLower48States,withtheexceptionofthetropicalarea.CoastalAlaska,withanextensiveintertidalandlittoralshorearea,providestheenvironmentnecessarytosustainitsfisheriesproduction.Alaskaproduces10to12percentofthetotalvalueofU.S.fisheriesproducts(422millionpoundsworth$92millionin1972).Followingisadescriptionofthefisheryresourcesofthestudyareabysubregion.CookInletSUbregion:Pinksalmonarethemostabundantanadromousfishinthearea,withthegreatestnumbersarrivingtospawnineven-numberedyears.RedsalmonarenextinabundanceandarefoundprimarilyintheKenaiandTustumenaLakedrainages.Chumandsilversalmonarefoundinmostofthecoastalstreams,andkingsalmonarepresentinstreamsnorthofAnchorRiverontheeastandBelugaRiveronthewest.DollyVardenarefoundthroughoutthearea;someremaininfreshwater;othersareanadromous.RainbowtroutinhabitsomelakesandstreamsontheKenaiPeninsulaandmostoftheSusitnaRiverdrainage.GraylingareindigenoustotheSusitnaRiverdrainageandotherwestsidestreamsflowingintoCookInlet,andtheyhavebeensuccess-fullyintroducedintofreshwaterlakes.Whitefishandlaketroutarealsofoundinthearea.9 Sportfisheriesareintensivelyusedinmanywatersofthesub-region.ThisareacontainsoverhalfthepeopleoftheState,aswellasmostoftheroads.Sportanglersusecars,airplanes,boats,andsnowmachinestoreachmostpartsofthearea.Sportfishavailablearerainbowtrout,Arcticgrayling,DollyVarden,Arcticchar,laketrout,burbot,whitefish,blackrockfish,andfivespeciesofsalmon.Clamdiggerspursuerazorclams,butterclams,andothervarietiesofclamsonthebeachesoftheKenaiPeninsulaandwestshoresofCookInlet.Freshwatersportfishingisavailablethroughoutthearea.Salt-waterfishinginCookInletisconfinedmostlytoKachemakBayandatthemouthofDeepCreek,southofKenai.Thenumbersoffishandshell-fishharvestedbysportfishermenareunknown.Manylakesthroughouttheareaarestockedwithsalmon,trout,orgrayling.GulfofAlaskaSubregion:Sincemuchofthissubregionismountainous,thefisherieshabitatischaracterizedbymanyshort,steepcoastalstreamsandtheratherlargedrainageoftheCopperRiver.Theentiremountainousareaisheavilyglaciated,andmanyofthestreamscarryahighloadofglacialsediment.Thereisapaucityoflakes,forsuchalargearea.Pinkandchumsalmonutilizetheshortcoastalstreams.Silversalmonspawnandtheirfrydevelopinsomewhatlargerstreamswheretheyoungcansurviveforatleastoneyear.Redsalmonarefoundprimarilyindrainagesthatcontainalakeorlakes,suchasthemanylakesoftheCopperRiverdrainage.KingsalmonspawnintheupperreachesoftheCopperRiverdrainage.DollyVardenarepresentthroughoutthecoastalstreamsystems.ArcticgraylingareconfinedtotheclearwatersystemsintheupperportionoftheCopperRiverdrainageandhavebeensuccessfullyintroducedintheCordovaarea.Rainbowtroutarepresent,aswellaslaketrout,whitefish,andburbot.Importantmarinefishandshellfishareherring,halibut,redsnapper,blackcod,kingcrab,tannerandDungenesscrab,shrimp,scallops,andrazorclams.Themostsought-aftersportfisharethefivespeciesofPacificsalmon,DollyVarden,rainbowtrout,Arcticgrayling,laketrout,andburbot.TananaSubregion:ChumsalmonspawninanumberoftributariesoftheTananaRiver.SilversalmonspawnandrearintheChatanikaandSalchaRivers,andClearwaterCreek.Kingsalmonspawnandrearinthesamestreamsasthesilversalmon,plustheGoodpaster,Delta,andChenaRivers.Grayling,whitefish,andnorthernpikearepresentthroughoutthearea.Laketrout,sheefish,andciscoarescatteredinthevariousdrainages.10 Sportfishingisassistedbytheextensiveroadsystem.TheTananadrainagereceivesthegreatestanglingpressureintheinteriorandarcticareas.Graylingreceivesmorepressurethananyotherspecies.Otherspeciessoughtarelaketrout~sheefish~andwhitefish.WILDLIFE--BIRDSCookInletSubregion:PrimarywaterfowlhabitatliesintheMatanuska-SusitnaRiverglacialoutwashplainandtheKenailowland.Trumpeterswansarethemostimportantbreedingwaterfowl;geesedonotnestinappreciablenumbers,andducksareinlowernumbersthanininteriorhabitats.Duringmigration~however,someareasbecomehighlyimpactedwithducksandgeese.Asmanyas70~OOOhavebeenestimatedtobeintheSusitnaRivervalleyatonetime.Coastalareassupportmoderatepopulationsofbaldeaglesandperegrinefalcons.Rainy~Broad~andWindyPassesaremigrationroutesforperegrineswhichmovethroughtheSusitnaRivervalley.Goldeneaglesandgyrfalconsoccupythemoreuplandareas.Greathornedowls~greatgreyowls~andrough-leggedhawksaresomeofthecharacteristicraptorsofthespruce-birchforestofthemorenorthernareas.OtherraptorsknowntobreedinthisSUbregionincludegoshawks~sharp-shinnedhawks,red-tailedhawks,Harlan'shawks,marshhawks~ospreys,pigeonhawks,andshort-earedowls.Colonialnestingseabirdsarenotabundant;however,severalcolonieshavebeenidentifiedandothersprobablyexist.ThemarshesandlakeshoressupportahostofshoreandwadingbirdsandtheentiresubregionishostatonetimeoranothertomostofthepasserinespeciesthatoccurinAlaska.Residentgamebirdsofforestandotherhabitatsarethesprucegrouseandthewillow~rockandwhite-tailedptarmigan.GulfofAlaskaSubregion:PrinceWilliamSoundisanimportantmigra-tionrouteformanyspeciesofwaterfowl.TheCopperRiverdeltaandtheBeringGlacieroutwashplaincontainabout15-18townshipsofexceptionalvaluetowaterfowl.Thisregionistheprincipalnestingareafortheworld'spopulationofduskyCanadageese,andmayproducemoreduckspersquaremilethananyotherknownareainAlaskaexcepttheYukonFlats.Trumpeterswansreachtheirgreatestdensitieshere.Inspiteofitsuniquenestingpopulations~thedeltaisprobablymostimportantasastagingandfeedingareaformigratoryfowlboundtoandfromthearcticandsubarcticnestingareastothenorth.11 AttheconfluenceoftheBremnerandCopperRivers,40milesfromthemouthofthelatter,areseveraltownshipsoftrumpeterswanhabitatsecondonlytotheCopperRiverdeltainimportance.Theentirecoastalareaishabitatforseabirdsofvariousspecies.Atleast48majorseabirdcolonieshavebeenidentifiedinthissubregion,andundoubtedlymanymoreexist.Thenearly200squaremilesoftidalflatsinOrcaInletandtheCopperRiverdeltaprobablysupportoneofthegreatestremainingconcentrationsofbirdlifeinexistence.Residentgamebirdsofforest,treeless,andotherhabitatsarespruce,ruffled,andsharp-tailedgrouse;willow,rock,andwhite-tailedptarmigan.TananaSubregion:ThissubregionincludeswaterfowlhabitatalongtheTananaRiverandontributarystreams.Althoughitisprimarilyaproductionarea,largenumbersofducksandgeeseutilizeportionsofthesubregionasrestingandforagingareasduringmigration.Primaryspeciesaretrumpeterswans,white-frontedandlesserCanadageese,widgeons,scaups,pintails,green-wingedteals,mallards,andcanvasbacks.Nearlyallmajorriversoftheinteriorregionshavesmallintermittentareasoffloodplainsthatareutilizedextensivelybynestingwaterfowl.Peregrinefalcons,ospreys,andbaldeaglesareknowntonestintheTananavalley.Otherraptorspresentthroughouttheareainclude:goshawksandsharp-shinnedhawks;great-horned,greatgreyandborealowls,generallyinforestedareas;andred-tailed,Harlan's,Swainson's,rough-legged,marsh,pigeon,andsparrowhawksandgyrfalcons(thelatterusuallyabove2,500feetelevation).Snowyandshort-earedowlsrangeovertheopencountry.Theonlyseabirdslikelytobefoundinthisregionareherring,mew,andBonaparte'sgulls,Arcticterns,andlong-tailedjaegers.Residentgamebirdsofforestandotherhabitatsarespruce,ruffed.andsharp-tailedgrouse,andwillow,rock,andwhite-tailedptarmigan.WILDLIFE--MAMMALSCookInletSubregion:SomeofAlaska'sdensestblackbearpopulationsliveontheKenaiPeninsula,intheSusitnavalley,andinthemountainsbetweenTurnagainandKnikArms.Densityislowerintheinteriorregions.12 Thebrown-grizzlybeariscommonthroughoutthesubregionwithlowestnumbersintheAnchorageareaandwesternKenaiPeninsula.WolvesaremostcommonintheinteriorandSusitnadrainageportionsofthesubregion.Wolverinesarecommonthroughout,exceptinareasofhighpopu-lation.Theyaremostabundantintheinteriorportionsofthesubregion.Severalherdsofbarrengroundcaribouuseportionsofthesub-region:theNelchinaherdinthenortheastsection,the~1cKinleyherdinthenorthcentralsection,andtheKenaiherdontheKenaiPeninsula.DallsheeparepresentthroughouttheAlaskaRange,Talkeetna,Chugach,andKenaiMountains.Populationsfluctuateinresponsetoweather,rangecondition,andsusceptibilitytopredation.Mooseareabundantthroughoutthesubregionexceptinthehighmountains.TheSusitnaValleysupportsanexcellentpopulation,butthepremierareaistheKenaiNationalMooseRange,whichboaststhehighestpopulationperunitofarea intheworld.MountaingoatsarefoundinlownumbersintheTalkeetnaMountainsandinmoderatenumbersontheKenaiPeninsulaRangewithinthesubregion.MarinemammalsthatinhabitthewatersoflowerCookInletareharborseal,sealion,seaotter,andvariouswhales.Othersmallermammalspresentincludelynx,redfox,landotter,mink,marten,short-tailedweasel,beaver,muskrat,andsnowshoehare.GulfofAlaskaSubregion:Blackbearslivethroughoutthesubregion.Populationvariesfromrelativelyhighlevelsalongthecoastalareastomoderatelevelsintheinteriorareas.Brown-grizzlybearsarefoundthroughoutthesubregion;thebearsarelesscommononthewestsideofPrinceWilliamSoundthanontheeast.Theyaremorenumerousintheinteriorthanalongthecoast.Wolvesarerelativelyabundantintheinteriorportionsofthesubregion,butquitescarcealongthePrinceWilliamSoundcoast.Theinteriorpopulationnumbersabout300.Wolverinesareabundantintheinterior,butnotascommonalongthecoast.13 Sitkablack-taileddeerareprimarilyconfinedtoislandsofPrinceWilliamSound,butsomeoccuronthemainlandintheCordovaarea.Barrengroundcaribouinhabittheinteriorportionofthesub-region,whichcontainsasizableamountoftheNelchinacaribouherd'swinterrange.Twodistinctbisonherds,theChitinaandCopperRiver,existinthesubregion.SomeofthemostimportantDallsheeprangeintheStateiscon-tainedinthissubregion.Mooseoccuringreatestconcentrationsintheinteriorportionsofthesubregion.buthavesufferedaseveredeclineinrecentyears.MountaingoatsareabundantinthemountainsofPrinceWilliamSound,butpresentonlyinlownumbersintheWrangellMountainsandinteriorportionsoftheChugachMountains.Afterbeingnearlywipedoutinthe19thcentury,seaottershavemadeanamazingrecovery.Therearenowabout6,000intheGulfofAlaska.Harborseal,Stellersealion,andvariouswhalesareintheGulf.Othersmallermammalspresentincludelynx,redfox,landotter,mink,marten,short-tailedweasel,beaver,muskrat,andsnowshoehare.TananaSUbre~ion:Blackbearslivethroughoutthearea.Grizzlybearsareusuallyoundinalpine-subalpineareasandsporadicallyinlowlands.Wolvesrangethroughoutthearea,evennearFairbanks.Populationdensitiesaregenerallyhigh.Wolverinesoccurthroughoutthearea.BarrengroundcaribouoftheDelta,Forty-Mile,McKinley,Mentasta,andChisanaherdsuseportionsofthisSUbregion.SizableDal1sheeppopulationsaresupportedbyhabitatintheAlaskaRange,Mentasta-NutzotinMountains,andTananaHills-WhiteMountains.Moosearewidelyscatteredandrelativelyabundantthroughoutthesubregion.Othersmallermammalspresentincludelynx,redfox,landotter,mink,marten,short-tailedweasel,beaver,muskrat,andsnowshoehare.14 AGRICULTUREANDRANGECookInletSubre~ion:Thereareapproximately2.6millionacressuit-ableforproductlonofcultivatedcropsintheCookInlet-Susitnalowlandsuptoelevationsof1,500feet.Roughly30percentislocatedonthewestsideoftheKenaiPeninsula;thebalanceislocatedinthevalleysofthe~1atanuskaandSusitnaRiversandtheirtributaries,withasmallpartnearthelowerBelugaRiver.Morethan70percentoftheState'scurrentagriculturalproductionisderivedfromtheseareasofthesubregion.Ingeneral,onlythenorthernportionsofthelowlandsreceiveenoughmoistureforcontinuedintensiveuse.Mostoftheareawillrequireirrigationforbestresults.Thegrowingseasonaveragesupto110daysatlowerelevations,adequateforallcool-weathercropsexceptinthenorthernpartswhereitdropsto87.TheindexofGrowingDegreeDaysbthecumulativetotalnumberofdegreesofmeandailytempera-tureover40Ffortheyear)variesfrom1,355inthesouth,to1,940inthemid-regionand1,785inthenorthernportions.Thisindexdecreasesbyabout300foreachthousand-footincreaseinelevation.Thesefactorsimposelimitationsastowhichcropsmaybeproducedsuccessfullyatdifferentlocations.Atpresent,lessthan1percentofthelandisinproduction,andgrossincomeislessthan$4million.Thesubregion'sgrazingseasonaveragesaboutfivemonths.LimitedgrasslandsoccuronthelowerKenaiPeninsula,streamdeltas,higherslopes,andonburned-overforestlands.Woodlandpasturesaregenerallyofmarginalvalue.Theshortgrazingseasonisadistinctdisadvantagewhichmayormaynotbeovercomebyproximityofcroplands.GulfofAlaskaSubresion:PotentialagriculturalandrangeresourcesofthesubregionaremalnlyalongtheCopperandChitinaRivervalleys.Narrowcoastalstripsandstreamdeltasalongthecoastmightbegrazedduringthesummers,withremovaloftheanimalsimperativeforthebalanceoftheyear.Climateoftheinterioriscontinentalinnaturewithwarmsummersandcoldwinters.Elevationisgenerally1,000feetormore.Thearealiesinthe"rainshadow"ofhighcoastalmountains,andsummerprecipi-tationistypicallybelow10inches.Theproximityofveryhighmountainsanddownwardflowsofcoldaircombinestorendertheareasusceptibletosu~nerfrostsandlimitsreliableagriculturalproductiontogardensandforagecrops.Initsnaturalforestedstate,thelowerlandareahasrelativelylittlerangeforagevalue.15 Some70farmsarelocatedinthesubregion,mostlyactiveintheKennyLakearea.Noneareoperatedonafull-timebasis.Withthelongwinterfeedingperiod,itisunlikelythatanyextensivelivestockindustrywilldevelopinthenearfuture.TananaSubregion:Some3.6millionacresaresuitableforproductionofcultivatedcrops.Thecroplandsincludeapproximately810,000acreswhicharelowlandsoftheTananaandtributaryrivers,another840,000acreslocaonthenorthernfoothillsoftheAlaskaRangeandKuskokwimMounins.generallysouthandwestofNenana.TheTananaandupperYukonsubregionssharethegreatesttempera-tureextremesintheState.Higherelevationsandlowlandswithpoorairdrainagearesubjecttodangerofsummerfrost.Asidefromtheselocaldrawbacks,thesubregionhasthebestrecordintheStateformaturinghardygrains,normallythehighestcriterionforassessingnorthernagriculturalpotentials.Fairbanks,approximatelyinthemiddleoftheagriculturalarea,averages1,996growingdegreedays,57dayswithtemperatures700Forover.89frost-freedays,and8.06inchesofsummerprecipitation.ThisisbothwarmeranddrierthaneitherTananaorDeltaJunction,buttheentireareaissuitableforcoolweatherforages,vegetables,andhardysmallgrains.Forsustainedcommercialproduction,fertilizersarenecessaryandirrigationishighlydesirable.Therearenoextensivegrassrangelandsforalivestockeconomy.However,withimprovedrangenearcroplands,shelter,andhardyanimals,thesubregioncouldhaveacarryingcapacityofapproximately650,000animalunits.FORESTRYCookInletSubregion:Fourforestecosystemsarerepresentedinthesubregion.ThecoastalSitkaspruce-westernhemlockecosystemislocatedontheKenaiPeninsulaandthelandswestofCookInlet.Itcovers1.641,000acres.Thebottomlandspruce-poplarforestscover675,000acresandarelocatedprimarilyintheSusitnaandMatanuskaValleyswherespruceandcottonwoodareofimportantcommercialvalue.Theuplandspruce-hardwoodforestcoversalargeareaof3,570,000acres.andhascommercialforeststandsonaboutone-fourthoftheacreage,primarilyintheSusitnaValley.Thelowlandspruce-hardwoodforestecosystemhasalandareaof2,867,000acres,andcanbecon-siderednoncommercial."Commercial"refersstrictlytoanannualvolumegrowthrate,nottowhetherthetimberisaccessible,orhasaneconomiccommercialvalueoramarket.16 Ofthe6~362,000acresofinventoriedforestland~commercialandsubcommercialforestsoccupy4,004,000acresandnoncommercialforests2,348,000acres.Thecommercialforestlandcontains7.0billionboardfeet(International1/4inchrule)ofsawtimber,ofwhich2.7billionboardfeetarehardwood--primarilycottonwood,and4.3billionboardfeetarewhiteandSitkaspruce.Anadditional66.1millionboardfeetofdeadbutsalvabletimbercouldbeaddedtotheabove.Theaveragevolumeisapproximately1,752boardfeet/acrebutcanrangefrom100boardfeet/acretoabout25,000boardfeetperacre.Ageneralruleofthumbis15percentdeductionfordefectandcull.Standstockingisgenerallynotashighasitcouldbeifthestandswerefullyregulatedandmanaged.Regenerationappearstobeadequate.Ingeneral,thetreesreachmaturityforharvestingin80to100years,dependingonsiteandproducttobemanufactured.Thetotalnetgrowthvolumeisabout1.8billionboardfeet.Thegrowthvolumefortheentiresubregionissufficienttosupplyseveralpulpmills,particleboardmills,orlargesawmillsiftheforestedlandswereproperlYdevelopedandmanagedfortimberproduction.Presently,onlyafewsmallmillscuttimberforvariouslocaluseproducts.SomecantsareproducedforexporttoJapanforfurtherprocessing.Somecottonwoodlogshavebeenexportedtodeterminetheirsuitabilityforpaneling.Localmarketsexistandareexpanding,andlocalandforeigndemandfortimberisincreasing.GulfofAlaskaSubregion:Theinteriorforestofthreedifferentforestsystemscoversatotalof4,998,000acres.Thebottomlandspruce-poplarforestecosystem,303,000acres,islocatedprimarilyintheCopperandChitinaRivervalleysandcanbeconsideredessentiallycommercialforestland.Theuplandspruce-hardwoodforestcovers2,211,000acresandhaslocalstandsofcommercialspruceandhardwoods.Mostoftheforeststandsinthisecosystemarenoncommercialbecauseoftheirslowgrowthduetopoorsiteconditions.Thelowlandspruce-hardwoodecosystemcovers2,484,000acresandisnoncommercialthroughout.ThebesttimberproductionlandisinNativevillagewithdrawalsandNativeregionaldeficiencyareas.ThemajoracreageofforestedlandliesinFederalcontrol.Twoforestinventorieswereconductedinthesubregion;anexten-siveinventorycoveringtheentirebasin,andarelativelyintensiveinventorycoveringthebetterbottomlandforests.Thefollowingdataaretakenfromthebasin-wideinventorywhichlists4,431,000acresoftotalforestlandfortheCopperRiverbasinofwhich1,178,000acresarecommercialandsubcommercia1timberand3,253,000acresarenon-commercial.Ofthe2,064,000acresofcoastalforest,about901,000acresareconsideredcommercialandsubcommercia1.17 Totalstandingvolumeintheinteriorforestsis1.5billionboardfeet(International1/4inchrule)consistingof1.4billionboardfeetofspruceand52.5millionboardfeetofhardwoods,halfofwhichisbirch.Averagevolumeperacreis1,240boardfeetandtotalannualvolumegrowthis28.5millionboardfeet.ThisvolumecanbeconsideredthepotentialsustainedyieldfortheentireCopperRiverbasin.Thetotalvolumeofthecoastalforestsisabout19.8billionboardfeet(International1/4inchrule),67percentofwhichisSitkaspruceand28percentiswesternhemlock.ThepotentialannualharvestontheChugachNationalForestlandsis103millionboardfeet(International1/4inchrule)plusanadditional20millionboardfeetfromotherlands.Regenerationinbothcoastalandinteriorforestsystemsappearstobeadequatebutcouldbeimprovedwithhigherstockingdensity.Rotationagesfortheinteriorforestsareabout100to120yearsand70to210yearsinthecoastaltype.Severalsawmillsoperateinthesubregion,somesporadicallyandothers,likethemillsatSewardandWhittier,onafull-timebasis.ThemillsproduceavarietyofproductsforlocalmarketsandcantsforexporttoJapan.TananaSubregion:ThethreeInteriorforestecosystemsoccupyacon-siderableareainthissUbregion.Thebottomlandspruce-poplareco-system(1.2millionacres)isfoundinthefloodplainsandonriverterracesalongallthemajorstreams--primarilytheTananaRiver.Thissystemcanbeconsideredcommercialthroughoutitsrange.Theuplandspruce-hardwoodecosystemhasthegreatestarea,7.3millionacres.Itispartlycommercialdependingonthesite.Muchoftheforestisnoncommercialbecausethetreesareveryslowgrowingandoccupysiteswiththinsoils,steepanddryhillsides,andnortherlyslopes.Thelowlandspruce-hardwoodecosystemisfoundonpoorlydrainedsoils,usuallyinmuskegareas,andcovers5,184,000acres.Itshouldbeconsiderednoncommercialthroughoutitsrangeduetosmallsizeofblackspruceandhardwoodsandextremelyslowgrowthrates.Thetermcommercialreferstotreesorforeststandsaddingvolumegrowthinexcessof20cubicfeetperacreeachyear,anddoesnotconsideraccessibility.Thetotalvolumeofcommercialandsubcommercialstandingtimberisabout6.2billionboardfeet.About5.2billionboardfeetofthisarespruceandabout1.0billionboardfeetarehardwoods(primarilybirch).Theoverallaveragegrossvolumeis1,265boardfeet/acreandthetotalannualvolumegrowthisabout26.5millionboardfeet.18 Thisgrowthcanbeused asanindicatorofthepotentialannualharvestfortheentiresubregion.Regenerationappearsadequate,butmosttimberstandsarenaturallyunderstockedandcouldproducemorevolumeifintensivelymanaged.Althoughrotationrateshavenotbeenpreciselydetermined,theyareestimatedat90to120yearsdependingonthesite.Severalmillsarecurrentlyoperatinginthesubregion,somesporad-icallyandsomefull-time.Mostofthemillsaresmallsizeandsawproductsforlocaluse.MINERALSANDENERGYCookInletSubregion:Mineralresourcesareabundant,andinthefuturewillbecomemoreimportanttotheAlaskaneconomy.OilandgasproducedfromfieldsintheCookInletbasinhavefarexceededothermineralsinvalue.Theoilandgas-bearingsedimentaryrocksoftheCookInletbasinmaybeasmuchas25,000feetthick.Reservesof2.6billionbarrelsofoilandfivetrillioncubicfeetofgasareestimatedtoexistintheUpperCookInlet.TotalprojectedresourcesfromtheCookInletBasinmaybeasmuchas7.9billionbarrelsofoiland14.6trillioncubicfeetofgas.Theresourceestimatesincludebothonshoreandoffshoreareas.Coalresourcesarelargeandexceedmorethan2-1/2billionshorttons.CoalispresentintheBroadPass,Susitna,Matanuska,andKenaiTertiarycoalfields.BroadPasscoalrangesfromsubbituminousonCostelloCreektoligniteatBroadPass.ReserveestimatesfortheBroadPassfieldare64milliontonsofindicatedcoal.TheSusitnacoaldepositsareinthebasinsofBelugaandChulitnaRiversandareasmuchas2.4billionshorttonslessthan1,000feetdeep.TheMatanuskacoalisintheChickaloonformationranginginbedsupto23feetinthickness.Itishighvolatilebituminousinrank,andsomehavecokingproperties.TheAnthraciteRidgecontainssemianthracitecoalbeds.Thetotalresourceestimatesare137millionshorttonslessthan2,000feetdeep.TheKenaifieldhasatleast30coalbedsfromthreetosevenfeetinthicknessandrangingfromsubbituminoustoligniteinrank.Estimatedresourcesareabout318millionshorttonslessthan1,000feetdeep.GeothermalpotentialishighinthesouthpartoftheAlaskaRange,whereavolcanicbeltislocallysurmountedbyvolcanoesandlavafields;someofthevolcanoesarestillactiveandindicatedeepheatreservoirs.ClaydepositswhichcanbeusedforbrickmanufacturingoccuratPointWoronzofintheAnchoragearea,atSheepMountainintheupperMatanuskaValley,andnearHomerontheKenaiPeninsula.19 GypsumdepositsoccuronSheepMountain,about50milesnortheastofPalmer.Reservesarecalculatedat310,800tonsofindicatedand348,000tonsofinferredgypsumrockaveraging25to30percentgypsum.LimestonedepositsofnearlypurecalciumcarbonateoccurinthedrainageoftheKingsRiverandinFoggyPassnearCantwell.TheCookInletSubregionistraversedbynumerousmetalprovinces.Thesubregioncontainsdepositsofgold,silver,antimony,iron,chromite,molybdenum,copper,lead,andzinc.LikemostofAlaska,pastmetallicproductionhasbeenprimarilygold,aboutonemillionounces.Inaddition,nearly300.000tonsofchromiteoreandsmallamountsofcopperorehavebeenproduced.GulfofAlaskaSUbre~ion:Highoilandgaspotentialexistsinthecoasta'sectionwithlntheGulfofAlaskaince.Themanyoilandgasseepsandpetroliferousbedsinsedimentaryrocks,whichexceed25,000feetinthickness,haveattractedintensiveexplorationbyindustry.Interesthasnowshiftedtotheoutercontinentalshelfwherethepresenceofmanyfolds,thepossibilityofreservoirrocks,andlackofintensedeformationindicatehighpossibiitiesofpetroleumdeposits.TheCopperRiverlowlandshavelowtomoderateoilpotential.Coal-bearingrockshavebeenmappedover50squaremilesnearBeringandKushtakaLakesintheingRivercoalfield.SimilarrocksappearintheRobinsonMountainseastofBeringGlacier.Thecoalrangesupwardfromlowvolatilebituminousinthesouthwesternpart.Thebedsareafewfeetto60feetthick.Thecoalinpartofthefieldhascokingproperties.Geothermalenergypotentialishigh.TheWrangellMountainsarethesiteofrecentvolcanicactivityandprovideafavorableenvironmentforheatreservoirs.SomepotentialforcementmaystinthelimestonebedsexposednearMcCarthy.Thebedsareseveralhundredfeetthickandquiteextensive.SandandgraveldepositsofeconomicsignificanceoccurintheCopperRiverlowlands,theChitinaValley,andadjacenttributaries.Metallicmineralsoccurinseveraldistricts.LodesinmanypartsoftheCopperRiverregioncontaincopper,gold,silver,molybdenum,antimony,nickel,iron,lead,andzinc,butonlygold,copper,andby-productsilverwereminedcommercially.TheKennicottminesnearMcCarthy,andminesinthesouthwesternandnortheasternpartsofPrinceWilliamSound,accountedformostofthe690000shorttonsofcopperproducedinAlaska.Twoorthreemilliondollarsworthofgoldandsilverwereproducedfromlodesandasby-productscoppermininginthePrinceWilliamSounddistrict.Goldplacerdepositsproduced35,000ouncesofgoldandafewouncesofplatinumfromChistochina,Slana,andNizinadistricts.20 GoldandcopperlodesareintheSewarddistrictandeasternpartoftheKenaiPeninsula.Copper,gold,silver,andmolybdenumlodesarebetweentheChitinaRiverandthecrestoftheWrangellMountains.Othermineralizedsitesoccurthroughoutthesubregion.TananaSubregion:Lowpotentialforoilandgasexistinthebasinswithinthesubregion.TheremaybepotentialforgasinconnectionwithcoalbedsintheTananaBasin.Theremainderofthesubregionisunder-lainbyrocksthatarenonporousortoostructurallycomplexforpetroleumaccumulation.LargecoaldepositsexistintheyoungbasinswhichflankthenorthernfrontoftheAlaskaRange.ThecoaldepositsintheNenanacoalfieldhavebeenminedsinceabout1918andarepresentlyproducingabout700,000tonsperyear.Thecoalislignitetosubbituminous,occursinbeds2-1/2feettoover50feetinthickness,haslowsulfurcontent,andisusedforpowergenerationanddomesticuseinFairbanks.Coalresourcesforallfieldsinthisbeltareestimatedatnearly7billiontonslocatedlessthan3,000feetdeep.Geothermalpotentialispresentinthesubregion.Sandandgravelpotentialishigh.OutwashdepositsfrontingtheAlaskaRangeareeconomicallysignificant.TheNenanagravelnearHealycouldbeutilized.OtherlocalitieswithpotentialforsandandgraveloccurinthefloodplainsoftheTananaRiveranditsmajortributaries.LimestonecontainingahighcontentofcalciumsuitableforcementoccursinoutcropsatWindyCreekandFoggyPassnearCantwellandtherailroad.OtherdepositsoflimestoneareintheMintoFlats-DuganHillsareawestofFairbanks.Metallicmineralsarepresentinanumberofdistricts.ThemineralpotentialoftheHotSpringsdistrictismoderateandcontainssilver,lead,minoramountsofgold,iron,copper,andothercopperassociatedminerals.ChromiteisfoundsouthofBoulderCreek.NickelmineralsarefoundinthevicinityofHotSpringsDome.Tolovanadistrictlodescontaingold,silver,antimony,mercury,chromium,nickel,andiron.Fairbanksdistrictlodeshaveproducedimportantamountsofgoldandsmallquantitiesofsilver,lead,tungsten,andantimonyore.DeltaRiverdistrictlodescontaingoldandsilver,molybdenum,antimony,copper,lead,zinc,nickel,andchromiumminerals.TheChisanadistrictiswellknownforitslodedepositsofgold,copper,silver,lead,zinc,molybdenum,iron,andantimony.LodeproductionfromtheNabesnaminewassubstantialandconsistedofgoldandsubordinatecopperandsilver.21 HUMANRESOURCESPopulation:Since1930,Alaska'srateofpopulationgrowthhasexceededthatofthecontiguousUnitedStates,andeventhatofthewesternstates.Thispopulationgrowthhasbeencharacterizedbyarelativelyhighrateofnaturalincreasewhichaccountedfor60percentofthe1950to1960growth,and81percentofthegrowthbetween1960and1970.IncreasesinmilitarypopulationweresignificantinAlaska'sgrowthupto1960,afterwhichithasremainedfairlystableatabout33,000persons,accountingforabout9percentoftotalpopulation.EarliestrecordsindicatethatAlaska'spopulation,around1740to1780,consistedofanestimated74,500nativepeople.Ofthistotal,40,000wereEskimos,16,000wereAleuts,6,900wereAthabascanIndians,and11,800wereTlingit,HaidaandTsimpsheanIndians.Thenativepopulationdeclinedfromthattimetotheearly20thcentury,apparentlybecauseofsocialdisruptionanddisease.About1920.improvedeconomicandhealthconditionsreversedthedeclineinthenativepopulationwhichisnowgrowingrapidlybuthasyettoreachthelevelofthelate1700's.Thefollowingtableshowstheproportionofnativeresidentsinthevariouscensusdivisionsofthestudyarea.PercentofNativePopulationintheStudyAreaByCensusDivision,1970CensusDivisionPopulation%NativeAnchorage124,5423Cordova-McCarthy1,85715Fairbanks45,8644Kenai-CookInlet14,2507Matanuska-Susitna6,5094Seward2,33611SoutheastFairbanks4.17912Valdez-Chitina-Whittier3,09823Yukon-Koyukuk4,75246Source:Adaptedfrominformationinthe1970CensusandfromtheUniversityofAlaska,InstituteofSocial,EconomicandGovernmentalResearch,March1972,Vol.IX,No.1.Publishedin:AlaskaStatisticalReview,DepartmentofEconomicDevelopment,Dec.1972.22Revised1Jun1976 Ahighrateofnaturalincreaseplusmigrationboostedthepopulationfrom128,000in1950to227,000in1960.By1970,thepopulationhadadvancedto302,000anditisnowestimatedtobe386,000.ThefollowingtableshowsRailbeltareapopulationinrelationtoStatetotals:StudyAreaPopulationAsPercentofTotal1/Year1880189019001910192019401950196019701973TotalAlaskaStudyAreaPercentofTotal33,4266,9202132,0528,4452663,59215,6002564,35625,9644055,03619,1373572,52425,22635128,64373,10157226,167157,97970302.173220,27173330,365245,29174SourceNote:Populationstatisticsfor1960andprioryearsarefromG.W.RogersandR.A.Cooley,Alaska'sPopulationandEconomy,allpopulationstatisticsfor1970arefromtheU.S.Census,andpopulationestimatesfor1973arefromtheAlaskaDepartmentofLabor.Publishedin:AlaskaStatisticalReview,DepartmentofEconomicDevelopment,Dec.1972.1/TheboundariesofthestUdyareadonotcoincidewithcensusdistrictsand,therefore,populationfiguresforthestudyareaareapproximate.23Revised1Jun197E TheSouthcentralRailbeltareaofAlaskacontainstheState'stwolargestpopulationcenters,AnchorageandFairbanks,andalmostthree-fourthsoftheState'spopulation.TheAnchorageareaalonehasoverhalftheresidentsintheState.Emplpyment:Alaska'scivilianworkforceamountedto148,900personsin1974.Thelargestsectorwasgovernmentwith30percentofthenumberemployed.Thenextmostimportantsectorwastradefollowedbytheservicesector.ThefollowingtableprovidesatabulationofAlaskanemployment.LABORFORCESUMMARY-1974AnnualAverageTOTALTotalUnemploymentPercentofLaborForceTotalEmploymentTOTALNon-Agriculturalt1iningMetal~1iningOilandGasOtherMiningContractConstructionManufacturingFoodProcessingLogging-LumberandPulpOtherManufacturingTransp.-Comm.&Pub.UtilitiesTrucking&WarehousingWaterTransportationAirTransportationOtherTransportationComm.andPublicUtilitiesTradeWholesaleRetai1Gen.Mdse.andApparelFoodStoresEatingandDrinkingPlacesOtherRetai1148,90014,90010.0134,000128,2003,0002002,60020014,1009,6004,3003,6001,70012,4002,2001,0004,0001,3003,90021,1004,00017,1004,1002,0005,0006,000Revised1Jun197624 LABORFORCESUMMARY-1974(continued)Finance-Ins.andRealEstateServicesHotel,Motels,andLodgesPersonalServicesBusinessServicesMedicalServicesOtherServicesGovernmentFedera1StateLocalMisc.andUnclassifiedSource:AlaskaDepartmentofLabor254,90018,3002,5008003,000-3,8008,20043,80018,00014,20011,6001,000 LocationquotientscomparetheshareoftotalpersonalincomefromanindustryinAlaskatotheshareoftotalpersonalincomearisingfromthesameindustryfortheUnitedStates.AquotientgreaterthanoneindicatesthatAlaskaismoredependentonthatindustrythantheU.S.asawhole.Thefollngtableprovideslocationquotientsforthevariousemploymentso~+n~cLocationVis-A-VisUni19601971Mining1.63.7ContractConstruction2.21.8Manufacturing.2 .2Transportation,Communions,andPublicUtilities1.31.5Trade.7.8Finance,Insurance,andRealEstate.5.6Service.7.8Government(ExcludesMilitary)2.82.3Source:DerivedfromdatainSurveyofCurrentBusinessandStatisticalAbstractofUnitedStates,bothcompiledbytheU.S.DepartmentofCommerce.Publishedin:AlaskaStatisticalReview,DepartmentofEconomicDevelopment,1972Edition.Alaskahasexperiencedunemploymentratesconsistentlyhigherthanthenationalaverage.In1974,AnchorageandFairbanksexperiencedanaverageunemploymentrateof8.6percent,somewhatlowerthanthestatewide10percentrateofunemployment.Income:ThefollowingtableshowsthepercapitapersonalincomeforAlaska,farwestregion,andU.S.averagefor1970through1973.ThistablereducesAlaskanincomebya25-percentcostoflivingadjustmenttoshowanestimatedrealpercapitaincomerelativetootherpartsoftheUnitedStates.Revised1Jun197626 PerCapitaPersonalIncomeforAlaska,FarWestRegions,andU.S.AveragePercentAlaskaofU.S.FarWest.U.S.YearAlaska-25%COLAverageRegionAverage1970$4,603$3;45287J6$4,346$3,94319714,9073,68088.44,5354,16419725,1413,85685.84,866 4,49219735,6134,21085.65,3224,918Source:SurveyofCurrentBusinessPublishedin:AlaskaStatisticalReview,DepartmentofEconomicDevelopment,SupplementtoDecember1972Edition.Education:EnrollmentinprimaryandsecondaryschoolsgrewataslightlyfasterratethanAlaska'stotalpopulationovertheperiodsincestate-hood.Asof1970,asignificantlyhighershareofpersonalincomeinAlaskawenttoeducationthanforthenation,andAlaska'spupil-teacherratiowasslightlymorefavorablethantheU.S.average.27Revised1Jun1976 ECONOMYOFTHESTUDYAREAGENERALTheSouthcentralRailbeltareaofAlaskaisthefocusofcontinuingsubstantialgrowthineconomicactivity.Constructionofthetrans-Alaskaoilpipelineisprovidingtheprimaryimpetus,withimpactsbeingfeltinvirtuallyallsectorsoftheeconomy.AcontinuedhighlevelofFederalGovernmentspendingcoupledwithsubstantialStatespendingissupportingthegrowth.Thisexpansionisexpectedtocontinueforatleastfivetosevenyears,supportedlargelybyacti-vitiesof,orrelatingto,thepetroleumindustry.ThefollowingprovidesanindicationoftheserecenttrendsfortheAlaskaneconomy.(Unlessotherwisenoted,alltablesandgraphsinthissectionofthereportaretakenfromTheAlaskanEconom~,DepartmentofCommerceandEconomicDevelopment,Mid-YearReview,175.)ALASKANECONOMICINDICATORS197019711972197319741975*TotalHl'sidentPopulation302.4311.0322.1330.4351.2386.3'"LaborForce108.2115.9122.9129.6148.9176.5-gTotalEmployment98.5103.8110.0115.6134.0160.5~Waqe&SalaryEmployment93.198.3104.2109.Q128.2154.5::l0NumherUnmnployed9.712.112.913.914.916.0.1:I-PI'ICI?ntUnemployed9.0%10.4%10.5%10.7%10.0%9.1%'"Waqe&SalaryPaynlfmts$1,116.2$1,283.7~~$1,422.7$1,546.8$2,078.0$3,100.0-=0TotalPersonalIncome1.412.81,548.31,697.11,957.82,398.03,500.0::zAlaskaGrossProduct2,196.42,354.72,508.32,756.33,790.05,800.0•EstimatesSource:1970-14PersonalIncomeframU.S.DepartmentofCommerce;1970-73GrossProductfromManintheArcticProgram,ISEGR,UniversityofAlaska;1974GrossProductbyDivisionofEconomicEnterprise;1975ProjectionsbyDiVisionofEconomicEnter,prise.28 MINERALPRODUCTIONExplorationanddevelopmentactivityinthemineralindustryisincreasingfollowingashortslackperiod.Along-termtrendofincreasingvalueinmineralproductioncontinues,primarilyreflectingincreasedproductpricesasshowninthefollowingtable.MINERALINDUSTRYINDICATORS(ValueinThousandsofCurrentpollars)Production1971197219731974PPetroleum:Value$257,562$235,444$261,877$438,540Volume-1,00042gal.barrels79,49472,89372,32371,540NatllralGas:Value$17,878$18,463$19,483$29,668VolumeMMCF121,618125,596131,007144,021Sand&Gravel:Value$32,806$15,214$19,913$24,936Volume-1,000shorttons23,81714,18714,99918.740Gold:Value$537$506$695$1,318VolumeTroyounces13,0128,6397,1078,185OtherMinerals:Value$14,040$16,511$26,821$28,746Total$322,823$286,038$328,789$523,208EmploymentPetroleumIndustry2,0901,7921,6712,586AllOtherMinerals340321296390TotalMining2,4302,1131,9672,976Pf'I>>.reJrtllf1ilrySource:U.S.DepartmentoftheInterior:BureauofMines,AlaskaDepartmentofLabor.OilproductionintheCookInletreacheditspeakin1970andhasbeendecliningslowlysincethen.ContinueddevelopmentofprovenfieldsisexpecteduntilcompletionofAlyeska'spipelineallowsPrudhoeBayoiltobeproduced,nowprojectedformid-1977.Copper,gold,andcoalaretheprimaryobjectivesofcurrenthardmineralexplorationactivity.Despitetheextensivemineralpotential,theminingindustrypresentlyfacesaproposedStateseverancetaxonhardrockminerals,strictenvironmentalconstraints,andcomplicatedlandaccessproblemslinkedtonativelandclaimsandDepartmentoftheInteriorlandwith-drawals.Newinterestinsteamcoal,particularlybytheJapanese,29 willattractinvestigationofcoalfieldsintheMatanuskaValleyandtheRailbeltvicinity.FurtherexplorationoftheBelugaRivercoalfieldsisanticipated,accompaniedbyrelatedresearchonrefinementprocesses.FISHERIESOftheworld's150billionpoundannualfishharvest,morethan4.5billionpoundscomefromthewatersadjacenttoAlaska.Amongthestates,Alaskausuallyranksfirstinvalueoffishproductsproduced,andthirdorfourthintermsofvolume.SalmonaccountsforthelargestportionoftheAlaskanfishingindustryandthecatchtendstobecyclicfromyeartoyearassuggestedinthefollowinggraph.ValuetoFishermanbyRegion(1960-1971)10080~..~'00'060~c0;,;402019606162 63646566676869707130 Thefollowingtableshowsthesizeandvalueofthefishcatchinaregionthatcloselycoincideswiththestudyarea.CENTRALALASKAREGIONCATCHANDGROSSVALUETOTHEFISHERMEN1960-1972(CatchinMillionsofLbs.,ValueinThousandsofDollars)SalmonShellfishOtherFishTotalYearLbs.ValueLbs.ValueLbs.ValueLbs.Value196084.2$11,73436.1$2,7896.1$603126.3$15,126196177.09,46354.54,3804.1495135.514,3381962144.821,851,63.55,6639.42,502217.730,015196393.311,90670.66,40911.11,944175.020,2591964146.416,95864.76,1478.21,314219.324,419196573.210,178114.110,6917.91,383195.222,2521966116.617,163144.313,14215.63,117276.633,421196747.69,767129.812,17513.71,645191.121,7081968111.817,68090.814,49212.71,546215.333,7191969121.319,80285.710,29618.43,680 225.433,7771970140.123,77413.612,02515.64,882269.340,6811971109.919,465129.812,35319.04,840256.636,658197273.316,344140.917,04919.69,380233.844,773Source:AlaskaDepartmentofFishandGameMorerecently,thefisheryindustryhasexperiencedseveraldifficultandunstableyears.ThefishingindustrywasplaguedbypoorrunsofpinksalmonstatewideandthecontinuingdeclineoftheBristolBayfishery.Consequently,thetotal1975catchwasataboutthesamelevelasthepreviousyear'spoorharvest.ThecurrentdepressedconditionofAlaska'ssalmonfisheriesisconsideredatemporaryphenomenon.Pros-pectsforotherfishvarietiesaremixed,dependentupon,amongotherthings,thepossibleestablishmentofa200-mileexclusivefisherieszoneandharvestingataratethatcanbesustained.Alaskabottomfishpotentialappearstobehigh.FORESTPRODUCTSIngeneral,Alaska'sannualharvestoftimberhasincreasedsteadilysince1959.Nationalforestlandsprovidedover85percentoftotaltimbercuteachyear.Aboutone-thirdofAlaska's365millionacressupportsforestcoverofvaryingdensity,size,andtype.One-fourthofthisforestedareaisconsideredtohavepresentorfuturecommercialdevelopmentpotential.ThisincludespresentproductionwithinthestudyareawestofCookInlet,nearTyonek,andintheChugachNationalForest.Involumeoftimberprocessed,thevastmajorityofproduction31 ispresentlyintheTongassandChugachNationalForests.Themajorproductofthetimberharvestiswoodpulp.Asharpdeclineinthetimberharvestoccurredin1974dueprimarilytoadepressedmarketforsawnproductsinJapan.Theunusuallyhealthypulpsegmentmorethanoffsetthepoorperformanceofthelumbersector,however.Thefollowinggraphindicatesrecentindustrytrends.TIMBERHARVEST250oo200~::lU'0C150"'":>100U::l-0oet"cUJ50•,,,,",,,,,,,..........--------.........EndProductValue<:oC3'"S.-l3'~700iiF::!~675[~650()"~625S.OJo"600a.."'"~196919701971197219735751974Sources:U.S.ForestService,AlaskaDivisionoflands,U.S.RureauofIndianAffairs,U.S.BureauoflandManagementandU.S.DepcutllumtofCommerce.'Despitethepresentslowdown,theAlaskaDepartmentofEconomicDevelop-mentpredictsnewmarketsinJapanandsteadygrowthinAlaska'sforestproductsindustry.32 TOURIS~1TourisminAlaskaisamajorindustrywithtouristvolumeincreasingatarateofalmost15percentperyearsince1964.Approximately240,000non-residentpleasuretravelersenteredAlaskain1974.Tourismshouldcontinuetogrowastransportationandfacilitiesareimproved.Thefollowinggraphindicatesrecenttrends.NUMBEROFTOURISTSENTERINGALASKACRUISESHIPr--FERRY1968I1970I1972I1974IAIRLINE196811970r--------I..----1972----------------~19741..-----'HIGHWAY~~~~I1972.--------'----,L1974-----.:=Jo20406080100THOUSANDSOFTOURISTS.SOURCE:ALASKADIVISIONOFTOURISM.AsthetransportationhubofthebulkofAlaska,theAnchoragearearealizesthemajorshareofthisactivity.33 OTHERINDUSTRIESOtherindustrieshaveingeneralparalleledthegrowthintheprimaryindustries.Contractconstructionisespeciallyhealthyduetopipelineconstructionactivities,andthefuturewouldappeartodependoncontinuedresourcedevelopmentintheState.Consistentgrowthoverthelastdecadehasoccurredinthetradeandserviceindustries,whileagricultureproductionhasbeenrelativelystatic.RecentchangestomoreefficientandlargerfarmshaveputAlaskanagricultureinamoresolidposition,andthepotentiallytillablelandisextensive.Thegovernmentsector,alreadythelargestcontributortotheAlaskaneconomy,continuestogrowrapidly.PRESENTPOWERREQUIREMENTSTosustainthecurrentpopulationandlevelofeconomicactivityintheSouthcentralRailbeltarea,powerisprovidedbyseveralutilitysystemsaswellasindustrialandnationaldefensepowersystems.Thefollowingtableprovidesasummaryofexistinggeneratingcapacityasofmid-1974.SUMMARYOFEXISTINGGENERATINGCAPACITYInstalledCapacity-1000kwDieselGasSteamHydroICTurbineTurbineTotalAnchorage-CookInletArea:UtilitySystem45.0NationalDefenseIndustrialSystemSubtota145.0Fairbanks-TananaValleyArea:UtilitySystemNationalDefenseSubtota1ValdezandGlennallen13.5341.714.5414.89.349.558.810.12.312.43'2:9344.064.0486.032.142.153.5127.714.963.077.941:0105.153.5205.66.26.2Notes:ThemajorityofthedieselgenerationisinstandbystatusexceptatValdezandGlennallen.Source:1974A)askaPowerSurvey,TechnicalAdvisoryReport,ResourcesandElectricPowerGeneration,AppendixA,andAlaskaElectricPowerStatistics,1960-1973,APA.34 TheAnchorage-CookInletareahadatotalinstalledcapacityof414.8MWin1974.Naturalgas-firedturbineswerethepredominantenergysourcewith341.7MWofinstalledcapacity.Hydroelectriccapacityof45r~wwasavailablefromtwoprojects,ElkutnaandCooperLakes.Steamturbinescomprised14.5MWofcapacityanddieselgeneration,mostlyinstandbyservice,accountedfortheremaining13.5MW.TheFairbanks-TananaValleyareautilitieshadatotalinstalledcapacityof127.7MWin1974.Steamturbinesprovidedthelargestblockofpowerintheareawithaninstalledcapacityof53.5MW.Gasturbinegeneration(oil-fired)provided42.1MWofpower,anddieselgeneratorscontributed32.1MWtothearea.TheenergyneedsoftheSouthcentralRailbeltareaareestimatedbytheAlaskaPowerAdministrationtomorethandoubleby1985fromthepresent2billionkilowatt-hoursto5.5billionkilowatt-hours.Bytheyear2000,theenergyrequirementisestimatedtoreach15billionkilowatt-hours.Thefollowingsectionisadiscussionoftheseenergyneedprojectionsaswellasoftheenergyuseanddevelopmentassumptionsuponwhichtheyarebased.35 pENERGYNEEDSInitsmarketabilityanalysis,AlaskaPowerAdministrationpreparedRailbeltarealoadprojectionsfor1980,1990,and2000underthreedifferentgrowthscenarios.projectionsarebasedonthe1974AlaskaPowerSurvey,adjustedtoaccountformorerecentdata,curreptregionalandsectionaltrendsinenergyandpoweruse,andtoelimi~ateloadswhichwouldbetooremotetobeservedfromaRai1belttrans-missionsystem.TheuseofarangeofprojectionsisnecessitatedbythewidevariationpossibleinfuturepopulationandeconomicgrowthinAlaskaduetouncertaintyregardingthecontrollingfactorsofcost,conser-vationtechnologies,availableenergysources,typesofAlaskandevelop-ment,andnationalenergypolicy.Allprojectionsassumesaturationlevelsformanyenergyuseswillbereachedandthatratesofincreaseformostindividualuseswilldeclineduringtheperiodofstudy.Thisreflectsassumedeffectsofmajoreffortstoincreaseefficienciesandconserveenergyforalluses.InaccordancewithAPA'srecommendations,theprojectionsbasedonthemid-rangegrowthscenariowereadoptedforthisstudy.Themid-rangeprojectionisbasedonulitysystemgrowthratesof12.4percentfor1974-1980,7percentfor1980-1990,6percentfor1990-2000.NationaldefenserequirementsarebasedonaI-percentgrowthrateandindustrialrequirementspresumeagradualexpansionoffacilities.Thefollowingtablesummarizesthemid-rangeloadprojectionsfortheRailbeltarea.36 ESTIMATED RAILBELT AREA POWER REQUIREMENTS -t1ID-RANGE GROWTH RATE 1974 Actual 1980 1990 2000 P-eak Annual Peak Annual Peak Annual Peak An~rlua 1 Demand En~rgy Demand En~rgy Demand Energy Demand En~rgy 1000 kW 10 kWh 1000 kW 10 kWh 1000 kW 10 6 kWh 1000 kW 10 kWh Util ities Anchorage 284 1305 590 2580 1190 5210 2510 9420 Fa i rbanks 83 330 150 660 290 1270 510 2230 Total 367 1635 740 3240 1480 6480 2660 11 ,650 National Defense Anchorage 33 155 35 170 40 190 45 220 Fairbanks 41 197 45 220 50 240 55 260 w --..J Total 74 352 80 390 90 430 100 480 Industrial Anchorage 10 45 50 350 100 710 410 2870 Fairbanks J! Total 10 45 50 350 100 710 410 2870 Total Anchorage 327 1505 675 3100 1330 6110 2605 12,510 Fairbanks 124 527 195 880 340 1510 565 2,490- Total 451 2032 870 3980 1670 7620 3170 15,000 J!Rounds to less than 10 MW for all years. APAPOWERREQUSeveralbasicasanalysis.Itisasexpansionin1980electricaldecadeinressumptionisalsofavorotherformstoanticipateproduction.APA'spowerrequi~olnOr,+sectorswhichwereeon~~~utilitysystemrequi~o~,on1~elightindustrisecondsectorindustrialrequienergy-intensiveinduswerethenext;enided+h\!'n",nthegrowthratedecade'shiandloweru1;moreandlessgrowththatsomewhatlowern~I""T'hGrowthrates9consideredtorPf1rp,PYliinthosetworepresenti~n~JPrAdministration'sivetoorderlyrateforoverthelastThepre-technologythatonwillneedationandcornpclsiteofthreeiscomposedofal,commercial,irements.Theandfinallynr,'""Ir"csing,newexplored.mateswerecom-and1990;thesemid-rangeextendsSOITleWl1atlessthanthepasti1tarea.Higherassume20percent~~.__4._Itisthenassumedinsdecades.the1990'sareaskaeconomyconsideredtoASSUMEDMI~11UMLESTIMATE:HigherLikelyMin_w'~nl'oLowerRange9761990-2000864basesandanassumedyear.TheseestimaSurvey,whichassumedfornationalthemajoronepercentper1974AlaskaPower IndustrialRequirements:Industrialuse(asdefinedbyAPAforpurposesofthisanalysis)accountsforabout2percentoftheRailbeltarea's1974totalpowerrequirementandisexpectedtogrowto19percentin2000.accordingtothemid-rangeprojection.Thisremainswellbelowtheindustrialsharenationwide.Theindustrialrequirementisthemostspeculativeaspectoftheprojectionbecauseitisverydifficulttoforeseethetimingofnewfacilities.Theanalysisassumesahighprobabilityofmajornewmineralproductionandprocessing.Alsoexpectedaresignificantfurtherdevelopmentsintimberprocessing,anditisa?sumedthatAlaskaenergyandtheavailabilityofotherresourcessuchaswater,industrialsites,andportsiteswillattractenergy-intensiveindustries.Theprimarydatasourcefortheindustrialsectorprojectionswasa1973studybytheAlaskaDepartmentofEconomicDevelopment.ThatstudyincludedreviewandestimatesofpowerrequirementsforAlaska'sfishery,forestproducts,petroleum,naturalgas,coal,andothermineralindus-tries,allpremisedonsignificantidentifiedresourcepotentialsandonpowerneedsforsimilardevelopmentselsewhere.SeveralqualifyingassumptionsweremadebyAPAtoadaptthisstudyforuseinthemarketa-bilityanalysis.1.Powerrequirementsforfishprocessingindustriesandsupportservicesforindustrialdevelopmentarenotincluded,havingalreadybeenaddressedinthe"utilityrequirement"portionoftheanalysis.2.Estimatedmineralindustryloads(exceptforpetroleumandrelatedindustry)fortheyear2000wereadoptedasAPA's"higherrange"estimate,withestimatesfor1980and1990,reflectingantici-patednlinimumleadtimesfordevelopingtheresourcesinvolved.Themid-rangeestimateassumesala-yeardeferraloftheDepartmentofEconomicDevelopment'sprojectedgrowthscenario,andthelowerrangeestimatea20-yeardeferral.3.PowerrequirementsassumedforAlaskapetroleumandpetro-chemicalindustriesaresmallerthanestimatesinthereferencestudy,basedonexpectationsthatmostAlaskaoilandgasproductionwouldbeexportedduringtheperiodofthesurvey.Forexample,themid-rangeestimateassumes7percentofpetroleumindustryloadsestimatedinthereferencestudy.4.Asomewhatslowerpaceofdevelopmentwasassumedforforestproductsindustries.Alloftheabovequalifyingassumptions,withtheexceptionofNo.1whichhadaneutraleffect,weredownwardadjustments,decreasingtheestimatesofthebasicstudy.SpecificindustrialdevelopmentassumedforthestudyispresentedinSectionG,Appendix1.Onlyplannedexpansionstoexistingfacilitiesandrealisticallyidentifiablenewindustrycloselytiedtoprovenresourcecapabilitieswereassumed.39 SUMMARYWhencombined,thecompositeannualgrowthratesfortheprojectedpowerrequirementsareasindicatedinthefollowingtable.COMPOSITEANNUALGROWTHRATESFORELECTRICPOWER(Percent)ESTIMATE:HigherRangeLikelyMid-rangeLowerRange1974-198012.49.67.51980-199020.21/6.7-5.81990-20003.07.04.0IIThishighrateiscausedbytheassumedintroductionofa2500MWnuclearfuelenrichmentplantasanexampleofapossiblelargeindustrialload.Withoutthisload,the1980-1990growthratewouldbe9.3percentandthefollowingdecade'swouldbe6.6per-cent.NOfluchloadisassumedforthemidandlowerrangeprojections.Thethreegrowthprojectionsaredisplayedinthefollowinggraphandcomparedtothelastdecade'shistoricalgrowthrateof14percentprojectedtotheyear2000.Revised1Jun197640 200019901980LOADPROJECTIONSIIvv~,~/VV/V/I//V1/1/1/II~IA~Ir1/V~v~~~~VJ[/~vvvLOW,.-V.~VI--~I-""~I---!--I---I--~~1-3L-l-L.-I--I--~....l:::::::f:-:-.-1..-k--::F::::I"'""Io197040,00010,000a:30,000:c3:~zo-'20,000-'::EYEARPROJECTEDENERGYDEMANDSOUTHCENTRAlRAllBELT41 ThegraphbelowdepictstherelativesharesthroughtimeofthethreedemandsectorsanalyzedbyAPA.Utilitysystemrequirementsincluderesidential,commercial,lightindustrial,andindustrialsupportservicesneeds.Industrialrequirementsarecomprisedofresourceextractionandprocessing,newenergy-intensiveindustries,andheavymanufacturing.COMPOSITIONOFENERGYREQUIREMENTSTHROUGHTIME(MID-RANGEESTIMATES)1001::'""--------------..:..----_100INDUSTRIALNATIONALDEFENSE80J-------------806060f-f-Lf.0ZzUTILITIES40wwuUQCQClUW0...0...2020o200019901980O.......----......"""-----.....L....1974YEAR42 ThisgraphclearlyindicatesthattheprimedeterminantsoffuturecnCt'gyneedsilreexpectedtocontinue tobel"esidential,commercial,andlightindustrialusesofenergy.Theenergyuseinthesesectorsisprimarilydeterminedbyenergyusehabits,population,andeconomicactivity.EnergyUseAssumptipns:APAhasassumedsubstantialsavingsinenergyconsumptionduetoincreasedefficiencyandconservationinenergyuse.BothoftheseeffectsareexpectedtoresultfromimminentandprobablefutureincreasesinAlaskaenergycosts.PopulationAssumptions:APA'spopulationassumptions,basedonawiderangeofStateandFederalagency,aswellasfinancialandacademicinstitutionprojections,tendtobesomewhatconservativewhencomparedtothemostrecentprojectionswhichmoreadequatelyincorporateexistingeconomicrealities.Forinstance.theInstituteofSocial,Economic,andGovernmentResearchoftheUniversityofAlaska,employingarecentlyformulatedeconometricmodel(theMAPmodel)andthemostlikelydevelop-mentscenario,predictsanannualpopulationgrowthrateofabout5percentfortheRailbeltareathrough1990.CurrentMAPmodelaswellasNationalBankofAlaska(NBA)populationestimatesbothexceedthoseearlierprojectionsthatwerecitedinthe1974AlaskaPowerSurvey.Thefollowingtablecomparespopulationprojectionsbasedonacontinu-ationof1960-1970annualgrowthof3percentwitht1APandOBERSesti-mates.OBERSprojectionsarepreparedbytheU.S.DepartmentsofCommerceandAgriculturefortheU.S.WaterResourcesCouncil.STATEPOPULATIONESTIMATES(1000's)196019701975 198019902000Actua12263023percentGrowth(AlaskaPowerSurvey)MAPNBAOBERS(SeriesE)386(est.)410471500333550738391740438OBERSprojectionsareinappropriateforuseinthisstudyasabasisofpopulationestimationinAlaskaasevidencedbythefactthattheactual1975Alaskanpopulationalmostequalsthe1990OBERSprojection.EconomicActivityAssum~tions:Withregardtoeconomicactivity,the~1APmodel;air"eeswithAAlsassumptionofsteadyeconomicgrowthfollowingthepresentboomperiod.To1980,grossproductisprojectedbytheMAPmodeltoincreaseatanannualrateof7.0percentintheAnchorage-Fairbanksarea,followedinthenextdecadebyanannualgrowthrateof6.0percent.NationalBankofAlaskaconsidersthisasomewhatcon-servativeestimate.43 Notallofthesubregionswillshareequallyinthisgrowth.TheAn"hnrnop-r.nnkTnlpt~llhrp9ionhasbeenthefocalpointformostoftheState'sgrowthintermsofpopulation,business,services,andindustrysinceWorldWarII.Becauseofitscentralroleinbusiness,commerce,andgovernment,theAnchorageareaisdirectlyinfluencedbyeconomicactivityelsewhereintheState.Presentandproposedactivitiesindi-cateahighprobabilityofrapidgrowthintheCookInletareafortheforeseeablefuture.MuchofthisactivityisrelatedtooilandnaturalgasdevelopmenttoincludeexpansionofrefineriesatKenai,proposedLNGexportstothecontinentalUnitedStates,andprobableadditionaloffshoreoilandgasproduction.TheareawillcontinuetoserveasthetransportationhubformostofAlaskaandtheproposedcapitalrelocationwouldprovideadditionalimpetusforgrowth.Fairbanks,intheTananasubregion,isAlaska'ssecondlargestcity,thetradecenterformuchofAlaska'sinterior,servicecenterfortwomajormilitarybasesandsiteoftheUniversityofAlaska.Currently,itisinthemidstofamajorboomconnectedwiththeconstructionoftheAlyeskapipeline.ItisgenerallyfeltthatpostpipelinegrowthintheFairbanksareawillbeataslowerpacethanthatoftheCookInletsubregion.MajorfutureresourcedevelopmentsintheinteriorandnorthslopewouldhavedirectimpactontheFairbankseconomy.LikeFairbanks,thetwomajorloadcentersoftheGulfofAlaskasubregion.ValdezandGlennallenareheavilyimpactedbypipelineconstruction.Longerrangeprospectsindicateamorestableeconomyassociatedwithpipelineandterminaloperationsandwithrecreation.InstitutionalConsiderations:EnergyprojectionsforAlaskaareofnecessitymorespeculativethanthoseformoredevelopedareasintherestofthecountry.ThisisduetothepresentrelativelysmallpopulationandeconomicbaseandtheverysubstantialinfluencethatpoliticaldecisionswillhaveregardingdevelopmentofAlaska.Nationalenergypolicy,finallanddisposition,andcapitalrelocationareexamplesofinstitutionalconstraintswhichmaysignificantlyalterfutureenergyrequirements.Itistheeffectofsuchinfluencesthatlargelyaccountsforthewiderangeinenergyprojections.CONCLUSIONSThehigherrangeprojectionprovidedbyAPAiscomprisedintheyear2000ofover50percentindustrialuse.Thismagnitudeofheavyindustrialdevelopmentisdeemedtoospeculativetoserveasabasisforenergyplanningatthistime.Thelowerrangeprojection,ontheotherhand.incorporatesacompositegrowthratefortheremainderofthe1970'stoofarremovedfromthepresentactualannualrateofincreasetobeacceptedasabestestimateoffutureenergyuse.Ingeneral,thebroadpopulationandeconomictrendsaswellasthemore44 specificenergyuseandeconomicdevelopmentassumptionsofthemid-rangeestimatereflectarealisticbalancingofrecentexperienceinAlaskanenergyconsumptiongrowthwithexpectedfuturedevelopmentandmoreefficientuseofenergy.Forthesereasons,themid-rangeenergyrequirementprojectionfurnishedbytheAlaskaPowerAdministrationhasbeenadoptedasthebasisforprojectplanning.Itisrecognizedthatbymakingassumptionsaboutfuturepopulationandeconomicgrowthandthenprovidingenergysufficienttosustainsuchgrowth,theinitialprojectionsmaybecomeaself-fulfillingprophecy.Bypresumingthatenergyneedsmustbemet,theopportunitytousetheprovisionofpowerasatooltodirectgrowthtowardsociallydesirablegoalsisforegone.Intheabsence,however,ofanysuchgenerallyacceptedgrowthgoals,itseemshighlypresumptuoustodootherwisethanplansoastosatisfytheenergyneedsrequiredtosustainthatleveloffuturedevelopmentdeemedmostlikely.45 PROBLEMSANDNEEDSProblemsandneedsoftheRailbeltareawhichareassociatedwithwaterandrelatedlandresourcedevelopmentcoverabroadrangeofeconomic,environmental,andsocialconcerns.Specificitemsidentifiedfromexpressionsofgovernmentalagencies,ofindustry,ofspecialinterestorganizations,andofprivatecitizensinclude:Theprojectedneedforincreasedsuppliesofelectricalenergy,Aneedforreductionorpreventionofflooddamages,Aneedforimprovedsmallboatanddeepdraftnavigationconditions,Aneedforincreasedmunicipalwatersupply,Aneedforfuturesuppliesofirrigationwater,AneedforreductionandpreventionofairpollutioninFairbanksandAnchorage,Theneedtoconserveandenhancefishandwildliferesources,Theneedforadditionalrecreationalopportunities forthepopulation,Thepreservationandmaintenanceofthe"Alaskanway-of-life",includingpreventionoffurtherpopulationgrowth,preventionofaddi-tionalindustrialization,andcessationofexpansionofurbanareas,Thenationaldesiretoachieveenergyindependencefromforeignsources,andThenationaldesiretoconservenonrenewableresources.46 PLANFORMULATIONPlanformulationinvolvesasystematicprocessofanalyzingneedsandproblems,establishingstudyobjectives,anddevelopingandevaluatingalternativeplansresourcemanagement.PlanformulationisguidedbyCorpsofEngineerspolicyonmultiobjectiveplanning,inaccordancewithlegislativeaexecutiveauthoritiesprovidedbytheNationalEnvironmentalPolicyAct(NEPA),PublicLaw91-190,1January1970;Section122,RiverandHarborandFloodControlActof1970,PublicLaw91-611,31December1970;PrinciplesandStandardsforPlanningWaterandRelatedLandResources,WaterResourcesCouncil,38FR24778-24869,10September1973;andvariousotherstatutes.Undertheseguidelines,thebasicwaterresourceplanningobjectivesare,co-equally,NationalEconomicDevelopment(NED)andEnvironmentalQuality(EQ),withconsidera-tionbeinggiventosocialwell-beingandregionaldevelopment.STUDYOBJECTIVESThestudyobjectivesderivefromtheproblemsandneedsthatarespecifictothestudyareaandcanbereasonablyaddressedwithintheframeworkofthestudyauthorityandpurpose.Theobjectivesselectedforthisstudyare:ToprovideadditionalelectricalenergytotheRailbeltareaasdirectedbytheauthorizingresolution;TocontrolfloodingandreduceflooddamagesintheRailbeltarea;ToreduceorpreventairpollutionintheRailbeltarea;Topreserve,conserve,orenhancefishandwildlifeintheRailbeltarea;ToprovideincreasedrecreationalopportunitieswithintheRailbeltarea;Toconservenonrenewableresourcesofthenation;andTocontributetowardnationalenergyindependence.Navigationimprovementsarenotcompatiblewithanysolutionaimedattheotherneeds.Theneedsformunicipalwatersupplycanbemoreeconomicallysolvedbymeansthatareindependentofthemajorityoftheotherwaterresourcedevelopmentneeds.47 Theneedforirrigationwaterpresumesalevelofagriculturaldevelopmentwhichisnotnowplannedorforeseeable.TopreservetheAlaskanlifestylebyhaltinggrowthofallformsatthepresentlevelisbeyondtheauthorityoftheCorpsofEngineersandisthusnotastudyobjective.POSSIBLESOLUTIONSThefollowingalternativemethodsofsatisfyingtheprimarystudyobjective,theprovisionofelectricpowerfortheRailbeltarea,wereconsideredaspossiblesolutions:AlternativeSourcesofPowerCoalNaturalgasandoilNuclearGeothermalSolarWindandtideWoodIntertiewithsourceselsewhereSolidwasteHydroelectricYukonRiver--RampartDamCopperRiver--WoodCanyonDamChakachatnaRiver--ChakachamnaDamBradleyRiver--BradleyLakeDamSusitnaRiverSingleDamsDevilCanyonDevilCanyonHigh(SusitnaI)WatanaTwo-DamSystemsDevilCanyon-DenaliDevilCanyon-WatanaThree-DamSystemDevilCanyon-Watana-VeeFour-DamSystemsUSBR:DevilCanyon-Watana-Vee-DenaliKaiser:SusitnaI,II,III-Denali48 ThesealternativeswerescreenedonthebasisofpreliminaryestimatesofresponsetothebasicwaterresourceplanningobjectivesofNED(economicviility)andEQ(contributionstoenvironmentalquality).WithintheNEDconsions.inadditiontothepurelyeconomicfactors.suchiastechnicalfeasibility(canitbedonewithexistingtechno1)scale(doesitdotoolittleortoomuch?)wereconsiiWithintheEQconsiderations,inadditiontopositivetoenvironmentalfactors,alackofadverseeffectswasconsificant.Theintentandeffectofthisbriefscreen;outimpracticableandmarginalalternativesleavingasmallebetterpossiblesolutionstobestudiedandevaluatedindetail.Thefollowingdiscussionssummarizethepreliminaryevaluation.Coal:Coalismostabundantfossilfuelinthenation.South-centralaskatwoivedeposits.TheBelugaRiverareanorthwestofCookIn1containscoalreservesofatleast2.3billiontonsor,energy-wise,anivalentofalmost7billionbarrelsofoil.Developmentofugacoalswouldenhancepossibilitiesforcoal-firedpowergenerationatreasonablecost.CoalresourcesintheNenanafieldsinSouthcentralRailbelt.southofFairbanksnearHealy.Alas•areevenmoreextensivethantheBelugaRiverreserves.lileast7billiontons.majorobstacletoincreasedcoalusageisthehisulfurcontentinordertomeetaircoalisburned.Otherproblemsincludessociatedenvironmentalimpacts,suchassurface~wasmaaldisposal,andchemicallyactivewatert-minirestoration;andtransportationofthecoal.Thehavelowofsulfur,buthavehighashandwateri eningwouldbeneededforuseinpowergeneration.Inmanycasesproblemofremoviqualitystastripmidisdischarge;Belugacoalscontent.frameasnuclearinthebegivenconsinOl~~1"1watertransportacouldbeavailableonaboutthesametime-sources,suchashydropowerand,possibly,rho~m~lplantscouldprobablybeutilized1980's.Coal-firedplantsshouldalsoremoteareaswhichcoul~besuppliedbyIntheabsencemajorhydrodevelopmentorthediscoveryofadd;onalgasreservestheRailbeltpowersystemwouldprobablyshiftfromoilas-fipowerunitstocoalastheirprincipalenergysource.ThecoalplantswouldeitherbeconventionalsteamorsteamandgasneunitslocatedneartheBelugaandNenanacoalfields.Itconcludedthatcoalisatechnicallyfeasibleandeconomicallyviaternativewithcertainprobableadverseenviron-mentaleffects.studyandevaluationofthisalternativeisjustified.49 NaturalGasandOil:Alaskapowersystemsnowdependonoilandgasforabout60percentoftotalenergyproduction,andby1980about90percentoftheState'selectricenergywillcomefromthesefuels.Estimated1972fueluseforAlaska'spowersystemsincluded1.4millionbarrelsofoiland16billioncubicfeetofnaturalgas.Theusewouldincreasetoabout26millionbarrelsofoiland134billioncubicfeetofnaturalgas(ifavailable)annuallybytheyear2000inmeetingthemid-rang~consumptionlevelestimates.CookInletnaturalgashasprovidedlowcostpowerbenefitsforthesurroundingareaintherecentpast,andwithsubstantialreservesundercontract,shouldhandleareapowerrequirementsforseveralmoreyears.However,evenifadditionalreservesarefoundtomeetfuturedemands,itappearsreasonabletoassumethattherewillbesubstantialincreasesincostsforoilandgassuppliedasU.S.domesticreservesdecline,worldwidedemandincreases,andforeignoilpricesremainhigh.ThereisnolongeranyreasontoanticipatethatAlaskanoilandgaswillprovideanabundant,cheapenergysourceforthelongterm.Thesefuelswillbeexpensive,iffornootherreasonthanpressurestoexporttheresourcestoareaswherehigherpricescanbeobtainedfortheiruseinpetrochemicalindustries.CookInletnaturalgasisacleanfuel.Fewseriousairpollutionproblemsexistforgas-firedunits;however,theamountofgasreservesisnotknownatthistime.Gasturbineexhaustisnoisy,althoughmodernnoisesuppressionequipmentcanreducethisimpactataprice.Energyconservationaspects ofgas-firedunitsmaybecomesignificantbecauseexistinggasturbineshavelowefficienciesandemitvisiblewatervaporemissionsduringthecolderwintermonths.Also,nitrogenemissionscouldbeofsignificantconcernfortheverylargegas-firedplantswhichwouldbeneeded.Itisconcludedthatnaturalgasandoilasapowersourceisfeasibleforthenearfuture.However,thereisseriousdoubtastothecontinuedavailabilityofthebaseresourceandastothecontinu-ationofeconomicadvantageitnowenjoys.Thereappearstobesomeenvironmentaladvantagestothecontinueduseofnaturalgasand/oroil.butnotofanapparentmagnitudetobeoverridingtothesupply-priceconsiderations.Furtherstudyofthisalternativeisnotdeemedjustifiedforthisreport.NuclearPower:Theuseofnuclearpowerasacommercialelectricalenergysourceforthenationisexpectedtoincreaseconsiderablybytheyear1985.Adverseenvironmentalimpactsareassociatedwithsurfaceandsubsurfaceminingofuranium,changesinlanduse,disposalofwasteheat,riskofaccidents,andsafedisposalofhighlyradio-activewastes.Inspiteofthesefactors,morethan50percentoftheelectricalpowerofthenationisexpectedtobegeneratedbynuclear50 powerbytheyear2000.Bythattime,breederplants,whichproduceadditionalfuelwhiletheyproducepower,willhopefullybeavailabletotakeoveralargershareoftheproductionofelectricity.Possiblyatsometimeinthenextcentury,nuclearfissionplantsandproposednuclearbreederplantswillbereplacedbynuclearfusionreactorsandbycentralgeneratingstationsrunningonsolarpower.Nuclearpowershouldbeconsideredalikely.long-rangesourceofbaseloadpowerfortheRailbeltarea,butisgenerallyconsideredadistantoptionbecauseofsizeofpowermarkets,cost,andenviron-mentalfactors.Furtherstudyofthisalternativeisnotdeemedjustifiedforthisreport.Geothermal:GeothermalresourcesmayeventuallyprovidesignificantpowergenerationinAlaska;theSouthcentralRailbeltareahassub-stantialgeothermalpotential.Someofthepossibleproblemsassociatedwiththegenerationofelectricalpowerfromgeothermalresourcesincludesitingoffacilities,brinedisposal,andcorrosion.Thisresourcecouldalsoprovideusablesideproductssuchasheat,water,andchemicals.Thissourceofenergyisnotconsideredareasonableshort-termalternativetoothermoreproventypesofpowergenerationbecauseoftherelativelyprimitivelevelofpresenttechnologicaldevelopmentandhighcosts.Furtherstudyofthisalternativeisnotdeemedjustifiedforthisreport.Solar:Theradiantheatofthesunisanotherrenewablesourceofenergythathasconsiderablepotentialforgeneratingpowerinthenationandtheworld.Useofsolarenergytoproduceelectricalpoweronalargescaleisnotpresentlyfeasibleforthelackofthetechno-logytogenerateandtostorelargeamountsofelectricityproducedbythesun'sradiation.Amajordisadvantagewhereversuchadevelop-mentispursuedwillbethelargelandarearequiredforreflectorinstallationtoprovideusableamountsofpowerandthusthelargeenvironmentaldisturbancesinherentinsuchachangeinlanduse.Anotherdisadvantage,especiallyinAlaska,willbethatduringthewinter,whendemandforelectricalpowerisgreatest,thesuniseitherabsentfromoratbestabriefvisitortolocalskies.Furtherstudyofthisalternativeisnotdeemedjustifiedforthisreport.WindandTidal:Researchanddevelopmentproposalsforwindgeneratorsshouldimprovefuturecapabilitiesofwind-poweredelectricalgeneratingsystems.Withincreaseddieselfuelcosts,wind-generatedelectricalpowerisapossiblealternativepowersourceforremoteareaswithsmallloads.Thealternativeisnotconsideredfeasibleforprovisionoflargeamountsofenergyatthistime.TheCookInletregionofAlaskaexperiencesoneofthelargertidalrangesoftheworld,givingitapotentialforthegenerationofelectricalenergyfromalowheadreversiblehydroplant.However,suchaninstallationwouldrequirealowdamspanningthefullwidth51 oftheInlet,amassivecostiteminitself,aswellasadeep-draftlocksystemtoallowcommercialvesselaccesstotheAnchorageport.ThedamwouldchangetheentireflowregimeofCookInletwithasignificantpotentialforextensiveadverseeffortsonmajoreco-systems.AdditionalmajoreffectswouldincludeintensifiedicepackconditionsintheupstreampoolwithpotentialforsignificantadverseimpactsontheAnchoragewaterfront.Furtherstudyofeitherofthesealternativesisnotdeemedjustifiedforthisreport.Wood:InpartsofsoutheasternAlaska,woodisusedtofiresteam-generatingpowerplants.Alaskadoeshavevastforestreservesthatcouldbeused;however,thesesametreeshavefarhigherandbetteralternativeusesinwood,paper,andotherindustries.Inaddition,theesthetic,ecological,andenvironmentalimpactsofthelargeharvestsnecessarytoallowproductionoflargeamountsofenergyappeartobemassive.Furtherstudyofthisalternativeisnotdeemedjustifiedforthereport.Intertie:InsteadofproducingtherequiredpowerinAlaska,excesspowerfromCanadaand/orthe"Lm'/er4811couldbeimportedbyatrans-missionsysteminterconnectingwiththesources.However,thereisnoevidentexcessofpoweravailabletomakesuchadevelopmentfeasible.Furtherstudyofthisalternativeisnotdeemedjustifiedforthisreport.SolidWaste:TheuseofsolidwasteswasproposedbytheAlaskaCenterfortheEnvironmentasanalternativesourceofenergyattheintermediatepublicmeetingheldinAnchorageon29May1975.ThesupplyofsolidwastesintheAnchorageareaisprojectedtoreach500,000tonsannuallybytheyear2000.Evenifallofthewastewascombustibleandhadaheatvalueequivalenttocoal,neitherofwhichisfactual,thepowerproducedwouldbelessthan10percentoftheprojectedneed.Furtherstudyofthisalternativeisnotdeemedjustifiedforthisreport.Hydropower:ThereconnaissancereportonpotentialdevelopmentintheStateofAlaskamadein1948bytheU.S.BureauofReclamation,includedhundredsofpotentialpowerdevelopmentsiteslocatedthrough-outthefivestudyregionsoftheState:Southeast;Southcentral;Yukon-Kuskokwim;SewardPeninsula;andArctic.Thetwolargestmarketareasforpowerarelocatedinthesouthcentralregion,parti-cularlytheAnchorage-CookInletarea,andtheFairbanks-TananaValleyarea.ThelargeamountoftheavailablerenewablewaterresourcewhichcouldproduceelectricpowerhasexcellentpotentialtoanswertheenergyneedsoftheSouthcentralRailbeltarea.52 )YukonRiver-RampartCanyon:TheproposedsitefortheRampartCanyonDamisonthe-VukonRiver,approximately140milesnorthwestofFairbanks,Alaska.TheprojecthasoneofthelargesthydroelectricpotentialsinNorthAmerica.Theplanwouldincludeareservoirwithawatersurfaceareaofapproximately10,600squaremiles.amaximumlengthof280miles,andamaximumwidthofabout80miles.Theprojectwouldprovidefirmannualenergyof34.2billionki1owatt-hours(theenergyequivalentofover58millionbarrelsofoilperyear).However,theprojectedadverseenvironmentalimpactsonfishandwildlifeintheYukonFlatsareofsuchmagnitudeastoruleoutprojectauthorizationuptothistime.ThisalternativefarexceedstheprojectedpowerneedsoftheRai1be1tareaforseveraldecades.Becauseoftheexcessscaleandtheprobablemagnitudeoftheenviron-mentalimpacts,furtherstudyofthisalternativeisnotdeemedjustifiedforthisreport.CopperRiver-WoodCanyonDam:TheproposedsitefortheWoodCanyonDamisabout85milesabovethemouthoftheCopperRiverintheChugachMountainsofsouthcentra1Alaska.A"highdam"proposalwoulddevelopfirmannualenergyof21.9billionkilowatt-hours.A"lowdam"planwouldprovide10.3billionkilowatt-hoursoffirmannualenergy.TheconstructionofeitherdamatWoodCanyonwouldforcerelo-cationoftwocommunitiesandwouldcreateseriousenvironmentalproblemsaffectingbothfishandwildlifevalues,especiallytothelargesalmonrunsontheCopperRiver.Unlesstheproblemposedtomigratingsalmoncouldbesolvedsatisfactorily,theprojectwouldhavesevereadverseeffectonthemajorcommercialfishingindustryinawideareaoftheGulfofAlaska.Furtherstudyofthisalter-nativeisnotdeemedjustifiedforthisreport.ChakachatnaRiver-ChakachamnaDam:ThesitefortheproposedChakachamnaDamislocatedontheChakachatnaRiverwhichdrainsintothewestsideofCookInletapproximately65mileswestofAnchorage.Thefacilitywouldgenerate1.6billionkilowatt-hoursoffirmannualenergy.Theprojectwouldrequiretheerectionofadditionaltrans-missionfacilitiesoverdifficultterraintotieintoaSouthcentra1Rai1be1ttransmissionsystemandtheconstructionofacostly11-mi1etunnelforpowergeneration.TheadverseenvironmentalimpactwouldbesubstantiallylessthanfrommanyproposedAlaskanhydroelectricprojects.Thisalternativeprovidesonlyasmallportionoftheprojectedenergyneeds.Althoughdevelopmentatalaterdatetosupplementotherenergysourcesmightbewarranted,furtherstudyofthisalternativeisnotdeemedjustifiedforthisreport.BradleyRiver-BradleyLakeDam:ThesiteforthisproposedhydroelectricprojectisatBradleyLakeontheKenaiPeninsula'attheheadofKachemakBay.Thefacilityproposedwouldgenerate0.4billionkilowatt-hoursoffirmannualenergyandcouldserveas53 DEVILCANYONWATANA54 )VEEDENALI55 asouthernpeakinginstallationforaSouthcentralRailbeltpowersystem.Therewouldbeaminimumofadverseenvironmentalimpactsassociatedwiththisproposedproject.Thisalternativeprovidesonlyasmallportionoftheprojectedenergyneeds.Althoughdevelopmentatalaterdatetosupplementotherenergysourcesmightbewarranted,furtherstudyofthisalternativeisnotdeemedjustifiedforthisreport.SusitnaRiver:SurveysforpotentialhydropowerdevelopmentintheSusitnaRiverbasinwerereportedbytheCorpsofEngineersin1950andbytheU.S.BureauofReclamationin1948,1952, 1961,and1974.The1952USBRreportindicated12potentialhydropowersitesinthebasin;ofthese,the5damsitesstudiedintheupperSusitnabasinshowedthehighestpotential.ThesestudiesshowedtheenvironmentalimpactfromprojectsintheUpperSusitnaRiverBasinwouldnotbeassevereasthosefromotherbasins,andthefirmenergypotentialcouldcontributesubstantiallytosatisfyingtheneedsoftheSouthcentralRailbeltarea.EighthydroelectricplansforhydroelectricdevelopmentoftheSusitnaRiverbasinwerestudiedforthisreport.Theseincludethreesingledams,twotwo-damsystems,athree-daysystem,andtwofour-damsystems,asfollows:SingleDams:DevilCanyon:Thepossibilityofasingledamdevelop-mentoftheupperSusitnabasinlocatedattheDevilCanyondamsitewasinvestigated.Theproposedthin-archdamwouldhaveawatersurfaceareaofapout7,550acresatthenormalmaximumpoolelevationof1,450feet,m.s.l.TheprojectwouldproduceO.gbillionkilowatt-hoursoffirmannualenergyfromdependablecapacityof205megawatts.Becauseoftheverylimitedstoragecapacity,theproject,byitself,hasalowfirmenergycapabilityandisnoteconomicallyviable.Furtherstudyofthisalternativeisnotdeemedjustifiedforthisreport.DevilCanyonHigh(SusitnaI):InSeptember1974,HenryJ.KaiserCompanypreparedareassessmentreportproposinganalternativehydroelectricdevelopmentprojectontheupperSusitnaRiver.Thereportstatesthataninitialprojectproposingan810-foothigh,con-cretefaced,rockfilldamlocatedaboutfivemilesupstreamfromtheproposedDevilCanyonsitewouldprovide3.2billionkilowattsofaverageannualenergy.Forcomparisonwiththeotherproposals,thisconvertstoabout2.6billionkilowatt-hoursoffirmannualenergy.Theprojectisnoteconomicallyfeasible.Furtherstudyofthisalternativeisnotdeemedjustifiedforthisreport.56 Watana:TheproposedsingledamdevelopmentoftheupperSusitnabasinlocatedattheWatanasitewouldbeanearthfilldamwithstructuralheightofabout810feet.Thereservoirwouldhaveanormalmaximumpoolelevationof2,200feet,wouldhaveasurfaceareaofapproximately43,000acres,andwouldextendabout54rivermilesup-streamtoapointbetweentheOshetnaandTyoneRivers.TheannualfirmelectricalproductionofWatanawouldbe3.1billionkilowatt-hoursfromadependablecapacityof706megawatts.Suchaprojectwouldbeeconomi-callyfeasible;however,itwoulddeveloponlyaboutone-halfofthebasinpotentialwhilehavingadverseenvironmentaleffectsofnearlythesamemagnitudeasplanshavingbotheconomicfeasibilityandtwiceasmuchpoweroutput.Furtherstudyofthisalternativeisnotdeemedjustifiedforthisreport.Two-DamSystems:DevilCanyon-Denali:Thisalternativesystemwouldincludethethin-archconcretedamatDevilCanyonanda260-foot-highearthfilldaminthevicinityofDenali.TheDenaliDamwouldprovidestorageonlyandwouldhavenopowerhouse.Thissystemwouldgenerate2.5billionkilowatt-hoursoffirmannualenergyfromadependablecapacityof571megawattsatDevilCanyonDam.Thesurfaceacresfloodedwouldtotalabout62,000acres(DevilCanyon,7,550;Denali,54,000).Projectenergyoutputislessthanhalfofthebasinpotentialandeconomicfeasibilityislacking.Furtherstudyofthisalternativeisnotdeemedjustifiedforthisreport.DevilCanyon-Watana:Thisalternativetwo-damsystemwouldincludetheconcretedamatDevilCanyonplustheearthfilldamatWatana.Thefirmannualproductionofelectricalpowerwiththesetwodamswouldbe6.1billionkilowatt-hoursfromadependablecapacityof1,568megawatts.Thereservoirswouldfloodapproximately51,000acres(DevilCanyon,7,550;Watana,43,000),andextendtoapointbetweentheOshetnaandTyoneRivers.Thisprojectiseconomicallyfeasibleanddevelopsnearly96percentofthebasinpotential.Furtherstudyandevaluationofthisalternativeisjustified.Three-DamSystem:DevilCanyon-Watana-Denali:Thissystemwouldaddthe54,000-acreDenalistoragereservoirtothepreviousplan.Thecombinedelectricalproductionofthethreedamswouldprovide6.8billionkilowatt-hoursoffirmenergyannuallyfromadependablecapacityof1,578megawatts.Thesurfaceareafloodedwouldbeapproximately105,000acres(DevilCanyon,7,550;Watana,43,000;Denali,54,000).Thisalternativewoulddevelopnearlythefullbasinpotential.Eventhoughprobableenvironmentaleffectswouldbeconsiderablygreaterthantheprecedingtwo-damsystem,furtherstudyandevaluationofthisalternativeisjustified.57Revised1Jun1976 Four-DamSystems:DevilCanyon-Watana-Vee-Denali:ThisisthesystemproposedbytheBureauofReclamationinits1952reportonhydropowerresourcesoftheUpperSusitnaRiverBasin.USSRrecommendedinitialdevelopmentofDevilDamplustheupstreamstoragereservoiratDenali;furtherdevelopmentwouldincludeearthfilldamsattheWatanaandVeeCanyonsitesbetweenthetwoinitialdams.Inthissystem,theheightoftheWatanaDamwoulddropfrom810feetto515feet.TheheightoftheVeeDamwouldbe455feet.Thissystemwouldgenerate6.1billionkilowatt-hoursofrmannualelectricalenergyfromadependablecapacityof1,570megawatts.Thesurfaceareafloodedbythesefourdamswouldtotalapproximately85,000acres(DevilCanyon,7,550;Watana,14,000;Vee,9400;Denali,54,000).Thisalternativewouldalsodevelopabout95percentofthefullbasinpotential.Eventhoughprobableenvironmentaleffectswouldbeasgreatorgreaterthantheprecedingthree-damsystem,furtherstudyandevaluationofthisalternativeisjustified.HighDevilCanyon(SusitnaI)-Olson(SusitnaII)-Vee(SusitnaIII)-Denali:TheSeptember1974,HenryJ.KaiserCompany'sreportalsoproposedafour-damultimatedevelopmentplanfortheUpperSusitnaRiverBasin.TheKaiserplanwasnotdetailedexceptastotheDevilCanyonHighDam(SusitnaI),butineffectproposedalowdam(SusitnaII)asitewhichisequivalenttotheOlson,damsiteofUSSR,ahigherdam(SusitnaIII)attheupstreamlimitoftheSusitnaIreservoir,andastoragedamatDenali.Forcomparisonpurposes,theSusitnaIIandSusitnaIIIdamconceptshavebeenequatedtoUSBR'sOlsonDamandVeeDam.Onthisbasis,thefirmannualenergywouldbe5.9billionkilowatt-hoursandthesurfaceacresfloodedwouldtotalabout88,000acres(HighDevilCanyon,24,000;Olson,850;Vee,9,400;andDenali,54,000).Thesystemnotonlydevelopslessofthebasinpotentialthanseveralotheralternativesbutisnoteconomicallyjustified.Furtherstudyofthisalternativeisnotdeemedjustifiedforthisreport.ALTERNATIVESSELECTEDFORFURTHSTUDYThepreliminaryscreeningdisclosedfouralternativeswitheconomicjustification,adequatescale,technicalfeasibility,andnoadverseenvironmentaleffectsofsuchiousmagnitudeastoprecludeplanimplementation.TheseincludeoneplanwhichdepictsthemostprobablefutureifnoFederalactionistakentomeettheprojectedpowerneedsoftheRailbeltandthreediversehydroelectricplansforutilizationofthepowerpotentialoftheupperSusitnaRiver.Thefourselectedalternativesare:Revised1Jun197658 CoalDevilCanyon-WatanaDamsDevil Canyon-Watana-DenaliDamsDevilCanyon-Watana-Vee-DenaliDams.EVALUATIONOFALTERNATIVESSelectionofthebestplanfromamongthealternativesinvolvesevaluationoftheircomparativeperformanceinmeetingthestudyobjectivesasmeasuredagainstasetofevaluationcriteria.Thesecriteriaderivefromlaw,regulations,andpoliciesgoverningwaterresourceplanninganddevelopment.Thefollowingcriteriawereadoptedforevaluatingthealternatives.TechnicalCriteria:ThegrowthinelectricalpowerdemandwillbeasprojectedbytheAlaskaPowerAdministration.Thatpowergenerationdevelopment,fromanysourceorsources,willproceedtosatisfytheprojectedneeds.Aplantobeconsideredforinitialdevelopmentmustbetechnicallyfeasible.NationalEconomicDevelopmentCriteria:Tangiblebenefitsmustexceedprojecteconomiccosts.Eachseparableunitofworkorpurposemustprovidebenefitsatleastequaltoitscost.Thescopeoftheworkissuchastoprovidethemaximumnetbenefits.Thebenefitsandcostsareexpressedincomparablequantitativeeconomictermstothefullestextentpossible.AnnualcostsarebasedonalOO-yearamortizationperiod,aninterestrateof6-1/8percent,andJanuary1975pricelevels.Theannualchargesincludeinterest;amortization;andoperation,maintenance,andreplacementcosts.Powerbenefitsarebasedonthecostsofprovidingtheenergyoutputofanyplanbyconventionalcoal-firedthermalgeneration.59Revised1Jun1976 Environmenta1Conservadesirableenvi~Anm,~n1'~Theuseofthenara1designartsinues,otherTheaoperationalocalprojectarea.Thestudycourses·ofacticoncerningusesEvaluaproposactionavoided,alshipoflocalsvitya anA+A'~~~irretrievableesonalternativeconflictsanyberelation-n~I"\rl!l,..ti-SocialWell-ons:Insiderationiacon-Theitemsasrecrea-onsuchiness;Thennr~n~+,nities;Theconserva60eresources, Coal:Thisalternativeis,effectively,the"without"condition.theprobablefuturethatwoulddevelopifnoFederalactionweretakentoprovideelectricalpowerthroughahydroelectricgenerationdevelopment.Itistheeconomicstandardagainstwhicheachofthehydropowerplansistested.Thatis,thepowerbenefitsofagivenhydrosystemrepresentthecostofproducingthesameamountofpowerbyconstructingandoperatingaconventional.state-of-the-art,generationsystemusingcoalasfuel.Includedinallcasesarethecostsofthenecessarytrans-missionsystemstobringthepowertothesameloaddistributioncenters_intheAnchorageandFairbanksareas.Thus,abenefit~to-costratioof.greaterthanone(1.0)indicatesthatahydrosystemismoreeconomicalthanitscoalcompetitor,whilearatiooflessthanunityindicatesthatitiseconomicallyinferior.Foranygivenalternativecoalsystem,thesumoftheenergyandcapacitybenefitsisidenticaltothecostsgivingabenefit-to-cost(B/C)ratioof1.0andnonetbenefits.Thecoal-fireddevelop~entmostdirectlycomparabletothehydro-poweralternativeswouldbeasinglelargecomplexlocatednearHealy,withatransmissionsystemessentiallyidenticaltotheAnchorage-Fairbanksintertieprovidedbythehydroplants.However,suchamassivecapitalinvestmentbyprivateinterestsislesslikelythancontinuedseparateexpansionoftheexistinglocalgeneration-distributionsystems.Forthisreason,thecoalalternativeconsideredhereafterwillconsistoftwomine-mouthplants,oneatBelugaservingtheAnchorage-KenaiPeninsulaloadcenter,andoneatHealyservingtheFairbanksloadcenter.Notr·ansmissionintertiewouldbeprovided.Thetwopowerplantswouldhavethefollowingprojectedcharacteristics:loadCenterPlantlocationSizeandNo.ofUnitsInitial(c.1980)Final(c.1995)TotalCapacity-FinallandRequired(Acres)BuildingsandGrounds30-dayStockpileStripmining(Acres)PerYear100-yearTotalCoalConsumption(millionT)PerYear100-yearTotalWasteDisposal(Acres)PerYear:100-yearTotalMillRatetoDistributorFairbanksHealyvicinity2-75mw4-75mw300mw1020444,4001.441554.444031.4Anchorage-KenaiBelugavicinity3-150mw8-150mw1,200mw307014014,0004.41441141,40026.4Total1,500mw409018418,4005.85585"8.41,84061Revised1Jun76 TheHealyCreekdistricthasestimatedreservesof537.5milliontonsofcoalinseamsoverfivefeetthickandunderlessthan1,000feetofoverburden.TheBelugaRiverandadjacentCappsGlacierdistrictshaveestimatedreservesof242.7milliontonsand405.8milliontons,respectively,ofcoalinsimilarformations.l/Thus,amongthethreedistricts,thereappearstobesufficientstripablecoaltosustainbothplantsforrequiredcentury.Toestimatetheprobableimpactsfromstripm1n1ng,anidealizedminingoperationwasprojected.whichresultedineachacreofminepro-ducing209.733cubicyardsofmaterialcomposedof29,040cubicyardsofrecoveredcoaland180,693cubicyardsofminewastes.Theannualcoalrequirementwouldmeanthatatotalof183to184acresoflandannuallywouldhavetobemined,or18,300to18,400acresin100years.Itshouldbeemphasizedthatthedisturbedacreageisbasedonarelativelyfavorableformationofcoalseamsandona90-percentrateofrecoverywhichbothtendtominimizethelandrequirements.TheHealyCreekValleyiscoveredbyuplandspruce-hardwoodforestbelow2,500feet,m.s.l.Thehigherlandsaregenerallyalpinetundra.I\saresult,themajorityoftheareaisclassifiedasfallandwintermooseconcentrationarea.Dallsheeprangeextendsonbothsidesofthevalleyandalongthesouthernrimofthe\'Jestwardarea.Thevalleyupstreamofthe2.500-footelevationiswinterrangeforcaribou.ThevalleyoftheNenanaRiver runningnorth-southattt~westernendofHealyCreekislistedasanesting-moultingareaforwaterfowlandamajormigrationroute(flyway).TheNenanaRiversupportsbothresidentandanadromousfish.VegetationattheBelugaRiver-CappsGlacierareaoccursasthreebandsparalleltoCookInlet.Adjacenttothewaterisa3-5-mile-widebandofwettundra.Next.thereisa10-12-mile-widebandofuplandspruce-hardwoodforest.Finally,thereisawideareaoflowlandspruce-hardwoodwithspotsofmuskeg,bog.andhighbrush.Waterfowl,especiallyduringspringandfallmigrations,makeheavyuseofthearea,withtheresultthatitisclassifiedasextremelyimportantforresting.Duckspredominatealthoughsmallnumbersofgeeseandswansalsopassthrough.MooseoccurthroughouttheentireregionwithsignificantfallconcentrationstothenorthofBelugaRiverandspringandwinterconcentrationsinthetundrabandastridethemouthoftheriver.Blackandbrown-grizzlybearrangetheentireregionwithsus-pectedbrownbeardenningareasbetweenCappsGlacierandBelugaLake.BelugaRiverandotherstreamsaresalmonspawningareas,whileBelugaLakesupportsresidentpopulationsofseveralspecies.~T1CoilTResourcesofAlaska,GeologicalSurveyBulletin1242-B,1967.~Alaska'sWildlifeandHabitat,AlaskaDepartmentofFishandGame,1973.62Revised1Jun76 ,Thus.ateitherlocale.thedestructionofthevegetativecoverandl~nddisturbancewouldbe,acreforacre,destructionofimportantwildlifehabitat.Naturalrevegetationwouldbepossible,butveryslow.Artificialrevegetationcouldrestorehabitatmuchmorequickly,butatanincreasedpriceofpower.Inadditiontotheeffectsonwildlifehabitat,thecoalalternativewouldhavearangeofotherenvironmentalimpacts.Theminingandhaulingofthecoalcouldbeexpectedtoputconsiderableamountsofdustintotheairaroundtheprojects.Sincetheoperationswould,ingeneral,befollowingnaturalwatercourses,thereisastrongprobabilitythatsedimentscouldnotbepreventedfromreachingthestreamsandbeingcarriedintothemajorriverswheretheincreasesinturbiditycouldbeexpectedtohaveadverseeffectsonfishpopulations.Further,althoughthecoalislowinsulfurcontent,groundwaterandrunoffwatersincontactwiththebedsandtheuncoveredcoalresiduescouldwellexperiencechemicalchangeswhichinturncouldhaveadverseeffectsontherivers,theirfish,andotheraquaticbiota.Theoperationofthegeneratingplantswouldhaveenvironmentalimpactsalso.Evenwithpollutioncontroldevicestorestrictand/orremoveharmfulsubstances,therewouldbesomedegradationofairqualityfromwatervapor,carbonparticles,sulfurcompounds,andunburnedgasestothelimitspermittedbyairqualityregulations.Thecharacteristicodorofburningcoalwouldbepervasiveoverwideareas,includingTyonekandperhapsAnchorage.Water,eitherfromgroundwatersources,ormorelikely,fromthemajorriverswouldberequiredtoprovidecoolingforthesteamcondensersoftheplants.Thiswaterwouldneedtobereturnedtotheriversinexchangeforcoldwaterstocontinuethefunctionofsystem.Thiscouldeffectasharpchangeinthethermalregimeoftheriverswithpossibleadverseeffectsontheirecosystems.Alternatively,coolingtowersorotherartificialmeanscouldbeinstalledtoavoidthermalpollution,butatasubstantialincreaseinthecostsoftheproject.Otherpossibleenvironmentalimpactsfromtheplantlieintheneedfordisposalofthesolidcom-bustionwastes.Thesecouldbeaddedtotheminewastes,thusincreasingthebulkofthesespoilridgesorcouldbedisposedonotherlands.Eithermethodwo~ldinvolveprobableadverseeffectsinthattheash-cinderswouldtendtohindereffortsatrevegetationoftheminewasteswhiledumpingelsewherewouldremoveadditionalacreagefromwildlifehabitatorotherbeneficialuse.Again,leachingofchemicalsbysurfacewaterscouldwellcausewaterqualityproblemsinthestreamsofthedisposalarea.~TheHealyCreekvicinityhasalonghistoryofmlnlngandmineralexplorationwhichincreasestheprobabilitythathistoricsiteswouldbeofaboveaverageoccurrencewithintheareaofprojecteffects.TheStateDivisionofParksconsiderstheareatobeextremelyrichinarchaeologicalpotential.ThewestshoreofCookInletandtheBelugaLakeareaalsohavealonghistoryofhabitationorusebyindigenouspeoplesoftheregion.Assuch,italsoshouldberichinpotentialforthediscoveryofhistoricand/orprehistoricsites.Stripminingwould63Revised1Jun76 tendtohaveadverseeffectsonpreservationofhistoricsiteswhileitcouldbothencouragediscoveryandrecoveryofprehistoricartifactsanddestroysitesforcontinuedarchaeologicalstudy.ThecoalalternativewouldmakenocontributiontoeitherfloodcontrolorrecreationintheRai1be1tarea.Infact,thedestructionofhabitatandthewidespreadpresenceofhumanactivitiescouldbeexpectedtoreducetherecreationalpotentialforhuntingandfishing.Itisestimatedthatconstructionofthecoalfacilitieswouldimpactontheregionaleconomyinmuchthesamewayandmagnitudeasthealternativehydropowerplans.Theyear-by-yeareffectswouldbemoreevenlyspreadoveralongertotalperiodsinceconstructionwouldbeinseveralstagesasthepowerdemandgrewandwouldnotbecompleted(totheoutputlevelofthehydropoweralternatives)untilabout1995.Permanentjobsarisingfromoperationofthefacilitiesareestimatedtobe67inthemining-haulingofthecoal,and35inactualpowerp1antoperationandmaintenance.ResponsetoStudyObjectives:Theresponseofthecoalalternativetothestudyobjectivesissummarizedasfollows:Power:Providespowerequivalenttoanyotheralternative(6.88to6.91billionkilowatt-hoursannually).Meetstheprojecteddemanduntilthemid-1990's.FloodControl:Nonresponsive.AirPollution:Adverseresponse.FishandWildlife:Directlossof18,000-20,000acresofimportantmoose,caribouhabitat,bear,andwaterfowl.Probableadverseeffectsonanadromousfish.Nopositivecontributions.Recreation:Nonresponsive.ConservationofNonrenewableResources:Adverseresponse--expend5.83-5.85milliontonsofcoalannually.EnergyIndependence:Conservesequivalentof112.5-112.9billioncubicfeetofnaturalgasannually,or15.1-15.2millionbarrelsofoil.DevilCanyon-Watana:Thisalternativewouldconsistofaconcretethin-archdam635feethighwithafour-unitpowerhouseandaswitchyardatrivermile134oftheSusitnaRiver,anearthfilldam810feethighwithathree-unitpowerhouseandaswitchyardatrivermile165,anaccessroad64mileslongfromthevicinityofChulitnaStationontheAlaskaRevised1Jun7664 RailroadandtheParksHigh\~y.and364mi1~softransmissionlines.Includedinthepermanentfacilitieswouldbelivingquartersforoperatingpersonnel,visitorcentersateachdam,boatlaunchingramps,andalimitedsystemofrecreationalfacilitiesincludingcampingspotsandhikingtrails.Thefirstcostoftheprojectisestimatedas$1.52billion.Annualcostsareestimatedas$104,020,000,including$2,500,000foroperation,maintenance,andreplacements.Averageannualprojectbenefitsaccrueasfollows:PowerRecreationFloodControlAreaRedevelopmentTotal$128,153,000300,00050,0009,373,000$137,876,000Thebenefit-to-cost(B/C)ratiois1.3to1.Netannualbenefitsare$33,856,000.Thesystemwouldhaveanaverageannualenergyoutputof6.91billionkilowatt-hoursandafirmenergyoutputof6.10billionkilo-watt~hoursfromaninstalledcapacityof1,394MW.Theprojecteden~rgycosttothedistributorswouldbe21.1millsperkilowatt-hour.KnownandsuspectedprojectimpactsfortheproposedDevilCanyon-Watanahydroelectricprojectarediscussedbelow.RiverFlows:ThenaturalaveragedailyflowsatDevilCanyonfromthelatterpartofMaythroughthelatterpartofAugustfluctuateintherangeof13,000to27,000cubicfeetpersecond(cfs).For~ovemberthroughApril,theaveragedailyflowsrangebetween1,000and2~300cfs.Theriveralsocarriesaheavierloadofglacialsedimentduringhighrunoffperiods.Duringwinterwhenlowtemperaturesreducewaterflows,thestreamsrunpracticallysiltfree.Withaproject,significantreductionsofthelatespringandearlysummerflowswouldoccurandsubstantialincreasesofthewinterflows.Theaverageregulateddownstreamflowsforthisplancomputedonamonthlybasisareestimatedbetweenabout7,600cfsinOctobertoabout15,000cfsinAugust.Inextremeyears,themonthlyaverageswouldrangefromabout6,500cfstoover28,000cfs.Thefollowingtablecomparesnaturalandregulatedflows.65Revised1Jun76 RegulatedUnregulatedMonthcfscfs---~--January9,8961,354February9,4241,137March9,0201,031Apri18,2611,254May8,19212,627June8,32426,763July9,61823,047August15,06621,189September10,80213,015October7,5565,347November8,3672,331December8,9641,656Thehighflowsofthesummerandfallplusunregulatedfloodflowsofmuchhighermagnitudepresentlyrequireanaverageannualexpenditureof$50,000bytheAlaskaRailroadtopreventerosionoftheroadbed.Theregulatedflowswouldmakesuchprotectionunnecessary.Theresultingsavingsisthesourceofthefloodcontrolbenefit.WaterQuality:TheheaviersedimentmaterialnowcarriedbytheriverbetweenDevilCanyonandthejunctionoftheChulitnaandTalkeetnaRiverswiththeSusitnaRiverduringhighrunoffperiodswouldbesubstantiallyreduced,andayear-round,somewhatmi1ky-textured"g1acia1flour"(suspendedglacialsediment)wouldbeintroducedintothecon-trolledwaterreleasesbelowthedams.Preliminarystudiesindicatethatthesuspendedmaterialsinthereleasesbelowthedamswouldbeintherangeof15to35partspermillion.Onoccasionsafterthedevelopmentofupstreamstorage,whenspillingoverDevilCanyonDamwouldbenecessaryduringperiodsofhighflows,nitrogensupersaturationcouldbeintroducedintotheriverbelowthedamandwouldcauseanadverseimpactonfishforsomedis-tancedownstreamfromthedamdependingonthelevelanddurationofthesupersaturatedcondition.Fishexposedtothisenvironmentsuffergasbubbledisease(likebendstoadeep-seadiver)whichisoftenfatal,particularlytojuvenilesalmon.Withtheuseofappropriateoperationalprocedures,spillingwouldoccurabouteverysecondyearwithanaverageannualdurationof14days.Nitrogensupersaturationintroducedbythespillingshouldbesubstantiallyreducedintheturbulentriversectionjustdownstreamofthedam.TheproposedspillwayattheWatanaDamisnotconducivetonitrogensupersaturation.Becauseofthefloodstoragecapacityofthisfluctuatingimpoundmentandthelargereleasecapabilitiesoftheoutletworksandpowerhouse.useofthespillwayshouldberequiredonlyaboutoncein50years.66 Comparedtonaturalconditions,temperatureofthecontrolledreleasesofwaterfromDevilCanyonDamwouldtendtobecoolerinthesummerandwarmerinthewinter.Coolersummerwatertemperaturesandwarmerwinterwatertemperaturescouldhavebothbeneficialandadverseeffectsonmigratingsalmon.juvenilesalmon,andresidentfishpopu-lations,andwillbeinvestigatedfurtherinpost-authorizationstudies.VariationsinwaterreleasesatDevilCanyonDamwouldcauselessthanaone-footdailyfluctuationofdownstreamwaterlevelsintheriverduringtheMaythroughOctoberperiodunlessthereservoirweretobeusedforpeakingpurposes.Theregulateddailyfluctuationsduringthewintermonthscouldrangeuptotwofeetundernormalpeakingconditions.AccordingtoU.S.GeologicalSurveystudies,thenaturalnormaldailyfluctuationsintheSusitnaRiverbelowDevilCanyonrangeuptoaboutonefoot.StratificationconditionswithinthereservoirscouldcausesometemperatureanddissolvedoxygenproblemsintheriverforsomedistancedownstreamfromtheDevilCanyonDamandwithinthereservoirsthemselves.Thiscouldhaveanadverseimpactonthedownstreamfisheryandtofishwithinthereservoirs.Themultilevelintakestructuresatbothdamsprovideforselectivewithdrawalofwatersfromvaryingdepthswithinthereservoirs.Thisfeatureallowsforconsiderablecontrolofbothdownstreamwatertempera-tureanddissolvedoxygencontentofthereleasewaters.Becausethelowestintakelevelsarewellabovethedeadstorageareasofthereservoirs,thereshouldbenoincreaseinpassageofsedimentsevenwhenthedeepestintakelevelsareused.Generalchanneldegradationcausedbyariver1sattempttoreplacethemissingsedimentloadwithmaterialpickedupfromtheriverbedisnotexpectedtobeasignificantconcernalongthegravelbedreachesoftheSusitnaRiverbetweenTalkeetnaandDevilCanyon.Therewillundoubtedlybesomedegradationwherebedconditionsarefavorable.Itisexpectedthattheriverwillchannelizeintoasingledeepwatercourseduringthewintermonths.However,becauseofthegenerallycoarsenatureofthesurfacematerialsoftheriverbanks,nosignificantbankerosionispredicted.Upstreamfromthedamsthemajorenvironmentalimpactswouldbecausedbythereservoirimpoundments.ThereservoirbehindtheDevilCanyonDamwouldremainessentiallyfullthroughouttheyear,whileWatanareservoirwouldfluctuatebetween95and120feetbelowfullpoolduringtheaverageyear.DevilCanyonreservoirwouldcoverabout7,550acresinasteep-walledcanyonwithfewknownareasofbig-gamehabitatandaminimalamountofresidentfishhabitatatthemouthsofsomeofthetributaries67Revised1Jun1976 thatentertheSusitnaRiverinthe28-milesectionabovetheproposeddamsite.Thereservoirwould,however,flood9ofthe11milesofthewhitewatersectionknownasDevilCanyon.Theserapidsarehighlyregardedbywhitewaterenthusiastsfortheirextremeviolenceandfortheirrarity,beingratedasClassVI--cannotbeattemptedwithoutriskoflifetothemostexpertboatman.Thisveryviolencehas,todate,limitedrecreationalboatinguseofthissectionoftherivertoonlyafewhighlyexpertindividualsand/orparties.Nosignificantfutureusebythegeneralpublic,eitherforactiveboatingorestheticappreciation,seemslikelyconsideringthedifficultyofaccessandtheextremedangerofthewaters.ConstructionofthisalternativeprojectwouldprovideaccesstothecanyonareaandtheremainingtwomilesofrapidsbelowDevilCanyonDam.Watanareservoirwouldfloodabout43,000acresina54-milesectionoftheSusitnaRiverthatwouldreachupstreamtotheOshetnaRiver.ExceptinafewareasnearthemouthsoftributarycreeksandmostoftheWatanaCreekvalley,theWatanareservoirwouldbecontainedwithinafairlynarrowcanyonformuchofitslength.WatanareservoirwouldfloodareasusedbymigratingcaribouincrossingtheSusitnaRiverandwouldalsofloodmoosewinterrangeintheriverbottom.Thereservoirwouldcoverexistingresidentfishhabitatatthemouthsofsomeofthetributariesandpossiblywouldcreateotherfishhabitatathigherelevationsonthesetributaries.Fish:Howsomeofthedownstreamriverconditionscausedbytheproposedhydropowerprojectwouldaffecttheanadromousandresidentfishpopulationsbelowthedamshasnotyetbeenfullydetermined,butpast,ongoing,andfuturestudiesbyStateandFederalagenciescoordi-natedbytheU.S.FishandWildlifeServiceshouldprovidetheanswersneededtofurtherdefineadverseandbeneficialimpactsoftheproposedprojectonfishandwildlife.Ina1974studybytheAlaskaDepartmentofFishandGameonsurveysconductedtolocatepotentialsalmonrearingandspawningsloughsonthe50-milesectionoftheSusitnaRiverbetweenPortageCreekandtheChulitnaRiver,21sloughswerefoundduringthe23Julythrough11Septemberstudyperiod.Salmonfrywereobservedinatleast15ofthese21backwaterareas.Adultsalmonwerepresentin9ofthe21sloughs.In5ofthesloughsstheadultsalmonwerefoundinlownumbers(6to7average).In4othersloughs,largenumberswerepresent(350average).DuringDecember1974andJanuaryandFebruary1975,theAlaskaDepartmentofFishandGameinvestigated16ofthe21sloughspreviouslysurveyedduringthesummerof1974.Ofthe16sloughs,5indicatedpresenceofcohosalmonfry.Manyofthe16sloughssurveyedwere68 appreciablydewateredfromthesummer/fallstate.Also,anumberofcohofrywerecapturedintheSusitnaRivernearGoldCreek,indicatingthatsomecohosalmonfrydooverwinterinthemainriver.ItisreasonabletoassumeonthebasisofexistingdatathattherewillbesomechangesintherelationshipbetweentheregulatedriverandaccesstoexistingsalmonrearingandspawningsloughsandtributariesdownstreamfromDevilCanyonDam.ItappearsfeasibletodevelopaprogramtoimprovefishaccesstoandfromsomeofthesloughsandtributariesintheSusitnaRiver,ifsuchisdeterminedtobeneededasaconsequenceoftheproject'sstabilizingeffectonsummerflows.Suchaprogramwouldbeaprojectconsideration.PeriodicfloodconditionsthatpresentlydestroysalmoneggsinthisstretchoftheriverwouldbealmostcompletelyeliminatedbyregulationoftheupperSusitnaRiverflows.Reductioninflows,turbidity,andwatertemperaturesbelowDevilCanyonDammightcausesomedisorientationofsalmonmigratingintothesectionoftheSusitnaRiverbetweenPortageCreekandtheChulitnaRiverduringaninitialperiodafterconstructionofthedams.AccordingtoastudydiscussedintheJournalofFisheriesResearchBoardofCanada--Volume32,No.1,January1975,EcologicalConsequencesoftheProposedMoranDamontheFraserRiver,someofthebeneficialdownstreamimpactsofthedamcouldincludethefollowing:Thehigherregulatedwinterflowsmightenhancethesurvivalofsalmoneggsintheriverdownstreamfromthedam.Theincreasedflowscouldinsurebettercoverageandbetterpercolationthroughthegravelandpresumablyenhanceeggandalevinsurvival.Anadditionalconsequenceofreducedturbiditybelowthedammightbeagradualreductioninthepercentageoffinematerialsinthesalmonspawningareas.Thiscouldalsoleadtoimprovedpercolationthroughthegravelinthestreambedandpossiblyimprovesurvivalofeggs.Reducedsiltationduringthesummermonthscouldprovebeneficialforbothanadromousandresidentfishspeciesinthe50-milesectionoftheSusitnaRiverbetweentheproposedDevilCanyonDamandTalkeetna.Withthealmosttotaleliminationoftheheavierglacialsedimentloadsoftheriver,itislikelythatthepotentialforrecreationalsportfishingwouldbeimprovedinthissectionoftheSusitna.Upstreamfromthedams,themajorimpactontheresidentfishpopulationswouldbecausedbythereservoirimpoundments.DevilCanyonreservoirwouldfluctuateverylittle.Thesteep-walledcanyon69 ofthisreservoirmightprovelessthandesirabletodeveloparesidentfishpopulation;however,somespeciesoffishmightadapttothisreservoirandprovidesportfishingbenefits.tanaDamwouldhaveawidelyfluctuatingreservoirandthusbegenerallydetrimentaltothedevelopmentofresidentfishpopulations.Suspend~pglacialsedimentcouldbeafactorinbothofthereservoirsaftheheavierglacialsedimentshavesettledout;however,manynaturallakesinAlaskasuchasTustumenaandTazlina,withsilt-ladeninflowssustainfishpopulationsundersimilarconditions.Mostresidentfishpopulations,especiallygrayling,utilizetheclearwatertributariesoftheSusitnaRiverorareasnearthemouthsofthesestreamsastheyentertheglaciallyturbidmainriverduringperiodsofhighrunoff.Allofthesetributaries,approximately10innumber,wouldbefloodedintheirlowerreachesbytheproposedreser-voirimpoundments.Residentfishpopulationswouldbeaffectedbytheincreasedwaterlevelsintheproposedreservoirs.Inabouthalfoftheareas,accesstothelessprecipitousslopesoftheuppertributarieswouldbeimprovedbyincreasedwaterelevationsandcouldbenefitresidentfishpopulations.Fishwouldexperienceextremelyhighmortalityratesiftheyatt~lptedtomigratedownstreamthroughturbinesoroutletworksattheproposedItappearshighlyunlikelythatanadromousfishsuchassalmoncouldintroducedintotheUpperSusitnaRiverBasin.Therelatedproblemsacostsofpassingmigratingfishoverandthroughhighdamsappearisible.However,theintroductionofaresidentland-lockedsalmonsies,suchassockeye(kokanee),tosomewatersoftheupperSusitnabasinmightprovefeasible.Wildlife:Reservoirimpoundmentsbehindtheproposeddamswouldhavevaryingdegreesofenvironmentalimpactonwildlife.DevilCanyonreservoirwouldbelocatedwithintheconfinesofanarrowlledcanyonwithfewareasofbig-gamehabitatandnoortionroutesforbig-gameanimals.Basedonobservationsofterrainslopes.andvegetation,itisestimatedthatabout100acresofthisreservoirmightbefavorablemoosehabitat.Thereservoirwouldcreateabout65milesoflakeshoreline.Becausethepoollevelwouldvarylittle.itisassumedthatafringeofwater-orientedvegetationsuchaswilloworalderwoulddevelopalongtheshore.Suchafringezonecouldprovidefavorablehabitatforavarietyofsmallmammalsandbirds.andmightprovidereplacementhabitatformoose.Acontinuousfringingzoneonly50feetinwidtharoundthelakewouldrepresent300-400acres.Revised1Jun197670 "TheproposedWatanaDamwouldbegenerallycontainedwithinafairlydeepandnarrowrivercanyon.WatanareservoirwouldlieacrossoneoftheintermittentcariboumigrationroutesbetweenthenorthsideoftheSusitnaRiverandthemaincalvingareaoftheNelchinacaribouherd,locatedsouthoftheriverinthenortheastfoothillsoftheTalkeetnaMountains.Calvinggenerallytakesplaceduringamonth-longperiodstartinginthemiddleofMay.Ice-shelvingconditionsalongtheshorelinecausedbywinterdrawdownonWatanareservoiroricebreakupconditionsonthereservoircouldcauseproblemsforcariboumigratingtothecalvinggrounds.Thisreservoirwouldhaveahighwatershorelineabout145mileslong.Developmentofafringehabitatwouldbeconsider-ablylesslikelythanforDevilCanyonbecauseofthehighlyvariablewaterlevelofthelake.Creationofbeneficialhabitatisdoubtful.Ascaribouarestrongswimmers,theyshouldhavefewerproblemscrossingthenarrowreservoirduringJulyaftercalvingthantheywouldcrossingtheswollenglacialriverduringnaturalperiodsofhighrunoff.Cariboucouldmigratearoundthereservoir.CariboumigrationpatternsfortheNelchinaherdarecontinuallychanging,asstatedinAlaskaDepartmentofFishandGamestudyreports.Underadverseiceconditions,thereservoirscouldcauseincreasedmortalityinsomesegmentsoftheherd,andsomepermanentchangesintraditionalherdmovements.AmoosesurveyconductedinearlyJune1974bytheAlaskaDepart-mentofFishandGameindicatedthat,althoughspringcountingcondi-tionswerelessthanideal,atotalof356moosewereseenalongtheupperSusitnaRiverandinthelowerdrainageareasofthemajortribu-taries.A1973fallcountinthesamegeneralareasightedatotalof1,796moose.Ofthe356moosecountedintheJune1974survey,13wereseenintheareaoftheproposedWatanareservoir.NoneweresightedwithintheproposedDevilCanyonreservoirimpoundment.Basedonvisualobservationsandmapstudiesofvegetationandterrainslopes,itisestimatedthat2,000to3,000acres,mostlyinthelowerreachesofWatanaCreek,couldbefavorablemoosehabitat.Wildlifemanagementagenciesstatethatsuchhabitatformooseshouldbeconsideredascritical,especiallyaswinterhabitat.Furtherstudiestodelineateboththeextentandvalueofthehabitatwouldberequiredtodeterminetheneedand/orextentofmitigation.Thelossofhabitatforbears,wolves,wolverines,Dallsheep,andotheranimalsappearstobeminimal.Otherbirds,includingraptors,songbirds,shorebirds,andgamebirds,donotappeartobesignificantlyaffectedbythereductionofhabitatintheareaoftheproposeddamsandreservoirs,althoughsomehabitatwillbelostforallspeciesofwildlife.71Revised1Jun1976 Roadaccesstothetwodamsitescouldhaveasignificantimpactonfishandwildliferesourcesinareasopenedtovehicleencroachment.SpecificareassuchasStephanLake,FogLakes,lowerDeadmanCreek,andthenorthernslopesoftheTalkeetna~1ountainscouldbegreatlyimpactedbyhunters,fishermen,andotherrecreationistsasaresultoftheaccessroadtoWatanaDam.However,suchanimpactisproperlyafunc-tionoftheestablishmentandenforcementofproperregulationsbymanagementauthorities,notoftheproject.TheproposedreservoirsatDevilCanyonandWatanaarelocatedalongamajorflywayforwaterfowl.Veryfewwaterfowlappeartonestonthesectionsoftheriverthatwouldbefloodedbythesereservoirproposals.Ontheotherhand,thereservoirswouldprovidesuitablerestingareasforwaterfowlmigratingthroughthebasin.Migratingbirdswouldpossiblysuffersomemortalityfromcolli-sionswithtowersorlines,butsuchlossesshouldbenegligible.Thelinewouldgenerallyparallelnormalnorth-southmigrationroutes.Thecableswouldbelargeenoughtohaveahighdegreeofvisibilityandwouldbewidelyenoughspacedtobeineffectivesnares.Electrocutionofbirdsisalsounlikelysincethedistancebetweenlinesandbetweenlinesandgroundwouldbegreatenoughtomakeshortingoutbybirdsalmostimpossible.Atransmissionlinepersewillnothavemanyimpactsuponwild-life;mostoftheimpactswillbeasaresultofconstructionandmaintenance.Directdestructionwillaffectthelessmobileanimalssuchasthesmallmammals,whoseterritoriesmaybesmallenoughtobeencompassedbytheconstructionarea.Thesignificanceofthisimpacttotheseanimalsissmallinrelationtotheirpopulationinsurroundingareas.Recreation:MuchoftheUpperSusitnaRiverBasin,exceptneartheDenaliHighwayandLakeLouisevicinity,haslittlerecreationalacti-vityatthepresenttime.Acombinationofpoorroadaccess,roughterrain,andgreatdistanceslimitstheuseofthe5.800-square-milebasin,especiallythelandsdirectlyimpactedbythisalternative.toafewhunters,fishermen,andcamperswhoutilizetheselandsforrecrea-tionalpurposes.Theconstructionoftheproposedhydroelectricprojectwouldhaveanimpactonanumberofpresentandprojectedrecreationalactivitiesbothintheimmediatedamandreservoirareasanddownstreamfromthedams.Revised1Jun197672 Atthepresenttime,the·SusitnaRiverupstreamfromPortageCreektotheDenaliHighwaybridgeisafree-flowingriverwithfewsignsofman'sactivities.Theconstructionofdamsontheriverwouldchangesectionsoftheriverintoaseriesofmanmadelakes.Theviolent,whitewatersectionoftheriverthroughtheareaknownasDevilCanyonwouldbesubstantiallyinundatedbyadamattheDevilCanyonsite.Otherareasoftheriverwouldalsobechangedfromriver-orientedrecreationalopportunitiestolake-orientedrecreationalactivities.ImprovedroadaccessintosomeareasoftheupperSusitnabasinwouldsubstantiallyincreasepressuresonalltheresourcesimpactedbyoutdoorrecreationalactivitieswithintheseareas.Theconstructionofproject-orientedrecreationalfacilitieswouldsubstantiallyincreasetherecreationaluseoftheareasaroundtheproposeddamsandreservoirs.Theserecreationalfacilitiescouldincludevisitorfacilitiesatthedams,boatlaunchingfacilitiesonthereservoirs,campgrounds,picnicareas,trailsystems,andotherrelatedrecreationalfacilities.RecreationalfacilitiesatDevilCanyonandWatanacouldalsobedevelopedtocomplementthe282,000-acreDenaliStateParkcomplex,whichislocatedontheParksHighwayjustwestofthesettlementofGoldCreek.Fewpeopleresidewithina100-mileradiusoftheprojectareaatthepresenttimeandday-useoftheprojectbylocalresidentswouldbeminimal.AprojectrelatedrecreationaldevelopmentprogramwouldinvolvecooperationbetweentheBureauofLandManagementandtheoperatingagencyformaintenanceofthedevelopedrecreationalfacilities.Theprojectedrecreationalprogramwouldprovideforanestimated77,000usedaysofrecreation,mostlyfishing,camping,hiking,andsightseeing.Thisisthesourceoftherecreationalbenefit.HistoricandArchaeologicalSites:ThecurrentNationalRegisterofHistoricPlaceshasbeenconsulted,andnoNationalRegisterpro-pertieswillbeaffectedbytheproject.ArecentlycompletedstudyfortheCorpsofEngineers,madebytheAlaskaDivisionofParks,indicated11historicsiteswithinthestudyportionoftheupperSusitnabasin,allofwhicharerelatedtothediscoveryofgold.Oneknownsite(cabin)isintheproposedreservoirimpoundmentareas.OnlyonearchaeologicalsitehasbeenexaminedwithinthestudyareaoftheupperSusitnabasin,andithasneverbeenexcavated.ThisistheRatekinsite,severalmileseastoftheSusitnaRiverneartheDenaliHighway.TheDivisionofParkssurveyprojectsatotalof~OzonesofpossiblearchaeologicalinterestwithintheDevilCanyonandWatanaimpoundments.73 Mining:ThaSusitnaRiverbasinintheproposedreservoirimpound-mentareasisgenerallyfavorableforvarioustypesofmineraldeposits,buttheareahasneverbeenmappedgeologically.Anextensivemineralexaminationprogramisexpectedtobenecessaryintheareasofproposedhydroelectricdevelopment,andthisprogramwouldprobablybefundedtoassessmineralresourcepotential.TransmissionSystem:MostofthepowergeneratedbyhydroelectricdevelopmentontheupperSusitnaRiverwouldbeutilizedintheFairbanks-TananaValleyandAnchorage-CookInletareas.Forthisstudy,atrans-missionsystem,consistingoftwo230-kvsinglecircuitsfromtheprojectareatoFairbanks,andtwosinglecircuit345-kvlinestotheAnchoragearea,isplanned.AlllineswouldgenerallyparalleltheAlaskaRailroad,andwouldbeconnectedtogenerationfacilitiesatbothDevilCanyonandWatana.Mostdirectimpactsofthetransmissionlineuponvegetationwouldberelativelysmallwithrespecttothemagnitudeofsurroundingunaffectedland.Upto6,100oftheapproximately8,200acresofright-of-waywouldhavetobecleared.Theclearedright-of-waywouldhaveamajorimpactonscenicquality.Regrowthbeyondalimitedheightwouldhavetobepreventedbymaintenancesothatcutsthroughforestedareaswouldbepermanentlyvisible.Inmoreopenareasathigherelevations,suchasBroadPass,thiseffectwouldbeassignificant.However,insuchareasthelineitselfwouldbevisible.Disposalofslashanddebrishaspotentiallyadverseeffectsonremainingvegetationandotherresources.Regardlessofthemethodofdisposalchosen,someimpactscouldbeexpected.Roads:PermanentroadswouldbebuilttoprovideaccessfromtheParksHighwaytotheDevilCanyonandWatanadamsites.Permanentroadswouldalsoprovideaccesstoproposedrecreationalfacilitieswithintheprojectarea.Temporaryroadsforprojectconstructionandreservoirclearingoperationswouldalsobeconstructed.Resourcevaluesimpactedbyproposedroadsincludefish,wildlife,vegetation,recreation,scenery,water,andsoils.Airandnoisepollutionrelatedtoroadconstructionanddustgeneratedbyvehicletravelonunpavedroadscouldalsobesignificantthoughtemporaryadverseenvironmentalimpacts.Design,location,construction,rehabilitation,andmaintenanceofaprojectroadsystemshouldgiveprimeconsiderationtotheutilizationofgoodlandscapemanagementpractices.74 ConstructionActivities:Projectrelatedconstructionactivitieswouldincludethebuildingofthedamsandrelatedfacilities;theclearingofreservoirareas;theconstructionofroads,electricaldistributionsystems,andrecreationalfacilities;andthebuildingoffacilitiesforworkers.TheconstructionoftheDevilCanyonandWatanaprojectisestimatedtotake10yearstocomplete,withanestimated5to6yearsrequiredforconstructionateachofthetwosites.Theactivitieswilloverlapassimultaneousconstructionwilloccurinthefinal1-2yearsoftheWatanaproject.Theactivitiesthemselveswouldcausevaryingdegreesofphysicalpollutiontotheair,land,andwaterwithintheprojectareaandtosomeareasoutsidethedevelopmentarea.Fish,wildlife,vegetation,visualresources,soils,andotherresourcevaluescouldbeseverelyimpactedbyconstructionactivities.Roadsandotherfacilitieswouldbeneededinordertoobtainmaterialsfromborrowsourcesandquarrysitesfortheconstructionofthedams.Areaswouldalsobeneededtodisposeofsomematerialsanddebris.Allconstructionactivitiescouldbecontrolledtominimizeortoeliminateadverseenvironmentalimpacts;environmentalenhancementcouldbeconsideredwherefeasible.Workers'Facilities:Nocommunitieswithincommutingdistanceoftheproposedprojectareacouldabsorbthenumberofworkersrequiredfortheconstructionofthedamsandrelatedfacilities.Temporaryconstructioncampswiththenecessaryfacilitieswouldneedtobepro-videdduringtheconstructionperiods.Permanentfacilitieswouldhavebebuiltformaintenanceandoperationalpersonnelaftercompletionoftheconstructionphase.Theconstructionandoperationsoftheworkers'campswouldhavetomeetStateandFederalpollutioncontrollawsandstandards,andallactivitiescouldbecontrolledtominimizetheadverseenvironmentalimpactspresentedbythecamps.Esthetics:Theprojectwouldbelocatedinareasthathaveprac-ticallynopermanentsignsofman'spresence.ThelandbetweenPortageCreekandtheDenaliHighwayisanundisturbedscenicarea.Theconstructionofahydroelectricprojectwouldhaveasubstan-tialimpactontheexistingnaturalscenicresourcevalueswithintheprojectarea.AnydamconstructionontheupperSusitnawouldchangeafree-flowingriverintoaseriesofmanmadelakes.DevilCanyonreser-voirwouldfluctuateupto5feet,whileWatanareservoircouldfluctuateupto120feetbelowfullpoolundernormaloperatingconditions.TheseasonalfluctuationoftheWatanaimpoundmentwouldnothaveasubstan-tialscenicimpact,inasmuchasthemajordrawdownwouldoccurinthewinterwhenpublicaccesswasnotpossible,andthepoolwouldbe75 essentiallyrefilledbythetimeaccesswasrestored.ThewhitewatersectionoftheSusitnaRiverthroughDevilCanyonwouldbesubstantiallyinundatedbyadamatDevilCanyon.Roadsandtransmissionlineswouldalsoimpactthenaturalscenicresourcevaluesofthearea.Afterdamconstruction,manyvisitorscouldviewthemanmadestructuresandtheirreservoirs.ItcanbeexpectedthataconsiderablenumberoftouristsandStateresidentswouldvisitthedams.Ifconsiderationweregiventominimizingtheadverseimpactsofconstructionactivities,agreatdealcouldbeaccomplishedtomaximizescenicresourcevalueswithintheprojectarea.Goodlandscapemanage-mentpracticeswouldaddsubstantiallytotherecreationalexperienceoftheprojectvisitor.AirPollution:MostoftheexistingelectricalpowerintheSouthcentralRailbeltareaisproducedbygas,coal,andoil-firedgeneratingunitswhichcausevaryingdegreesofairpollution.CookInletgasisacleanfuelthatcausesfewseriousairpollu-tionproblemsatthepresenttime.Theexistinggasturbineshaveverylowefficienciesandgiveoffvisiblewatervaporemissionsduringthecolderwintermonths.Also,nitrogenemissionscouldbeofsignificantconcernforanyproposedlargergas-firedplants.HydroelectricenergycouldreplacetheburningoffossilfuelsforelectricpowergenerationinmuchoftheFairbanksareaandcouldhelptoalleviatewintericefogandsmokeproblems,whicharecausedinpartbycoal-firedelectricalplantsinthatarea.Hydroelectricprojectsprovideaverycleansourceofpowerwithpracticallynodirectairpollution-relatedproblems.Thistypeofelectricalpowergenerationcouldreduceasubstantialamountoffutureairpollutionproblemsassociatedwiththeburningofgas,oil,andcoal.Anice-f~eestretchofwarmer,openwaterbelowDevilCanyonDamcouldcauseice-fogconditionsinthatareaduringperiodsofextremecoldweather.Social:Population:SubstantialincreasesinpopulationareexpectedwithintheSouthcentralRailbeltareathroughtheyear2000,andwiththepossiblerelocationofAlaska'sStatecapitalfromJuneautotheRailbelt,anadditionalpopulationimpactcanbeexpectedinthisarea.ThepopulationoftheareawillincreasewithorwithoutthedevelopmentofhydroelectricprojectsproposedfortheSusitnaRiver;76 constructionoftheprojectisnotexpectedtohaveanysignificanteffectonoverallpopulationgrowth.Economics:Theproposedtwo-damDevilCanyon-Watanahydro-electricdevelopmentwouldhaveaminimaltomoderateoveralleffectdependingonvariousfactorsinvolvedintheconstructionprogramitself.IftheconstructionunitisbroughtinfromoutsideAlaskatodeveloptheproject,thesocialandeconomicimpactonthelocalsystemwouldbeminimized,butiftheprojectwereconstructedusingsubstan-tiallaborandmaterialfromtheAnchorage-Fairbanksarea,itwouldhaveamoremoderateeffectonlocalconditionsduringconstructionoftheprojectandwouldhelptostabilizeeconomicconditionsduringthatdevelopmentperiod.Itisprojectedthatabout80percent(878outof1,097workers)ofthelaDorforcewouldbelocalandthathalf(439workers)ofthatislaborthatwouldotherwisebeun-orunderemployed.TheresultingbenefittosuchlaboristhesourceofAreaRedevelopmentbenefit.Variouscommunity,borough,State,andprivatefacilitiesandagencieswouldbeimpactedtovaryingdegreesbytheworkersinvolvedintheconstructionoftheproposedproject.Workers'campswouldbebuiltinthevicinityofsomeofthevariousconstructionactivities,butadditionalimpactswouldbecreatedbythefamiliesoftheconstructionworkerslivinginvariousnearbycommunities,whowouldrequireaddi-tionalfacilitiesandservices.Aftertheconstructionoftheproject,anestimated45permanentpersonnelwouldberequiredtooperateandmaintaintheprojectandproject-relatedfacilities--thesepeoplewouldnotcreateasignificantoverallsocioeconomicimpactontheRailbeltarea.OtherEffects:Thelandswithinthereservoirareashavesporadicoccurrencesofpermafrost.Thelakeswouldthawsuchmaterialtoaconsiderabledepthandincreasetheprobabilityofearthslidesanderosionofthematerial.However,theoverburdendepthtorockisquiteshallowthroughoutmostofthesharplyincizedcanyonterrainofthetworeservoirsandthequantitiesofmaterialswhichwouldbeinvolvedinsuchslidesand/orerosionarethusnotconsideredsignifi-canteitherintermsofreservoirsedimentationorinthecreationoflargewavesofdangertothedams.Itisestimatedthatofthe210milesofcombinedshoreline,40milescouldexperiencesignificanterosion,whiletheremaining170mileswouldbesubjecttoonlyminoreffects.Theeffectsofeventhesevereerosionwouldbeexpectedtolastonlyafewyearsuntilthethawedandsaturatedslopeshadattainedequilibrium.77 ResponsetoStudyObjectives:TheresponseoftheDevilCanyon-Watanahydropoweralternativetothestudyobjectivesissummarizedasfollows:Power:Provides6.91billionkilowatt-hoursaverageannualenergy.Meetstheprojecteddemanduntilthemid-1990·s.FloodControl:Providesminorfloodcontrolbenefits.AirPollution:ProvidespartialairpollutionabatementbydisplacingandordelayingincreaseduseofcoalinRailbeltarea.FishandWildlife:Directlossof50,550acresoflandincluding2,100-3,100acresofcriticalwintermoosehabitat.Possibleadverseeffectoncariboumigrationandanadronousfish.Probablecreationof300-400acresofreplacementmoosehabitat.Possiblecontri-butiontoestablishmentofnon-migrationfishpopulation.Provides50,550acresofpossiblewaterfowlrestingarea.Recreation:Provideslightuserecreationalfacilitiesequivalentto77,000visitordays.Adverseeffecton9milesofwhitewaterboatingpotential.ConservationofNonrenewableResources:Conservesequivalentof5.85milliontonsofcoalannually.EnergyIndependence:Conservesequivalentof112.9billioncubicfeetofnaturalgas,or15.2millionbarrelsofoilannually.DevilCanyon-Watana-Denali:Thisalternativewouldbeidenticaltotheprevioustwo-damsystemexceptfortheadditionofa260-foot-highearthfilldamatrivermile248nearDenali.Thisdamwouldprovideanadditionalstorageareaof54,000acres,andwouldhavenopowerhouse.Thefirstcostofthethree-damsystemisestimatedas$1.89billion.Annualcostsareestimatedas$115,566,000,including$2,~00,000foroperation,maintenance,andreplacements.Averageannualprojectbenefitsaccrueasfollows:PowerRecreationFloodControlAreaRedevelopmentTotalTheBIGratiois1.3to1.Netannualbenefitsare$29,611,000.$133,922,000300,00050,00010,905,000$145,177,000Revised1Jun7678 Thesystemwouldhaveanaverageannualenergyoutputof6.91billionkilowatt-hoursandafirmenergyoutputof6.80billionkilo-watt-hoursfromaninstalledcapacityof1.552MW.Theprojectcostofenergytothedistributorswouldbe21.0millsperkilowatt-hour.~Projecteffectswouldbeessentiallyidenticaltothetwo-damproject,exceptasfollows:RiverFlows:AverageregulateddownstreamflowsatDevilCanyonwouldrangefromabout8,900cfsinOctoberto11,000cfsinFebruary.Inextremeyears.theflowswouldrangefrom7.800cfsto16,000cfs.Overall,theeffectwouldbetoprovidebetterriverregulation.Floodcontrolwouldremainessentiallyunchangedwithfloodcontrolbenefitsidentical.WaterQuality:DevilCanyonreservoirwouldremainunchanged.Watanareservoirwouldreceivelessheavysediment,approximately3.5milliontonsperyearratherthan7.1milliontonsperyear.Denalireservoirwouldhaveahighpoolsurfaceareaof54,000acresandwouldfluctuateanaverageof30to40feetannuallytoalowsurfaceareaof35,000acres.Thereservoirwouldbe34mileslongand6mileswideathighpool.Thepoolwouldforcerelocationof19milesoftheDenaliHighway.Fish:Residentfishwouldbeseverelyimpactedbythefluctuatingpool.--SOmemightsurviveinthetributarystreamsatlowpool,butmanywouldbetrappedintemporarypoolsanddieduringdrawdown.Downstreameffectsonanadromousfishwouldbeidenticaltotheprecedingpla~.AdverseeffectstoresidentfishinWatanareservoircouldbeincreasedmarginallysincethefluctuationofthatreservoirwouldbeincreasedfrom95-120feetannuallyto110-140feet,providingalessfavorableenvironment.StockingofDenalireservoirwouldprobablybenonbene-ficialinthatthepoolfluctuationswouldhavethesameadverseeffectsonthesefishasonfishnowresidenttothetributarystreams.Wildlife:Theimpactsonwildlifewouldbeincreasedgreatly.Ofthe54,000acresinundatedbyDenalireservoir,anestimated52.000acresaremoisttundraandpotholelakeswhichprovidemoderatehabitattomooseandarehighlysignificantascaribouhabitat.Inaddition.thelakes,estimatedtonumberabout400.providesignificantrestingandnestingforwaterfowl.Effectsatthetwodownstreamdamswouldnotbesignificantlychanged.Humanaccess.viathereservoiratfullpool.wouldbeimprovedtotheheadwaterareasoftheSusitnaRiver.Themajorecosystemintheseareas,alpinetundra,isquitefragileandcouldbeadverselyimpactedifaccesswerenotcarefullyregulated.TheDenalireservoirwouldhaveahighwatershorelineabout100mileslong.However.becauseofthefrequentandrapidpoolfluctuations,littlebeneficialhabitatcouldbeexpectedtodevelop.79Revised1Jun76 Recreation:TheDenalireservoircouldhavesignificantadverseimpactsonpresentrecreationalusesmadeofthearea.MooseandcaribouhuntinginthisareanowaccessiblebytheDenaliHighwayprovidesalargepartofthepresentrecreationalactivityintheUpperSusitnaRiverBasin.Establishmentofthereservoir,byremovingmuchofthesuitablehabitatofthegameanimals,wouldgreatlyreducethehuntingopportunities.Becauseofthefluctuationsinthereservoirlevelandtheresultingunfavorableconditionsforfish,littleifanyreplacementrecreationalopportunitywouldbeprovidedtooffsetthisloss.Norecreationalfacilitieswouldbeprovidedatthereservoirinviewoftheunfavorableconditions.HistoricandArchaeologicalSite,S:Inadditiontothesinglesiteofhistoricinterestand40zonesofarchaeologicalirterestcontainedinthetwo-damsystem,theDenalireservoirwouldemcompass20archaeo-logicalzonesofinterestand3potentialhistoricalsites.Mining:TheareaadjacenttotheDenalireservoirhasalongandcontinuinghistoryofgoldmining.Althoughnoactivemineswouldbeinundatedbythereservoir,furtherexplorationand/ordevelopmentwithintheconfinesoftheimpoundmentwouldbehamperedorprecluded.TransmissionSystem:BecauseDenaliDamwouldhavenogenerationcapacity,noadditionaltransmissionlinesoreffectswouldresult.Roads:Inadditiontotheeffectsofthetwo-damsystem~therewould~-requiredrelocationofabout19milesoftheDenaliHighway.Thetemporaryconstructionaccessroadswould~forthemostpart,bemergedintothepermanentroad.Themostsignificanteffectsoftherelocationwouldbelossofabout200additionalacresofwildlifehabitatandbetteraccesstothedamsitevicinity,whichcouldimposeaddedpressuresonwildlife.ConstructionActivities:Thegeneraleffectswouldbethoselistedforthetwo-damsystemwiththeadditionofanestimatedthreetofouryearsofsuchactivityattheDenalisite.Workers'Facilities:ConstructionofaDenaliDamwouldrequireatemporarycampforabout600workerssincetheonlynearbysettlements,DenaliandPaxson,donothavefacilitieswhichcouldabsorbthework-force.Theimpactsandcontrolsrequiredwouldbethesameaslistedforthetwo-damsystem.Esthetics:TheDenaliDamandreservoir,withtheDenaliHighwaycrossingthedamstructureitself,wouldbehighlyvisibletoallmotortraffic.Thereservoiratlessthanfullpoolwouldhaveadefiniteadverseimpactonthescenicvaluesofthearea.Becauseofthegener-allyflatterrainwithinthereservoir,evenafewfeetoffluctuationinthepoollevelwouldcreateawide"bathtubring"ofdefoliatedshore.Atlargedrawdowns,theringcouldbeamileormoreinwidth.80 Nomeansofpreventingorsignificantlylesseningtheimpactofthisfeatureiscompatiblewiththepowerproductionobjectivewhichrequiresthedrawdown.AirPollution:Exceptfortheshort-termeffectsofconstructionactivitiesatDenaliDam,theeffectsofthethree-damsystemwouldbeidenticaltothetwo-damsystem.Social:Theeffectswouldbethesameasforthetwo-damsystemexceptthatadditionalemploymentwouldbeprovided.TheincreasedAreaRedevelopmentbenefitsreflecttheadditionaluseofun-orunder-employedlaborintheconstructionoftheadditionaldamandfacilities.Aspreviouslystated,theadditionoftheDenaliDamwouldresultinanincreaseof4,from45to49,inpermanentjobscreatedinoperationandmaintenanceofthedamsystem.TheconstructionofpermanentlivingquartersatthedamsitemightbeforegoneinfavoroflocatingthepersonnelatPaxson.OtherEffects:TheDenalireservoirareaisunderlainbyperma-frost.Inundationwouldcauseasignificantthawingofthismateriftl.Becauseoftheveryflatterrain,earthslidesshouldnotbeofconse-quences.However,thematerialsaregenerallyveryfine-grainedandwhenthawedandsaturatedcouldhavepoorstructuralintegritywhensubjectedtoearthquakes.Assuch,thematerialsposeadifficulttechnicalprobleminthedesignofaDenaliDam.Thecostofadequateremedialfoundationtreatmentforthestructureisasignificantfactorintheoverallcostofwhatwouldotherwisebearelativelysmalldam.Erosionofthethawedshorelinewouldnotcontributesignificantlytosedimentationofthereservoir.ItisestimatedthatallofthelQO-mileshorelinecouldbesubjecttosevereerosionuntilequilibriumwasrestoredandvegetationreestablished.ResponsetoStudyObjectives:TheresponseoftheDevilCanyon-Watana-Denalihydropoweralternativetothestudyobjectivesissummarizedasfollows:Power:Provides6.91billionkilowatt-hoursaverageannualenergy.Meetstheprojecteddemanduntilthemid-1990's.FloodControl:Providesminorfloodcontrolbenefit.AirPollution:Providespartialairpollutionabatementbydisplacingand/ordelayingincreaseduseofcoalinRailbeltarea.FishandWildlife:Directlossof104,550acresofland,including2,100-3,100acresofcriticalwintermoosehabitat,and52,000acresofimportantcaribouhabitat81 andwaterfowlarea.Possibleadverseeffectsoncariboumigrationandanadromousfish.Probablecreationof300-400acresofreplacementmoosehabitat.Possiblecontributiontoestablishmentofnonmigratoryfishpopulation.Provides104,550acresofpossiblewaterfowlrestiarea.Recreation:Provi1;userecreationalfacilitiesequivalentto77.000visitordays.Adverseeffecton9milesofiboatingpotential.Probableadverseeffectonrecreationalhuntingandfishingin54,000-acreDenalireservoir.ConservationofNonrenewableResources:Conservesequivalentof5.85milliontonsofcoalannually.EnergyIndependence:Conservesequivalentof112.9billioncubicfeetofnaturalgas,or15.2millionbarrelsof.oilannually.DevilCanyon-Watana-Vee-Denali:ThisalternativewouldconsistofthepreviouslydescribeddamsatDevilCanyonandDenaliwithalower(515feetvs810feet)earthfillWatanaDamanda455-foot-highearthfilldaminVeeCanyonatextremeofWatanareservoiratrivermile208.Thethreedownstreamdamswouldhavepowerhousesandswitchyards.Anadditional40milesofaccessroadwouldconnectVeeDamtoWatanaDam.Anadditional40milesoftransmissionlinewouldalsoberequiredtoconnectVeeDamtothedownstreamsystem.Thedamwouldhaveavisitorcenter,aboatramp,andlimitedrecreationalfacilities.Theprojectfirstcostisestimatedas$1.95billion.Annualcostsareestimatedas$102,491,000.including$3200,000foroperation,maintenance,andreplacements.Averageannualprojectbenefitsaccrueasfollows:PowerRecreationfloodControlAreaRedevelopmentTotal$107,865,00040Q,00050,00010,971,000$119,286,000TheBICratiois1.2to1.Netannualbenefitsare$16,795,000.Thesystemwouldanaverageannualenergyoutputof6.88billionkilowatt-hoursandafirmenergyoutputof6.15billionkilowatt-hoursfromaninstallcapacityof1,404MW.Theprojectedenergycosttothedistributorswouldbe24.3millsperkilowatt-hour.Revised1Jun7682 ProjectimpactsoftheDevilCanyon,Watana,andDenaliDamswould~beessentiallyasdescribedpreviously,exceptthatWatanareservoirwouldhaveanareaofonly14,000acres.Becausethemostfavorablewildlifehabitatisinthevicinityofthestream-riverconfluences,therewouldbeessentiallythesamelossesofcriticalwintermoosehabitataswiththehigherdamandlargerreservoir.Veereservoir,about9,400acresinextent,wouldimposethefollowingadditionalimpacts..RiverFlows:AverageregulateddownstreamflowsatDevilCanyonwouldrangefromabout7,900cfsinOctobertoabout12,200cfsinAugust.Inextremeyears,theflowswouldrangefrom5,800cfsinOctoberto23,000cfsinAugust.Riverregulationwouldbesomewhatbetterthanthatofthetwo-damsystemandnotasgoodasthatofthethree-damsystem.Floodcontrolbenefitswouldbeidenticalinoriginandvaluetotheotherplans.Waterguality:SedimententrapmentatWatanareservoirwoulddecreasefurtherto2.0milliontonsperyearfromthe3.5milliontonsp~ryearofthethree-damsystem,thedifferencebeingtheentrapmentofVeereservoir.Allotherdownstreamwaterqualityeffectswouldremainessentiallyunchanged.Fish:ThelowerWatanareservoirlevelwouldofferlessopportunityforallowingresidentfishtogettotheuppertributariesabovethesteepsectionsofthesetributarieswhichnowbaruseofthispossiblehabitat.Inaddition,VeereservoirwouldfloodthemouthofTyoneRiverwithafluctuatingandturbidpoolandwould,inalllikelihood,severelydecreasethepresentresidentfishpopulationofthis,themainclearwatertributaryoftheupperSusitnaRiver.FluctuationsinWatanareservoirwouldbedecreasedtoanaverageof80-95feet,whichmightofferpotentialforestablishmentofalake-orientedfishpopulacebystocking.Simultaneously,fluctuationofDenalireservoirwouldincreasetoanaverageof40-60feet.Nochangewouldoccurineffectsonfishbelowthesystemofdams.Wildlife:TheadditionofVeereservoirtothesystemwouldhaveasignificantjmpactonwildlife.About7,000acresofthe9,400-acrereservoirarelowlandspruce-hardwood,whichisprimemoosehabitatandfavorableforsmallermammalsbecauseofitsdiversevegetation.TheinundatedlandsaremuchlessprecipitousthanthoseoftheDevilCanyonandWatanareservoirsandarenotonlymorefavorablefor,butaremuchmoreheavilyusedbywildlife,especiallybymoose.Inaddition,ifthereservoirsystemsshouldprovetobeabarriertotraditionalcariboumigrationroutes,forcingthecariboutogoaroundthem,Veereservoirwouldincreasethedetourmileagefrom25to45milesfromtheKosinaCreek-JayCreekvicinity.TheVeereservoirwouldhaveahigh-watershorelineabout100mileslong.Becauseofthelargeandfrequentpoolfluctuations,littlebeneficialhabitatcouldbeexpectedtodevelop.83 Recreation:Veereservoirwouldincreasetherecreationalpoten-tialofWatanareservoirbyreducingthefluctuationlevelofthatimpoundment.TheVeeimpoundmentandtheadditionalaccessprovidedbythenecessaryroadswouldproviaddedrecreationalopportunityinthemselves,althoughtheVeewouldhaveanaveragedrawdownof90-100feet.Aswithdownstreamreservoirs,lowdensityfishing,boating,hiking,andcampingusewouldbemostinkeepingwiththelandandlocation.Anincreaseinusedaystoabout100,000(from77,000)wouldgiverecreationalbenefiestimatedat$400,000annually.\ImprovedaccesswouldalsotendtoincreasehuntingpressuresintheareaextendingfromWatanaDamtoVeereservoir.Asaresult,addedpressureswouldalsobeplacedonresponsibleagenciestoinsureproperresourcemanagement.HistoricandArchaeol01icalSites:TheareaatandaroundthemouthofTyoneRiverhasaonghistoryofoccupationandusebyman.-Veereservoirwouldaffect25zonesofpotentialarchaeologicalinterest,byfarthemostofanysinglereservoirstudied.RepresentativesofthenativepeopleoftheregionindicatedthattheTyoneRivercon-fluencewiththeSusitnaRiverisalong-usedandvaluedareawhichtheywouldnotcaretoseedisConstructionofthereservoirwouldbenefitarchaeologicalknowledgeinthatitwouldspurexplorationofthatarea;however,itwouldadverselyaffectboththeinterestsofthenativepeoplesandfuturesiblearchaeologicalexplorations.Mining:TheVeeresrwould,initself,havelittleprobableeffectonminingpotentialbeyondthatoftheotherimpoundmentsofthesystem,especiallyDenalireservoir.TransmissionSystem:itional40milesoftransmissionlinetoconnectVeeDamandtothesystemdownstreamwouldberequired.Thiswouldinvolveadditionalclearinganddisturbancepfapproximately900acres.effectsofthiswouldbethesameasfortherestofthetransmissionrouteintype,butwouldbeincreasedinproportiontotheaddedlinelength.Roads:Anadditional40milesofaccessroadwouldalsoberequiredfortheVeeDam.Thiswouldrequireapproximately500additionalacresofhabitatlossanddisturbanceofldlife.ThisparticularsectionofroadwouldintersectgeneralcariboumigrationroutesintheKosina-JayCreeksvicinity.thoughtheroadshouldposenobartomigration,therewouldbepossibleinterferencebetweentheanimalsandhumansinasmuchastheroadwouldbeopentovehiclesduringthesummerwhenthenorthwardmovementofherdcouldbeexpected.ConstructionActivities:ThetypeofeffectswouldbethesameasforDevilCanyonandWatanaDams.VeeDamwouldprolongtheperiodofeffectsbyaboutfivemoreyears.84 Workers'Facilities:Aswiththeprecedingsystems,noexistingcommunitiescouldabsorbtheprojectworkforce.Commutinodistancefromthenearest'establishedcampfacility,WatanaDam,wouldbetoogreatforeconomicaluseofthesefacilities.Thus,atemporarycampwouldberequiredinthevicinityofthedamsite.Theeffectswouldbeidenticalandadditivetothosepreviouslydescribedforthetwo-andthree-damsystems.Esthetics:Thepreviouslydiscussedadversevisualimpactswouldbeincreased.The"bathtubring"atDenalireservoirwouldbeincreasedbytheaddeddrawdown.TheVeereservoirarea,notsomuchthesteepcanyonsectionsdownstreamofOshetnaRiver,butthemoregentlysloped,rollingterrainintheTyoneRiverandupstreamarea,wouldacquireasimilarringofdefoliatedbarrenlandwhichwoulddecreasethescenicvaluedrastically.Thesewouldbeadditionstothedownstreameffectsdescribedforthe--oth:E;rsystems.AirPollution:Exceptfortheshort-termeffectsduringconstruc-tionofVeeDam,theeffectsofthefour-damsystemwouldbeidenticaltothethree-damsystem.Social:Theeffectswouldbethesameasforthetwo-andthree-damsystemsexceptthatadditionalemploymentwouldbeprovided.TheAreaRedevelopmentbenefitsfromthisplanreflecttheincreaseinuseofun-orunderemployedlaborovertheotherplans.Facilitieswouldhavetobeprovidedatthedamforpermanentoperatingpersonnel.Itisestimatedthat10additionalpermanentjobswouldbecreatedbycon-struction'ofVeeDam,raisingthesystemtotalto59.OtherEffects:Theeffectsofthereservoironunderlyingperma-frostwoulabeacombinationoftheeffectsatthedownstreamreser-voirsandtheDenaliimpoundmentsincetheVeereservoirwouldlieinpartinsteepcanyonswithshallowfrozenoverburdenandinpartinflatterterrainsimilartotheDenaliarea.Nosignificantreser-voirsedimentationorslide-causedwaveswouldbeexpected.Signifi-cantshorelineerosionwouldbeexpectedtoaffect'about35milesoftheshorelineforafewyearsuntilanequilibriumconditionwasreached.ResponsetoStudyObjectiv~s:TheresponseoftheDevilCanyon-Watana-Vee-Denalihydropoweralternativetothestudyobjectivesissummarizedasfollows:Power:Provides6.88billionkilowatt-hoursaverageannualenergy.Meetstheprojecteddemanduntilthemid-1990's.FloodControl:Providesminorfloodcontrolbenefits.85 AirPollution:Providespartialairpollutionabatementbydisplacingand/ordelayingincreaseduseofcoalinRailbeltarea.FishandWildlife:Directlossof84,950acresoflandincluding9100-10,100acresofcriticalwintermoosehabitat,and52,000acresofimportantcaribouhabitatandwaterfowlnestingarea.Possibleadverseeffectsoncariboumigrationandanadromousfish.Probablecreationof300-400acresofreplacementmoosehabitat.Possiblecontributiontoestablishmentofnon-migratoryfishpopulation.Provides84,950acresofpossiblewaterfowlrestingarea.Recreation:Provideslightuserecreationalfacilitiesequivalentto100,000visitordays.Adverseeffecton9milesofwhitewaterboatingpotential.Probableadverseeffectonpresenthunting-fishinguseofTyoneRiverconfluence.ConservationofNonrenewableResources:Conservesequivalentof5.83milliontonsofcoalannually.EnergyIndependence:Conservesequivalentof112.2billioncubicfeetofnaturalgas,or15.1millionbarrelsofoilannually.NEDPLANFromtheprecedingevaluaons,itisconcludedthatthesystemcomprisedofdamsattheDevilCanyonandWatanasitesbestaccomplishestheobjectiveofmaximizingNationalEconomicDevelopment.Thetwo-damsystemhasthehighestB/Cratioat1.3andthemaximumnetbenefitsat$33,856,000annuallywhileproducingelectricalenergyequaltoanyoftheotherplans.EOPLANFromtheprecedingevaluations,itisevidentthatnomeansofproducingameaningfuloutputofelectricalenergywasfoundtobefreeofsignificantadverseenvironmentaleffects.Theplanwhichminimizestheunavoidableadverseimpactsonfishandwildlifevalueswhileprovidingbeneficialcontributionstoairandwaterqualityandsocialwell-beingisconsideredtocontributemosttotheEnvironmentalQualityobjectives.Onthisbasis,thesystemoftwodamsatDevilCanyonandWatanaisalsotheEOplan.Revised1Jun7686 THESELECTEDPLANThetwo-damDevilCanyon-Watanasystemisselectedastheplanprovidingthebestoverallresponsetothestudyobjectives.Thefollowingtabledisplaysasummarycomparisonofthesignificantfactsandfactorswhichguidedformulationoftheselected-plan.(87 SELECTEDPLANTheselectedplan,shownonPlatel,consistsofatwo-damdevelopmentontheupperSusitnaRiver.TheDevilCanyondamsiteislocatedatrivermile134,about14.5milesupstreamfromGoldCreek,theclosestpointontheAlaskaRailroad.TheWatanadamsite.~islocatedatrivermile1approximately2rivermilesupstreamfromtheupperlimitof11Canyonreservoir.WatanaDamwillbeconstructedfirst.WATANADAMFEATURESThemaindam,shownonPI2,consistsofanearthfillstructure810feethighwithacrestlengthof3,200feet.Theupstreamsideslopeis1on2.5andadownstreamsideslopeof1on2,andthecrestelevationisl,210feet,msl.ThedamwasdesignedforearthquakesusingaMaximumCredibleEarthquake(MCE)ofmagnitude8.5ontheRichterScale,originatingattheDenaliFault40milestothenorth.Considerationwasgiventotheeffectsofalessermagnitude(6.0)earthquakeoriginatingattheshortSusitnaFault2-1/2mileseastofthedamsite.Thesaddlespillwayis210feetwidewithalowogeecrestatelevation2162feet,msl.Thespillwayiscontrolledwiththree59-footx.42-foottaintergates.Routingofthedesignfloodthroughthespillwayresultedinamaximumdischargeof193,000cfsatareservoirpoolelevationof2205feet,Theintakestructureisapproximately370feethighandislocatedontheleftbankabout700feetupstreamfromthedam.Ithasmulti-levelintakeportalssizedtopassadischargeof24,500cfs.Thediversionplanatthedamsiteconsistsoftwointakestr~cturesintherightabutment,oneatevation1925andtheotheratelevation1725.whichjointhetwo30-foothorseshoediversiontunnelsnearthedamaxis.Eachofthetunnelsisabout4,000feetlong.Thefacilitieswillp'rovideprotectionoftheconstructionsitefora20-yearfrequency,floodestimatedtobe72,000cfsallowreservoirdrawdownunderemergencyconditions.TheWatanapowerplantislocatedinanundergroundchamberintheleftabutmentandwillhousethree236-MWgeneratingunitsandthree324,OOO-horsepowerFrancisturbines.Thepowerhousechamberwillalsocontaintransformers,two600-toncranes,machineshop,andothernecessaryequipment.Vehicleaccesstothepowerplantisprovidedbyaserviceroad1.9mileslong,includinga2,100~foottunnel.Revised1Jun7688 SUMMARYCOMPARISONOFALTERNATIVEPLANSl'LANAWITHOUTCO~DITIONConventionalCoalThermalPlantl'LANBNATIONALECONOmCDEVELOPMENT(NED)ENVIRONMENTALQUALITY(EQ)PLANSDevilCanyon-WatanaDamsPLANCMAXIMUMPOWERDEVELOPMENTPLANDevilCanyon-Watana-DenaliDamsPLANDl'REVIOUSLYRECO~R1ENDEDPLANUSBRFour-DamSystemA.PLANDESCRIPTION1.DamHeightsNon-Federalfinancingofa300-mwcoal-firedgeneratingplantatHealyanda1,200-mwcoal-firedplantatBeluga.Theplantswouldhave35-yearservicelives.Projectwouldincludecostsfor'coalminingandseparateHealy-to-FairbanksandBeluga-to-Anchoragetrans-missionsystems.NoDamsFederalfinancingofthetotalsystemtoincludeathin-archdamandunder-groundpowerplantattheDevilCanyonsite,and'anearthfi11damandunder-groundpowerplantattheWatanasite.Bothprojectswouldprovideat-sitepowergeneration.Watanawouldprovidetheseasonalstorageforthesystem.Planwouldalsoincludetransmissionsystembetween'projectsandtotheAnchorageandFairbanksloadcenters.1.DevilCanyon-635feet2.Watana-810feetThisplanisbasicallythesameasthePlanB,butwiththeadditionoftheDenaliProjectwouldhavenoat-sitepowergenerationandwouldbeusedonlyforlowflowaugmentationofthetwodownstreamprojects.1.DevilCanyon-635feet2.Watana-810feet3.Denali-260feetThisisthesystemproposedbytheBureauofReclamationinits1952reportonhydropowerresourcesoftheUpperSusitnaRiverBasin.Federalfinancingofthetotalsystemtoincludeathin-archdamandpowerplantattheDevilCanyonsite,alowheadearth-filldamandpowerplantattheWatanasite,anearthfilldamandpowerplantattheVeesite,andaflowaugmenta-tionreservoirattheDenalisite.Planwouldalsoincludetransmissionsystembetweenprojects,andtothetwoloadcenters.1.Devi1Canyun-635feet~.Watana-515feet3.Vee-455feet4.Denali -260feet2.DependableCapacityB.SIGNIFICANTIMPACTSC.PLANEVALUATION1.ContributiontoPlanningObjectivea.FirmAnnualEnergyb.AverageAnnualEnergyc.PercentofBasinPotentiald.SystemDependability1,500,000kilowatts(IncludedinRelationshiptoFourAccounts)6,800,000,000kilowatt-hours6,910,000,000kilowatt-hoursNotApplicable.Nogridintertieofmajorloadcenters.Reduceddependability.1,394,000kilowatts(IncludedinRelationshiptoFourAccounts)6,100,000,000kilowatt-hours6;910,000,000kilowatt-hours96%Providesgridintertieofmajorloadcenters.1,552,000kilowatts(IncludedinRelationshiptoFourAccounts)6,800,000,000kilowatt-hours6,910,000,000kilowatt-hours96%Providesgridintertieofmajorloadcenters.1,404,000kilowatts(IncludedinRelationshiptoFourAccounts)6,150,000,000kilowatt-hours6,880,000,000kilowatt-hours95%Providesgridintertieofmajorloadcenters.2.RelationshiptoFourAccountsa.NationalEconomicDevelopment(NED)NETNEDBENEFITSBENEFIT-TO-COSTRATIOb.EnvironmentalQuality(EQ)AcreageInundatedorDestroyedDrawdownZoneAcreageStreamMileageInundatedorDegradedWhitewaterMileageInundatedMajorEcosystems,AcreageInundatedorDestroyedImportantMooseHabitatImportantCaribouHabitatImportantWaterfowlHabitat(numberofpotholelakes)ArchaeologicalZonesPrecludedfromPost-ConstructionStudiesPrehistoricSitesInundatedorDestroyedHistoricSitesInundatedorDestroyedc.SocialWell-Being(SWB)EnergyResourcesConservedinTonsperYeard.RegionalDevelopment(RD)CostofPowerinMills/Kwhr3.PlanResponsetoAssociatedEvaluationCriteriao1.020,000o110-120o18,0002,0002,000acresUnquantifiedareahasveryhighpotentialoo26.4-31.4$33,856,000$29,611,000$16,795,0001.31.31.250,550104,55084,95013,00045,00045,000821161389994,0004,00010,000052,00052,00004004004060850011445,850,0005,850,0005,830,00021.121.024.3a.AcceptabilityThisplanistheworstfromthestand-pointofconservationofnonrenewableresources.IthaslargeadverseEQeffectsinthatitrequiresstrip-miningof20,000acresofimportantwildlifehabitat,itdegradeswaterqualitybychemicalinputsandsuspendedsediments,anditdegradesairqualitybyinputsofparticulatesandchemicalpollutants.ItsNEDperformanceisacceptable.Itprovidesnofloodcontrolorrecreationalopportunity.MaximumbeneficialimpactsofoptionsstudiedinNEDandEQaccounts.Supportedbyconsensusofmostpublics.Planhasdrawnsomeconcernbecauseofpossibilityforinducedpopulationgrowthassociatedwithinitialpoweronline,aswellastheadverseimpactonfishandwildlifevalues.Wouldpro-videfloodcontrolandrecreationpotential.~reateradverseEQeffectsthaninecommendedplan.RankssecondtoherecommendedplanintheNEDaccount.~ouldprovidemaximumfirmpowerofnydrodevelopmentplans.Wouldprovideloodcontrolandrecreationpotential.89Beneficialimpacts inNED,SWB,andRDaccounts.HasgoodpotentialforstagedevelopmentofhydroprojectsandisplanfavoredbyAlaskaPowerAdministration.RankslowintheEQaccountincomparisontootheralter-natives.WouldprOVidefloodcontrolandrecreationpotential.Revised1Jun76 SUf~RYCOMPARISONOFALTERNATIVEPLAN(continued)FLANAWITHOUTCONDITIOllConventionalCoa1Therma1PlantC.PLANEVALUATION(Cont.)3.PlanResponsetoAssociatedEvaluationCriteria(Cont.)FLANBNATIONALECONOHICDEVELOPMENT(NED)ENVIRONMENTALQUALITY(EQ)PLANSDevilCanyon-WatanaDamsMAXIMUMFOWERDEVELOPMENTPLANDevilCanyon-Watana-Dena1iDamsPLANDPREVIOUSLYRECOMHENDEDPLANUSBRFour-DamSystemb.c.d.CertaintyCompletenessEffectivens~ssThisappearstobeanimplementableplarwhichcouldbepursuedtomeetenergyneedsforthenearandlongrangefuture.Itisthemostflexibleplanintermsofincrementaldevelopmentandoperationpotentials.Couldrnatchtheenergyoutputofanyplansevaluatedhereinaslongasfuelsourceisavailable.Couldbeexpandedindefinitelytolimitsoffuel.Foundationconditionsappearadequateforconstructionofbothprojects.Transmissionsystemiswithinthemeansofpresenttechnology.Leastflexibleofalternativestochangesinprojectedpowerdemand.Providesadequatepowertosatisfyprojecteddemandgrowthuntilmid-1990'sLittlepotentialforexpansion.Demandbeyondtheprojectcapabilitywillhavetobemetbyotherdevelopment.Woulddevelop96percentofbasinqevelopmentpotential.SameevaluationasforPlanBexceptforstoragecontrolprojectatDenalisite.Additionalexplorationalrequiredbeforethisstructurecouldberecommended.HoreflexiblethanPlanB.Providesadequatepowertosatisfyprojecteddemandgrowthuntilmid-1990'sLittlepotffitialforexpansion.Demandbeyondtheprojectcapabilitywillhavetobemetbyotherdevelopment.Developsgreatestfirmpower-equaltoPlanBinaverageannualp<Nler.SameevaluationasforPlanCexceptforthepowerprojectattheVeesite.Additionalexplorationofabutmentrr.aterialrequiredbeforethisdamcouldberecommendedforthestructuraheightstatedabove.Mostflexibleofhydroalternatives.Providesadequatepowertosatisfyprojecteddemandgrowthuntilmid-1990's.Littlepotentialforexpansion.Demandbeyondtheprojectcapabilitywillhavetobemetbyotherdevelopment.Woulddevelop95percentofbasindevelopmentpotential.D.ll1PLEHENTATIONRESPONSIBILITYLFinancialResponsibility2.RecreationSponsorshipPrivateand/orsemi-publicentitiescoordinatedwithFederalandStateregulatoryagencies•NoneFederalGovernnent\oJithpowermarketedthroughtheAlaskaPowerAdministration.StateofAlaskaFederalGovernmentwithpowermarketedthroughtheAlaskaPowerAdministration.StateofAlaskaFederalGovernmentwithpowermarketedthroughtheAlaskaPowerAdministration.StateofAlaska2861-7690 AcostcomparisonbetweenanabovegroundversusanundergroundpowerplantattheWatanadamsiteshowedthattheundergroundplantwaslessexpensive.Thisandotherfactors,suchasseverewinterweatherconditions,shortconstructionseason,highermaintenancecosts,andscarcityofagoodabovegroundpowerplantsitelocation,ledtotheselectionoftheundergroundpowerhouse.TheWatanaswitchyardisplacedontheleftbankoftheSusitnaRiverjustdownstreamofthedam.Theswitchyardisapproximately700feetby500feet,andatelevation2100feet,msl.AlargeportionofthelandswithintheWatanareservoirareawaswithdrawnforpowerpurposesinFebruary1958byPowersiteClassifi-cationNo.443.ThepowersitewithdrawalforWatanaincludesalllandsbelowthe19l0-footcontour.However,accessroads,transmissioncorridors,andsomeotherprojecttures,aswellasadditionallandsrequiredforthelargerreservoir,werenotincludedinthewithdrawal.Therearenoexistingroads,railroads,orotherimprovementsaffectedbythereservoirimpoundment.Theadditionallandsrequiredareesti-matedat35,000acres.Watanareservoirwouldhaveasurfaceareaof43,000acresatnormalfullpoolelevationof2,200feet.Thenormalminimumpowerpoollevelwouldbeatelevation1950,whilethemaximumelevationproducedbythedesignfloodwouldbe2,205feet.Thereservoirwillextendabout54milesupstreamtoabovetheconfluenceoftheOshetnaRiver.A24-foot-wideaccessroad,designedtoAASHOstandards,willconnectthedamsitestotheParksHighwaynearChulitna.A650-foot-longbridgewillberequiredtocrosstheSusitnaRiverdownstreamofDevilCanyon.DevilCanyondamsitewillbenearmile27ofthe64-mileroadtoWatana.Asubsidiarypurposeintheconstructionoftheelectrictrans-missionlinewillbetheinterconnectionofthetwolargestelectricalpowerdistributiongridsintheStateofAlaska,whichwillresultinincreasedreliabilityofserviceandlowercostofpowergeneration.MostofthepowergeneratedwouldbeusedintheFairbanks-TananaValleyandtheAnchorage-KenaiPeninsulaareas.Thetransmissionsystemproposedwouldconsistoftwo198-mile,230kvsinglecircuitlinesfromDevilCanyonswitchyardtoFairbanks(calledtheNenanacorridor),andtwol36-mile,345kvsinglecircuitlinesfromtheswitchyardtotheAnchoragearea(calledtheSusitnacorridor).PowerwouldbecarriedfromWatanatoDevilCanyonbytwo30-mile,230kvtransmissionlines.Totallengthofthelineswouldbe364miles.Transmissionlinecorri-dorswouldrequirearight-of-wayto~alingabout8,200acres.Theclearedportionwouldbe186-210feetwideandtotalabout6,100acres.91 Towerswouldbeeithersteeloraluminum,andoffree-standingorguyedtype,dependinguponfinaldesignandlocalconditions.Tentativesiteshavebeenselectedforthetemporarytrailer-modulardormitoryconstructioncampaswellasforpermanentfacilities.Operationandmaintenancefacilitiesatthedamsiteincludea50-footbylaO-footwarehouse,avehiclestoragebuilding,andpermanentlivingquarters.DEVILCANYONDAMFEATURESThemaindam,shownonPlate3,consistsofthreeintegralsec-tions:(1)a635-foot-highconcrete,doublecurvature,thin-archsectionwithcrestlengthof1,370feet;(2)a110-foot-highconcretethrustblocksectionwithcrestlengthof155feet;and(3)a200-foot-highfillsectionintheleftabutmentwitha950-footcrestlength.Anearthquakestabilityanalysiswasmadebasedonthesame8.5MCEasforWatana.Theintakestructureswillbeintegralwiththearchdam.Theywillbegatedtoprovideselectivewithdrawalatintervalsbetweenelevations1,100and1,400.Thechutespillwayisplacedintheleftabutmentbetweenthethrustblockandfillsectionsofthedam.Thespillwaydesignfloodis222,000cfs.Thespillwaywillhaveanogeecrestatelevation1395withtwo64-footby60-footgates.Thechutewillterminateinasuperelevatedflipbucketatelevation1110.whichwilldischargeparalleltotheriver.Thisspillwaydesignshouldminimizenitrogensupersaturationaswellasriverbederosion.Theoutletworksconsistoffourll-footby7-1/2-footgatedsluicewaysatelevation1075.whichwillhaveaminimumdischargecapacityof21.000cubicfeetpersecondata75-foothead.Eachsluicewayendsinaflipliptoprojectwaterawayfromthedamtoe.Theoutletworksareadequatetomeetemergencydrawdownrequirements.TheSusitnaRiverwillbedivertedthrougha1,150-foot-long,26-footconcrete-linedhorseshoetunnellocatedintheleftabutment.CellularcofferdamswillbeconstructedupstreamanddownstreamofthedamtoprovideprotectionoftheconstructionsiteagainsttheWatanaDarnpowerflowsof20.000cubicfeetpersecond.TheDevilCanyonpowerhouseislocatedinanundergroundchamberintherightabutment.Initially,four171-MWgeneratingunitsaretobeinstalledwithfour234.000-horsepowerFrancisturbines.Thepowerhousewillalsocontaintwo425-toncranes.serviceareas,andamachineshopforequipmentmaintenanceandrepair.Aseparateupstreamundergroundchamberwillhousetransformersandcircuitbreakers.Revised1Jun7692 Vehicleaccesstothepowerplantisprovidedbyaserviceroadacrossthetopofthedamandanall-weatherroadontherightsideoftheriver.Theroadwillbe2.3mileslongincludinga2,100-foottunnel.TheDevilCanyonswitchyardislocatedontheleftbankoftheriverimmediatelydownstreamoftherockfillsectionofthedam.Themajorportionofthelandswithinthereservoirareawerewithdrawnforpowerpurposesin1958.TheDevilCanyonDampowersitewithdrawalincludesalllandsbelowthe1,500-footcontourelevation.DevilCanyonreservoirwouldhaveasurfaceareaof7,550acresatnormalfullpoolelevationof1,450feet.Theminimumpowerpoollevelwouldbeatelevation1,275,whilethemaximumelevationproducedbythedesignfloodwouldbe1,455feet.Thereservoirwouldextendabout28milesupstreamtoabout2milesbelowtheWatanadamsite.Thereservoirarea,confinedwithintheSusitnaRivercanyon,isnarrow.DevilCanyondamsitewillbe27roadmilesfromtheParksHighwayand37roadmilesfromWatana.Tentativesiteshavebeenselectedfortemporaryconstructioncampsaswellasforpermanentfacilitiesforoperatingpersonnel.ThetemporaryconstructioncampswillconsistofunitsreusedfromtheconstructionofWatanaDam.OPERATIONPLANForstudypurposesthereservoirswereoperatedtoprovideoptimumpoweroperationduringtheaverageyear.Tomaintainmaximumpowerhead,DevilCanyonwasgivenprioritybyprovidingstoragereleasesfromWatanaasnecessary.WatanawasoperatedtomaintaintheDevilCanyonmaximumpoolandtoprovideadditionalcapacityandenergy.Duringthefirstfiveyearsofoperation,priortothecompletionoftheDevilC~nyonproject,Watanawouldbeoperatedtoprovidecapa-cityandgenerationasdemandedtothelimitsofitscapability.FullpoolconditionswouldusuallyoccurduringthesummermonthsofJulythroughOctober(themostseverehistoricfloodshaveusuallyoccurredduringthespringsnowmeltofMayandJune).DevilCanyonreservoirisexpectedtoremainfullalmost100percentofthetime.CONSTRUCTIONSCHEDULEConstructionSeason:TheoutdoorconstructionseasonatDevilCanyonandWatanadamsitesisaboutsixmonthsandcouldbeextendedby93 carefulscheduling,planning,andtheuseoftemporary,heatedenclosureswhereconstructionsituationswouldpermit.PreconstructionPlanningfortheSelettedPlan:Aperiodofaboutfouryearsisestimatedforpreconstructionplanning.Theworkscheduledforthisperiodincludesaneconomicreanalysis,detailedenvironmentalandarchaeologicalsurveys,topographicsurveys,andexplorationsandfoundationinvestigationsfortheDevilCanyonandWatanadamsites.A52-milepioneerroadfromGoldCreektotheWatanadamsitewouldbeconstructedduringpreconstructiontoallowheavyexplorationequip-mentintotheprojectareatofacilitatethepreconstructioninvestigations.ConstructionSchedulefortheSelectedPlan:General:Theconstructionperiodfortheselectedplanisesti-matedtobe10years,6yearsforWatanaDamandpowerplant,and5yearsforDevilCanyonDamandpowerplant.Constructionperiodfortrans-missionfacilitiesis3years.Concurrentconstructionwillberequiredtomeetpower-on-lineschedules.Thefollowingparagraphsdescribethesequenceofconstructionfortheselectedplan'sprojects.DiversionPlans:ConstructionofthediversionworkswouldstartinthewinterofthefirstyearforWatanaandthewinterseasonofthefifthyearforDevilCanyon.Thediversionworkscouldeachbecompletedintwoyears.MainDams:SiteclearingandfoundationpreparationwouldstartinthethirdyearwithmaterialplacementscheduledfromthefourthintothesixthyearofconstructionforWatanaDam.ThediversiontunnelwouldbeclosedinspringofthefinalconstructionyearandWatanareservoirwouldfilltoitsnormalfullpoolelevationbyfalltosupplypower-an-linethefollowingwinter.ClearingandfoundationpreparationforDevilCanyonwouldstartintheseventhyearwithmaterialplacementbeginninginthe.eighthyearandcontinuingintothetenthyearofconstruction.Theaiversiontunnelwouldbeclosedinspringofthetenthyearandthereservoirwouldbefilledbyfallofthetenthyear.Powerhouses:Constructionofundergroundpowerhouseswouldbeconcurrentwiththemaindamsofbothprojects;andexcavationandinstallationofmechanicalandelectricalequipmentwouldcontinueyear-round.FourgeneratingunitswouldbeinstalledintheDevilCanyonpowerplantandthreegeneratingunitsintheWatanapowerplant.Power-on-line(POL)forWatanaisscheduledfor1986andDevilCanyonPOLisscheduledfor1990.94 lliESElECTEDPLliNPROJECTCOSTSTheestimatedconstructioncostoftheselectedplanis$1,520,000,000,whichincludes$572.000innon-Federalrecreationalcosts.Addingthe$11,800,000valueofpublicdomaintransferredwithoutcostgivesatotalprojectcostof$1,531,800,000.Interestduringconstructioniscomputedassimpleinterestonprojectcostsfromtheestimateddateofexpendituretotheappropriatepower-on-linedate.TheprojectcostsandinterestduringconstructionfortheDevilCanyonDamarediscountedtotheWatanapower-on-linedateofOctober1986.Theinvestmentcost,$1,653,136,000,istheprojectcostplusinterestduringconstruction,bothdiscountedtothe1986power-on-linedate.ProjectCost(PresentWorth)InterestDuringConstruction(PW)InvestmentCost$1,401,295,000251,841,000$1,653,136,000Amortizationofthisamountwithinterestatarateof6-1/8percentandaprojecteconomiclifeof100yearsresultsinanannualcostof$101,520,000.Theestimatedaverageannualoperationandmaintenancecostoverthe100-yearprojectlifeoftheselectedplanis$1,928,000.Annualcostsforreplacementofmechanicalequipmentandotheritemswhichnormallyhaveausefullifelessthanthe100-yearprojectlifeareestimatedat$572,000.1/Thefollowingtablesummarizestheaverageannualcostfortheselectedplan:InterestandAmortizationOperationandMaintenanceReplacementAverageAnnualCost$101,520,0001,928,000572,000$104,020,000AdetailedcostestimatefortheselectedplaniscontainedinSectionB,AppendixI.1/The0,r1&RcostsotherthanthoseforrecreationwereprovidedbyAlaskaPowerAdministration.95 COSTALLOCATIONAllocationofestimatedcostsaccordingtotheAlternativeJustifiableExpendituremethodresultedinthefollowingapportion-mentofjoint-usecosts:PURPOSEPowerRecreationFloodControlPE~CENTOFJOINT-USECOSTS99.69%0.22%0.09%Thecostallocationresultsaretabulatedbelow:COSTALLOCATION($1,000)FloodP,owerRecreationControlTotalConstructionCost$1,516,326$2,912$762$1,520,000PublicDomainCost11,76823911,800InterestDuringConstruction280,839587164281,590Operation,Maintenance,andReplacement(AnnualCost)2,39710212,500PROJECTBENEFITSBenefitsaccruetotheselectedplanfromthesaleandimprovedreliabilityofelectricpowerprovidedbytheproject,flooddamagesprevented,recreationalopportunityprovided,andAreaRedevelopmentfromtheutilizationofunemployedlabor.Power:PowerbenefitsarecalculatedbyapplyingtheprojectcapacityandenergytopowervaluesderivedbytheFederalPowerCommissionandfromincreasedreliabilityprovidedbytheintertieoftheAnchorage-Fairbankspowergrids.SummaryofPowerBenefits($1,000)Capacity93,807PrimeEnergy30,883SecondaryEnergy2,516Intertie947Total128,153Recreation:Recreationalbenefitsarecalculatedastheuse-dayvalueofrecreationalopportunityprovidedbytheproject.Revised1Jun7696 General110SummaryofRecreationalBenefits($1,000)IISpecialized190Total300IIRoundedFloodControl:FloodcontrolbenefitsarecalculatedasthevalueofdecreasedmaintenanceoferosionprotectiontotheAlaskaRailroad.Thebenefittotals$50,000annually.AreaRedevelopment:TheAreaRedevelopmentbenefitiscalculatedasthevalueofemploymentprovidedtoun-orunderemployedAlaskanlaborbyprojectconstruction.Suchemploymentisestimatedas4,390man-yearsgivinganaverageannualbenefitof$9,373,000.SummaryofBenefits:Estimatedannualbenefitsaresummarizedasfollows:CategoryPowerRecreationFloodControlAreaRedevelopmentPROJECTJUSTIFICATIONTotalValue($1,000)128,153300509,373137,876Thefollowingtablesummarizestheprojecteconomicfactors.SummaryofEconomicFactorsItemRecreationNon-RecreationTotalAverageAnnualBenefits$300,000$137,576,000$137,876,000AnnualCosts165,000103,855,000104,020,000BICRatio1.81.31.3NetAnnualBenefits$135,000$33,721,000$33,856,000Theanalysesshowtheprojectandtheincrementalrecreationaldevelopmenttobejustified.97Revised1Jun76 DIVISIONOFPLANRESPONSIBILITIESTheprojectbenefitsaccrue93.4percenttopower,6.3percenttoAreaRedevelopment,0.2percenttorecreation,and0.1percenttofloodcontrol.Allpurposesexceptrecreationaresolelytherespon-sibilityoftheFederalGovernment,whilerecreationrequirespartici-pationbyasponsor.Inthecaseoftheselectedplan,althoughtitletomostoftheprojectlandspresentlyrestswiththeBureauofLandManagement.thereiseveryindicationthattitlewill,inthenearfuture,passtotheStateofAlaska.Thus,projectsponsorshipforrecreationwillalsorestwiththeState.FEDERALRESPONSIBILITIESTheUnitedStateswilldesign,construct,maintain,andoperatethedams,powerplants,roads,andtransmissionfacilities,andwillshareintheplanning,design,andconstructionoftherecreationalfacilitiesfollowingCongressionalauthorizationandfunding,andafterreceiptofallrequirednon-Federalcontributionsandassurances.ThepresentlyestimatedFederalshareofthetotalfirstcostoftheprojectis$1,520,000,000,includinganestimatedcostof$572,300forrecreation.Annualoperation,maintenance,andreplacementcosts,exclusiveofrecreation,are$2,400,000.NON-FEDERALRESPONSIBILITIESNon-Federalinterestsmust,priortothestartofconstructionofrecreationalfacilities,providetotheSecretaryoftheArmyacceptableassurancesthattheywill,inaccordancewiththeFederalWaterProjectRecreationAct,PublicLaw89-72:a.Administerlandandwaterareasforrecreation.b.Pay,contributeinkind,orrepay(whichmaybethroughwater-usefees)withinterest,one-halfoftheseparablecostsoftheprojectallocatedtorecreation.c.Bearall~ostsofoperation,maintenance,andreplacementsoflandsandfacilitiesforrecreation.98 rPLANIMPLEMENTATIONThestepsnecessarytofollowinrealizingtheconstructionoftheproposedplanofimprovementaresummarizedasfollows:ReviewofthisreportbyhigherCorpsofEngineersauthoritiessuchasNorthPacificDivision,theBoardofEngineersforRiversandHarbors,andtheOfficeoftheChiefofEngineers.TheChiefofEngineerswouldthenseekformalreviewandcommentbytheGovernorofAlaskaandinterestedFederalagencies.FollowingtheaboveStateandinteragencyreview, thefinalreportoftheChiefofEngineerswouldbeforwardedbytheSecretaryoftheArmytotheCongress,subsequenttohisseekingthecommentsoftheOfficeofManagementandBudgetregardingtherelationshipoftheprojecttotheprogramofthePresident.Congressionalauthorizationofthehydropowerprojectwouldthenberequired.ThiswouldincludeappropriatereviewandhearingsbythePublicWorksCommittees.Iftheprojectisauthorized,theChiefofEngineerswouldthenincludefunds,whenappropriate,inhisbudgetrequestsforpreconstruc-tionplanningoftheproject.WhenCongressappropriatesthenecessaryfunds,advancedengineeringanddesignstudieswillbeinitiated,projectformulationreviewed,andtheplanreaffirmedormodifiedtomeetthethencurrentconditions.Atthistime,assurancesoflocalcooperationwillberequiredfromnon-Federalinterestsasappropriate.Surveys,materialsinvestigations,andpreparationofdesigncriteria,plans,specifications,andanengineeringestimateofcostwouldthenbeaccomplishedbytheDistrictEngineer.Atthistime,aformalcontractualagreementforprovisionofthenecessarylocalcooperationwouldberequired.TheDistrictEngineerwouldtheninvitebidsandawardacontract.Followingcompletionofcertainsectionsoftheproject,localinterestswouldberesponsiblefortheiroperationandmaintenance.Itisnotpossibletoaccuratelyestimateaschedulefortheabovestepsbecauseofthevariablesinthereviewingandfundingprocesses.Oncetheprojectisauthorizedandinitiallyfunded,itwouldbepossibletocompletedesignandconstructionwithinal4-yearperiodifadequatefundsareavailable.99 VIEWSOFNON-FEDERALINTERESTSAnactivepublicparticipationprogramwasmaintainedthroughoutthestudythroughpublicmeetings,workshops,informalcoordinationmeetings,acorrespondence.PUBLICMEETINGSPreliminarypublicmeetingswereheldinFairbankson6May1974andAnchorageon8May1974.Themeetingsweretoinformthepublicoftheexistenceandintentofthestudy,toassesspublicviewsastotheirneedsandconcerns,andtorequesttheirinputwhetheritbeinformation,comment,orquestion.SeveralenvironmentalgroupsstatedthattheywouldreservejudgmentoftheprojectuntiltheDraftEnvironmentalStatementwasavailableforreview.Concernsexpressedbythesegroups(theAlaskaCenterfortheEnvironmentandtheSierraClub)includedimpactsuponthefuturequalityoflifeinAlaska,whichwouldbecausedbyhydroelectricdevelopment.They,alsoquestionedtheAlaskaPowerAdministration'sprojectionofpowerneeds,theexaminationofalternatives,andtheshippingofAlaska'sfossilfuelselsewhere.TheystressedtheneedforcoordinationwiththeAlaskaLandUsePlanningCommission,andsuggestedpublichearingsontheFinalEnvironmentalImpactStatement.IntermediatepublicmeetingswereheldatAnchorageon27May1975andatFairbankson29May1975.Apublicbrochureoutliningthestudyprogress;alternativesdeveloped;andpreliminarydataonthedimensions,outputsandenvironmentaleffectsofthealternatives,wasdistributed.Theingresultedingeneralexpressionofthepreferabilityofhydropowertofossilfuelalternatives.EnvironmentalgroupsrepresentedincludedAlaskaConservationSociety,theSierraClub,andtheAlasfortheEnvironment.Commentsofthesegroupsincludedtheopinionthattheprojectwouldspurmoregrowth,butthatnuclearenergywasbelievednottobeanacceptableenergysourceatthistime.TheyfurrecommendedthealternativeofburningsolidwastestoproduceTheyweretroubledbythelocationoftransmissionlines,andstathatwemayhaveagreaterneedforhydroelectricpowerin50-75years.Theyquestionedhydroelectricpowerasbeingarenewableresource.Otherconcernsincludedlandstatusoftheaffectedareas,siltion~costsofpower,andtheneedforconsideringalternativesourcesofpower.Assurancesweregiventhatsucheffectsandmanyotherswereunderstudyandwouldbegivencarefulconsiderationindesignandconstructionofanyrecommendedproject.100 LatestagepublicmeetingswereheldatAnchorageon7October1975andatFairbankson8October1975topresentthestudyfindingsandtheDistrictEngineer'stentativeconclusionsandrecommendations.Anumberofenvironmentalgroupswererepresentedatoneorbothofthesemeetings.Theyincluded:theIsaacWaltonLeague,theMountaineeringClubofAlaska,theAlaskaConservationSociety,KnikKanoersandKayakers,andFairbanksEnvironmentalCenter.CommentsincludedtheneedforCorpsfundingforfishandWildlifestudiesanddataprocessingofenvironmentalinformation.Expressedconcernsincludedtheinundationofascenic,whitewaterriver,locationoftheprojectareatooclosetoaproposedTalkeetnaStatePark,toomuchhumanuseinthearea,impactsonmoosehabitatanddownstreamsalmonruns,differencesreflectedinthe1960and1975costestimates,thelowinterestrateusedincomputingprojectbenefits,whowouldoperatethedamsandsellthepower,reservoirsiltation,turbidity,fluctuationsinstreamflows,impactsonpermafrost,thepossibilityofearthquakes,theformationoffrazilice,thegeologyofthearea,benefitsclaimedforfloodcontrol.thelocationoftransmissioncorridorsandconstructionoftransmissionlines,landstatus,impactsuponpopulationgrowth,recreationaldevelopment,theproductionofsecondaryenergy,andothers.Mostofthesegroupsvoicedeitherstrongoppositiontotheprojectorreservedjudgmentpendingfurtherstudiesandspecificprojectrecommendations.Manyorganizations,groups,andindividualsexpressedsupportoftheselectedplan.Aninformalpollofpeopleattendingthelatestagepublicmeetingsindicatedaboutfivepersonsfavoringtoeachpersonopposingtheproject.WORKSHOPSWorkshopmeetingswerearrangedandheldwiththefollowinginterestedgroups:30April1974withenvironmentalorganizations29October1974withFederalandStateagencies13March1975withtheCookInletandAHTNAregionalnativecorporations.INFORMALMEETINGSInformalmeetingsatthefieldlevelwereheldthroughoutthestudywithparticipatingandinterestedFederalandStateagenciesontopicsincludingbutnotlimitedtotechnical,environmental,archaeo-logicalandhistorical,economic,andrecreationalaspectsofthestudy.101 CORRESPONDENCEAppendix2containsarepresentativedisplayofcorrespondencefromnon-Federalagencies,groups,andindividuals.IncludedspecificallyisaletterfromtheStateofAlaska,DivisionofParks,expressingwillingnesstoparticipateinthecooperativeplanninganddevelopmentrecreationfortheproject.TheconcurringcommentsoftheStateofAlaska,DepartmentofFishandGame,areincludedinreportoftheUnitedStates,FishandWildlifeServiceprojectreportwhichisreproducedinAppendiX2.Revised1Jun1976102 REVIEWBYOTHERFEDERALAGENCIESThestudyoftheUpperSusitnaRiverBasinprojecthasbeenreviewedbythefollowingFederalagencieshavingresponsibilitiesrelatedtowaterresourcedevelopment:U.S.FISHANDWILDLIFESERVICEInaccordancewiththeFishandWildlifeCoordinationAct,48Stat.401,asamended:16U.S.C.661et.seq.,andtheNationalEnvironmentalPolicyActof1969(P.L.90-190;83Stat.652-856),theU.S.FishandWildlifeServicehasreviewedtheprojectproposalandhaspreparedareportrecommending:.1.Theprojectbedesigned,constructed,andoperatedinsuchamannerastoprovidewaterreleasesoraflowregimebelowWatanaandDevilCanyonDamsofsuitabletemperatureandwaterquality,topreserveexistingdownstreamfishresources.Sufficientdetailedhydraulicandbiologicalinformationisnotavailableatthistimetodeterminetheaboverequirements.Shouldtheflowrequirementsandwaterqualityneededtopreservetheexistingdownstreamfishresourcesnotbeobtain-ableorthatthefishresourcesarelostasaresultoftheprojectconstructionoroperation,artificialpropagationfacilitieswillberequiredatprojectcost.Intheeventthatadequatenaturalrepro-ductionfailstooccurinthetributarystreamstothereservoirareas,astockingprogramwillberequiredatprojectexpense.Costsofappropriatestudies,design,construction,operation,andmaintenanceofthefacilitiesshouldbeauthorizedasaprojectcost.ThedesignandlocationoftheartificialpropagationfacilitiesshouldbedevelopedcooperativelywiththeFishandWildlifeService,AlaskaDepartmentofFishandGame,NationalMarineFisheriesService,andtheCorpsofEngineers.ThefacilitywouldbeoperatedbytheAlaskaDepartmentofFishandGame.2.IffluctuationsofdischargeflowsbelowWatanaandDevilCanyonDamscreateapublichazardoraredetrimentaltothemaintenanceofdownstreamfishresources!aregulatingdamandreservoirwillberequired.3.Providesafeandconvenientaccessforfishermentoprojectfacilitiesforrecreationalpurposes.4.ThereportoftheDistrictEngineerincludethepreservation,propagation,andmanagementoffishandwildliferesourcesamongthepurposesforwhichtheprojectwillDeauthorized.103 iredinaccordancewithJointArmy-icyforWaterResourceProjects.6.ofFederallandintheprojectareasreservetherightpublicaccessngandfishing.ectlaawatersattheDevilCanyonandWatanachrenotignatedforrecreation,safety,andefficienticatedtoseforfishandwildlifemanagement,inprovisionsofaGeneralPlanpreparedpursuanttoFishandWildl;CoordinationAct.TheselandsandavailabletotheAlaskaDepartmentofFishandstudiesoffishandwildliferesourcesconductedjointlyduringpre-andpost-U.S.FishandWildlifeService,Alaska,NationalMarineFisheriesService,andthestudiesshallbeallocatedasajointcostldlifeServiceandtheAlaskaDepartmentofonstheUpperSusitnaRiverBasinandtatforlossescausedbytheproposedshouldbecoveredbyaGeneralPlanon3oftheFishandWildlifeCoordinationntE:nalnce,andreplacementcostsshallbeauthorizedclearingplanandareservoirrecreationalzoningnecestoinsurethatcertainareas,or1ablefishing,hunting,andotherfishandtconflictinguses.TheseplansshallbeU.S.FishandWildlifeService,Alaska,CorpsofEngineers,andBureauofOutdoorleastpotentialadverseimpactonraptors,thedplacedalongthewestsideoftheParksght-of-ways,borrowareas,andrelatedplannedincooperationwiththeU.S.FishandasDepartmentofFishandGame,BureauofOutdoorCorpsofEngineers,soastominimizedamagetofishrecreationalresources.104 Theforegoingrecommendationshavebeencarefullyconsideredandarecommentedonbycorrespondingnumbersasfollows:1.ThisrecommendationisgenerallyinaccordwithCorpspolicyasitconcernsexistingfisresources.Specificmitigationmeasurescannotbeaddresseduntilpost-authorization,preconstructionstudieshaveaffirmedanddefitheneed,types~andextendofmeasuresmostappropriate.Stockingofreservoirsintheinterestofpromotinganewfisheryisconsideredafunctionofthefisherymanagementagenciesunlessitisdeterminedthatthisisamitigationmeasurewhichshouldbeaccomplishedatprojectcostasaconsequenceoffisherylossescausedbytheproject.ContinuedcoordinationwithallresponsibleagenciesisconsistentwithCorpspolicyandpractice.2.TheCorpsbelievesthatallmeansofpreventingapublichazardorconditionsdetrimentaltothemaintenanceofdownstreamfisheryresourcesshouldbeconsidered.reregulatingdamwouldbeoneoftheseconsiderations.3.Theplanofimprovementincludesrecreationasaprojectpurposeandprovidesfacilitiestopromotethatend.4.ProvisionsoftheFishandldlifeCoordinationActandexistinginter-agencyagreementswillbecloselyadheredtoconcerningdeterminationsrelevanttopreservation,propagation,andmanagementoffishandwildliferesources.5.Projectlandswillbeacquiredinaccordancewithallapplicablestatutesandpolicies.6.Thereisnoobjectiontorecommendation6totheextentitisconsistentwithrecommendation7.7.Recommendaon7isinaccordwithCorpspolicyandconsistentwithexistingCorpspractice.8.TheCorpsconcursintheneedforpre-impoundmentstudiesoffishandwildliferesources.Nofurtherfundingofproject-relatedstudiesislikelytobeprovidedbytheCongresspriortoauthorizationforpreconstructionplanni.DuringthepreconstructionplanningperiodttheCorpswillconsiderandrecommendfinancingofstudiesonthebasisofdetailedproposalssubmittedbyFishandWildlifeServiceatthattime.Suchstudiesshallbeallocatedasajointprojectcost.9.TheCorpsconcurswiththeintentofthisrecommendation,butfeelsthatstudiesofmitigationmeasuresshouldawaitsuchtimeasthebiologicalstudiescontainedinrecommendation8indicatetheneed,type,andextentofsuchmitigation.105 ngandzoningplansarestandardbemadetocoordinatesuchplanning~Q~~r'onwillbegiventoavoidanceofadversefactorsaffectingsitingoftherei:onlmendi3tionisinaccordwithCorpspolicyandpractice.esServiceconcursintherecommendationsicereportbyindorsementcontainedtherein.thatpredictingpossibleprojectsibleinasmuchasthenearfutureectareundergoingrapidchange.ithelakesbekeptinpublicinterestincooperativerecreationalremainundertheirjurisdiction.closeandcontinuoussinceinceptionstatutes,regulations,policy,and/Engineer,APAconductedstudiesandlityandtransmissionsystems,ofthelatter.TheDistrictysesandhasadoptedthemforinclusionCorpsofEngineersreport.APAhasneersreport,andgenerallyconcurswithit,ievethattheDenaliunitmay,inthesystem.APAfindstheproposedofpowermarketability.agenciesprovidedcommentsinresponse~AVlmon+~ImpactStatement.Thesecommentsrnlnr,,~naneedofmoredetailedstudiesrelatedimpactspriortoconstruction.ngagenciesarecontainedinAppendix2.106 sirabilityofprovidingpowertothebythedevelopmentofthehydro-River,PreviousstudiesbybothKllIRPM!I!ofReclamationhavetheconfluenceofthemajorityofthetotal~Ol~nv'+concentratesonthatbasin.ThisreportconsiSouthcentralRaitareaelectricpowertitheCorpsofEngineersandshownthattheUpperSusiSusitnaandChulitnaRiversriverpotential.Accordingly,theTheSouthcentralRailthelandsalongandconvenienttotheAlaskaRailinclithetwo1 tcitiesoftheState,Anchorageandirbanks;themajorpotentialagriculturalareasoftheState,theMatanuskaand11theKenaiPeninsula.Theeconomyoftheionis,trade,services,construction,transportation,neralon(especilyoilandgas),andmanufac-turing(mostlyseafoodprocessing)arethemainemployers.Awell-developedsystemofhighwayslinkspopulationcentersas,toalesserdegree,doestheAlasRairoad,BothAnchorageandFairbanksareservedbyinanalaircarriersarecentersfordistributaryinterstateairservice.three-fourthsofthepopulationof1973.Thepopulationisexpanding,mostlybynaturalincrease,buton,Thisrateisexpectedtocontinuepopulationincreaseandexpansionofdemandhasbeenatarateof14ae<:aaie.Thepresentdemand.2.03billion~nno~~of80tutility,19percenttri•isprojectedtogrowbutattheof6percentbytheyearectedtoincreaseto20percentbyutilitysharesareprojectedtoy.Totaldemandisannuallyin1990and15TheRailbeltcontainstheState245,000outattherateofwithaboutone-fifthformanyyearscome.economicactivities~percentannuallyforkilowatt-hoursannuallynationaldefensea 1asteadilydecreasing2000.Theindustrial2000,whilethenationadecreaseto3percentprojectedtobe7.6billionkilowatt-hoursIntheinterestofmulveplanning,otherneeds(waterresourcedevelopment)ofthetareawereexamined.Needsidentifiedwhichcouldreasonablybeinconjunctionwiththedirectedstudypowerobjectiveincludecontrol9recreation,conservation,andenhancementoffishldliresources,airquality,conservationofnonrenewableresources~andonalenergyindependence.Infurtheranceofthemultiective1s,studiesinconnectionwiththereporthavebeeninatedwithotherFederalandStateagenciesconcernedwithvariousphasesofwaterandrelatedlandresourcedevelopment.107 Abroadrangeofalternativemeansofaccomplishingtheprimarystudyobjectivewereexaminedfortechnical,economic,andenvironmentalfeasibility.Includedwerebothconventionalpowerproducingsystemsbasedoncoal,oil,gas,nuclearenergy,andhydroelectricenergy,andlessconventionalsystemsbasedonwind,tides,solarenergy,solidwastes,wood,andgeothermalenergy.Coalandhydroelectricenergywerefoundtobebothfeasible.Anin-depthevaluationofthesealternativeswasthenmadegivingequalconsiderationtoeconomicandenvironmentalaspectsoftheirperformance.Eachalternativewasfoundtohavesatisfactoryeconomicperformanceandeachwasfoundtohavearangeofunavoidableadverseeffectsontheenvironment,mainlyonfishandwildlife,andestheticvalues.Aplanofimprovementselectedasthemostfeasibleforwaterandrelatedlandresourcedevelopmentconsistsoftwodamswithreservoirs,powerplants,andoperatingfacilitieslocatedontheupperSusitnaRiverattheDevilCanyonandWatanadamsites,andofatransmissionsystemfromthedevelopmentsitestoAnchorageandFairbanks.Thisselectedplanisconsideredthemostfavorablewiththemaximumofnetbenefits,theleastunavoidableadverseenvironmentalimpacts,andthegreatestresponsetothemultiplestudyobjectives.108 STATEMENTOFFINDINGSTheDistrictEngneerreviewedandevaluated,inlightoftheoverallpublicit,documentsconcerningtheproposedaction,aswellasthestatedviewsofotherinterestedagenciesandthecon-cernedpublic.ThereviewandevaluationofalternativeshavebeeninaccordancewitharesolutionoftheCommitteeonPublicWorksoftheU.S.Senate,adoptedon18January1972,directingthatastudybemade"...withparticularreferencetotheSusitnaRiverhydroelectricpowerdevelopmentsystem,includingtheDevilCanyonProjectandanycompeti-tivealternativesthereto,fortheprovisionofpowertotheSouthcentralRailbeltAreaofAlaska.1IThepossibleconsequencesofalternativeshavebeenstudiedforenvironmental,sa1well-beingandeconomiceffects,andforengineeringfeasibility.Thealternativeswereassessedandevaluatedinlightofnationalobjectivesrelatedtoregionalandnationaleconomicdevelopment,andpreservationandenhancementofenvironmentalquality,inaccordancewiththeWaterResourcesCouncil'sPrinciplesandStandardsforwaterandrelatedlandresourcesanning.Inevaluationoftheselectedplanandotheralternatives,thefollowingpointswereconsideredpertinent:PLANSELECTIONCRITERIAAbasicpremiseutilizedintheassessmentandevaluationofalter-nativeelectricalgeneratingfacilitiesisthatgrowthinelectricalpowerdemandwillbeasprojectedbytheAlaskaPowerAdministration.Theirprojectedgrowthratesafter1980aresubstantiallybelowexistingtrendsandtheyalsoreflectanassumedsubstantialsavingsthroughincreasedefficiencyinuseenergyandimplementationofelectricalenergyconservationprograms;thus,theyarejudgedtobeconservative.Anotherassumptionistiredelectricalpowergenerationdevelop-mentfromwhateversourceorsourceswillproceedtosatisfythepro-jectedneeds.Alsoconsiintheweighingofalternativesisthataplanmustbetechnical1ibleatthepresenttimetobeconsideredforinitialdevelopment,consideringnumerousalternativesourcesofpower,thoseadjudgedtomostcompetitivetohydropowerwerecoalandgas,oroilthermalfacilities.Thechoiceoftheselectedplanisbasedontheidentificationandevaluationofsignifi-cantenvironmentalsocitandeconomiceffectsassociatedwiththeseandotheralternativesincudingthatofnoCorpsaction.Thesefactors,plusengineeringfeasii ,wereconsideredinarrivingattheselectedplaninpreferencetootheralternatives.AfinalconsiderationinthechoiceoftheselectedplanisPublicLaw93-577,passedbyCongresson109 31December1974,whichestablishesasnationalpolicytheconservationofnonrenewableresourcesthroughtheutilizationofrenewableresources,wherepossible.ENVIRONMENTALCONSIDERATIONSAllviablealternatives(thosehavingexistingtechnicalfeasibility,whichprovidealong-termsourceofpower,andwhichwouldprovideamountsofelectricalenergyapproximatelyequivalenttotheselectedplan)wouldhavesomeadverseimpactsonthetotalhumanenvironment.Althoughadverseimpactsrelatedtocoalwouldbeofadifferentnaturethanthosecausedbyhydropower,theywouldbesignificant,andinsomerespects,wouldbelessamenabletoameliorationormitigativeefforts.However,theselectionofahydropoweralternativedoesnotprecludethepossibility,orlikelihood,thatcoalwillbeminedandutilizedforexportationorasasupplementalsourceofpowerwithintheRailbeltareaitself.Gasoroilwouldhavelessoveralladverseenvironmentalimpactthancoalandhydropower.However,long-rangeoutlooksforavailabilityandcostsofoilandgas,andthepossibilitythathigherandbetterfutureusescanandprobablywillbemadeoftheseresources,makesthemeconomicallyandsociallylessdesirablethancoalorhydro-power.Theoilandgasalternativewasrejectedlargelyonthebasisofthenationaleffortstodevelopenergysourcesthatlimittheuseofoilandgasforpowergeneration.Significantimpactsdirectlyrelatedtotheselectedplanin~ludeinundationofsome50,550acresoflandand82milesofnaturalstream(including9milesofauniquell-milereachofwhitewaterrapids)andassociatedwildlifeandfisheryhabitat,creationofreservoirsperpendiculartocariboumigrationrouteswhichleadbetweencalvinggroundsandwinterranges,andchangesindown-streamflowregimeandwaterqualitycharacteristics.Theselectedplanisdeterminedtobeenvironmentallyacceptableinthatitprovides,fromalltheviablealternatives,themostfavorablebalanceinthetrade-offsbetweenresourcesirretrievablylostandlong-termbenefitsderived.SOCIALWELL-BEINGCONSIDERATIONSAmajorconsiderationwasthefulfillmentofprojectedenergyneedsofamoderatelygrowingpopulationintheSouthcentralRailbeltarea.Reliabilityandlong-termbenefitswereconsideredtobeessentialtoanyplanofdevelopment.Theseconditionsaremoreassuredwithcoalandhydropowerthantheyarewithgasandoil•.Withoutanintertie,acoalalternativewouldbelessreliable.Conservationofnonrenewableresourceswasalsoviewedasagrowingsocialconcern.Nootheralter-nativeconsideredwouldlikelyhavelessdirectimpactonexistingmanmaderesourcesordevelopmentsthantheselectedplan.Theremote,essentiallyuninhabitatedprojectsiteandthelackofdevelopedprivatepropertyprecludesthesocialdisruptionassociatedwithdisplacementofpeople'shomes,businesses,andinstitutions.Adversesocialeffectsresultingfromtheplanincludedrasticmodificationoftheexisting110 naturalvisualqualityofthearea,physicaldisturbanceofanessentiallywildernesssetting,changesintraditionalrecreationalusageoftheprojectareaandsurroundinglands,andinfluxoftemporaryconstructionworkersonsmallcommunitiesneartheconstructionsites.ECONOMICCONSIDERATIONSFromaneconomicstandpoint,theselectedplanisestimatedtoprovidethegreatestnetadditiontonationaleconomicdevelopmentofallalternativesstudied.Additionally,theregionaleconomywillbebenefitedthroughtheemploymentofasignificantnumberofo~herwiseunemployedindividuals.ENGINEERINGCONSIDERATIONSAllmajoralternativesconsideredaretechnicallyfeasible,involvingonlyexistingtechnology,methods~andequipmenttoconstructandoperate.Ofthehydroelectricalternatives,theselectedplanutilizesthetwodamsiteswiththemostfavorablefoundationconditions.Bothdamsarelarge,theWatanastructureexceedingtheheightofthehighestpresentearthfillstructureintheWesternHemisphere.Majorconsiderationsinthedesignofthestructuresincludethepossibleeffectsofhighintensityearthquakesbecausetheprojectsiteisinazoneofhighseismicactivity,outletworkstoallowrapidandsafedrainingoftheimpoundmentsif,inspiteofalldesignefforts,oneorbothofthestructuresisseverelydamagedtothepointofimminentfailure,andmultiple-levelintakeworksprovidingforselectivewithdrawalofwaterstoallowcontrolofdownstreamwaterqualityintheinterestofconservingorenhancingdownstreamfisheryvalues.OTHERPUBLICINTERESTCONSIDERATIONSClosecoordinationhasbeenmaintainedwithotheragencies,groups,andthegeneralpublicthroughoutthestudyperiod.Resultsofaseriesofpublicmeetingsindicategeneralpublicsupportfortheselectedplan.However,vocaloppositioninresponsetopublicreviewoftheDraftEnvironmentalImpactStatementhasbeenexpressedbysomeenvironmentalgroupsandindividuals.NotableamongthesearetheSierraClub,theUpperCookInletandCollegeChaptersoftheAlaskaConservationSociety,KnikKanoersandKayakers,Inc.,andindividualwhitewaterboatingenthusiasts.SeveralFederalagencies,particularlytheBureauofLandManagement,theU.S.GeologicalSurvey,andtheU.S.FishandWildlifeServicehaveexpressedviewsconcerningtheneedfordetailedenvironmentalandgeologicalstudiespriortofinaldetermi-nationsregardingprojectconstruction.TheactionproposedgasdevelopedinthisreportgandinaccordancewiththePrinciplesandStandardsestablishedbytheWaterResourceCouncilgisbasedonathoroughanalysisandevaluationofvariouspracticablealternativeswhichwouldachievethestatedobjectives.111 Whereveradverseeffectsarefoundtobeinvolvedwhichcannotbeavoidedbyfollowingreasonablealternativecoursesofactiontoachievethecongressionallyspecifiedpurpose,theycaneitherbeamelioratedoraresubstantiallyoutweighedbyotherconsiderationsofnationalpolicy.Therecommendedactionisconsonantwithnationalpolicy,statutes,andadministrativedirectives.Itisconcludedthat,onbalance,thetotalpUblicinterestshouldbestbeservedbyimplementationoftherecom-mendationsofthisreport.112 DISCUSSIONLOADGROWTHPROJECTIONSLoadgrowthprojectionsasprovidedbyAlaskaPowerAdministrationfortheperiod1974throughtheyear2000coveredarangeofpowerrequirements,high,mid-rangeandlow.Feasibilityreportutilizedthemid-rangeprojectionwhichhasbeenendorsedbybothAlaskaPowerAdministrationandFederalPowerCommission.SubstantialamountsofnewgeneratingcapacitywillbeneededtomeetfuturepowerrequirementsoftheSouthcentralRailbeltarea.RecentstudiesoftheSouthcentralandYukonregion(whichincludestheSouthcentralRailbeltasitsmaincomponent),asdefinedinthe1974AlaskaPowerSurveyReportoftheExecutiveAdvisoryCommittee,indicatethatrapidratesofincreaseinpowerrequirementswillcontinueatleastforthebalanceofthe1970's,reflectingeconomicactivityassociatedwithNorthSlopeoildevelop-mentandexpansionofcommercialandpublicservices.Estimatesbeyond1980reflectarangeofassumptionsastotheextentoffutureresourcesuseandindustrialandpopulationgrowth.Allindicationsarethatacceleratedgrowthwillcontinuethroughtheyear2000,witheconomicactivitygeneratedbyNorthSlopeoilandnaturalgasdevelopmentbeingamajorfactor-butonlyoneofseveralimportantfactors.ItisgenerallyconsideredthattheSouthcentral-YukonregionalpopulationwillcontinuetogrowatafasterratethanthenationalandStateaverages,thatfutureadditionalenergysystemsandotherpotentialmineraldevelopmentswillhaveamajoreffect,andthattherewillbenotableexpansionintransportationsystems.SignificanteconomicadvancesforallofAlaskaandespeciallyfortheAlaskanativepeopleshouldbeanticipatedasaresultoftheAlaskaNativeClaimsSettle-mentAct.Otherinfluencingfactorscouldbecited,butthegeneraloutlookisforfurtherrapidexpansionofenergyandpowerrequirementsintheSouthcentral-Yukonarea.ArangeofestimatesforfuturepowerrequirementsoftheSouthcentralandYukonregionsi~presentedinthe1974ReportoftheAlaskaPowerSurveyTechnicalAdvisoryCommitteeonEconomicAnalysisandLoadProjections.Therangeofestimatesattemptstobalanceamyriadofcontrollingfactorsincludingcosts,conservationtechnologies,availableenergysourcesandtypesofAlaskandevelopment.Thehighergrowthrangeanticipatessignificantnewenergyandmineraldevelopmentsfromamongthosethatappearmorepromising.ThelowergrowthrangegenerallyassumesanunqualifiedslackeningofthepaceofdevelopmentfollowingcompletionoftheAlyeskapipelineandisnotconsideredrealistic.Themid-rangegrowthrateappearstobeareasonableestimatewhichweadoptasmostrepresentativebasedon.recentmanifestationsandassessmentoffutureconditions.Itshouldbenotedthatthereareseveralresponsibleadvisorycommitteememberswhofeelthatrecentaccelerationofmineralrawmaterialshortagesofallkindsindicatesapossibilitythateventhehighrangeestimatescouldbeexceeded.113R - 1Jun76 ALTERNATIVEENERGYSOURCESAlternativeenergysourcesforelectricpowergenerationincludefossilfuels,oil,naturalgasandcoalandnuclearpower.Alaskahaslargeknownandpotentialreservesoffossilfuels.Alaskapowersysternsnowdependonoilandgasforabout60percentoftotalenergyproduction.ThepredominantenergysourceforAnchorageispresentlynaturalgasandforFairbanksservicearea,coalandoil.TheFederalPowerCommissionhasprovidedat-marketpowervaluesfortheAnchorageandFairbanksmarketareasat1975pricelevels.Theat-marketpowervaluesfortheFairbanksareaarebasedonestimatedcostsofpowerfromanalternativecoal-firedgeneratingplantwith150MWtotalcapacityconsistingoftwo75MWunits;heatrate,12,000btu/kwh;capitalcost,$640perkilowatt;servicelife,35years;andcoalcostof60¢permillionbtu.FortheAnchoragearea,theat-marketpowervaluesarebasedonestimatedcostsofpowerfromtwoalternativesources,coalfiredandcombinedcycle.Thecombinedcyclepowervaluesarebasedonaplantwith450MWtotalcapacityandnaturalgasoperatingcostof70¢permillionbtu.Thecoalfiredpowervaluesarebasedonaplantwith450MWtotalcapacityandcoalcostof50¢permillionbtu.Duetotheuncertaintyofthefutureavailabilityofnaturalgasafter1985fornewgeneratingcapacity,theunforeseenpossibilityofitsrestrictiveuseifavailable,anditssensitivitytoworldwideeconomicpressures,coalisconsideredtobethemostlikelyalternativefuelforthermal-electricplantstobeconstructedintheAnchorageserviceareaafter1985.Thepresentdaypriceof70¢permillionbtupaidfornaturalgasusedbytheAnchorageutilitiesisnotarealisticbasisforselectingthemostlikelysourceoffuelforfuturethermalelectricalgenerationafter1985.Thecurrentpricedoesnotreflecttrueeconomicvaluebecauseoftheexistenceofregulatedmarkets.Also,thesourceofgaspresentlysupplyingAnchorageneedswill,becauseoflimitedreserves,increasinglocalneeds,andnationalandinternationalcompetitionforsupplies,notbeavailableinthepost1986timeframe.IfgasistocontinuetobeutilizedforpowergenerationintheAnchoragearea,PrudhoeBayorequallycostlysourceswillhavetobetapped.ThevalueofNorthSlopegasinAnchorageunderreasonableassumptionsregardingtransportationsystemsisapproximately$1.46permillionbtu.Thisvalueofgaswouldresultinacomparablecostforthecombinedcycleandcoal-firedalternatives.TheextensivecoaldepositsnearCookInletareattractivefuturealternativesourcesofenergyforthisregionandcouldleadtooptionstoconvertfromoilandnaturalgastocoalasthemajorpowersourceR-1Jun76114 duringthe1980's.CoalreservesintheBelugaRiverareanorthandwestofAnchoragecontainanestimated2.3billiontons,ortheequivalentofalmost6billionbarrelsofoil.CoalresourcesintheNenanafieldsouthofFairbanksnearHealycontainanestimated7billiontons.Insummary,coalistheleastcostlyalternativetohydroelectricpowerintheFairbanksareaandinthemid-1980timeframe,naturalgasandcoalintheAnchorageareaarecomparableasthemosteconomicalalternative.Recognizingtheuncertaintyofthefutureavailabilityofnaturalgasandoilafter1985fornewgeneratingcapacity,thepossi-bilityofitsrestrictiveuseifavailableanditssensitivitytoworld-widedemandandeconomicpressures,coalisconsideredthemostlikelyalternativefuelforthermal-electricplantstobeconstructedinthemid-1980'sandbeyondfortheAnchoragearea.FORMULATIONAnumberofalternativeplanswerestudiedintheprocessofdevelopingthemostfeasibleprojectfordevelopingthehydroelectricpotentialoftheupperSusitnaRiverBasin.Themostfavorableofalltheplansinvestigatedisacombinationoftwodams,DevilCanyon,locatedatrivermile134withnormalpoolelevationof1450,andWatana,locatedatrivermile165,31milesupstreamoftheDevilCanyonsite,withanormalpoolelevationof2200.Theselectedtwo-damsystemwouldprovide6.1billionkilowatt-hoursoffirmelectricalpowerannuallyfromadependablecapacityof1394megawatts,ornearly96percentofthebasinpotential.Thetwodamswereanalyzedseparatelyandtogetherasacoordinatedsystemformaximumdevelopmentofthehydroelectricpotentialofthebasin.Asasingleunit,Watanacoulddevelop3.1billionkilowatt-hoursoffirmpowerannuallyandDevilCanyon,asanindependentunit,0.9billionkilowatt-hoursoffirmannualenergy.Asasystem,thetwodamswouldprovide6.1billionkilowatt-hoursoffirmpowerannuallybecauseofthevalueofWatanastorageinprovidingflowreleasestoincreaseDevilCanyonpowerproduction.Ananalysiswasalsomadetoidentifythebestsequenceofconstruction.ItwasfoundthatWatana,firstadded,thatisWatanaconstructedfirstwithpoweronlinedateof1986andDevilCanyonlastaddedwithpoweronlinedateof1990,wasthebestsequence.Benefit-to-costratioforWatana,firstadded,is1.28whileDevilCanyon,firstadded,resultsinabenefit-to-costratioof0.80.Thecombinationofthetwodams,witheitherWatanaorDevilCanyonconstructedfirst,wouldnotmateriallychangethebenefit-to-costratioof1.3forthetotalproject.Themultiple-purposeprojects,whileprovidingfortheprojectedpowerneedsfortheRai1be1tArea,wouldalsoprovideflooddamage115R - 1Jun76 reductiondownstreamofDevilCanyonandforrecreationalopportunitiesassociatedwiththetworeservoirs.Constructionoftheprojectwouldalsoprovideemploymentopportunitiesforbetterutilizationofunder-utilizedandunemployedlabor.TheselectedcombinationofWatana-DevilCanyonprovidesthemostefficientnationaleconomicdevelopment(NED)planwithamaximumofnetbenefitsexceeding$33.8millionannually.Theselectedplanalsomakesapositivecontributiontowardtheenvironmentalquality(EQ)ofthestudyarea.DevelopmentofthehydroelectricpotentialoftheSusitnaRiverBasinwouldconserveover5.8milliontonsofcoalannuallyor15millionbarrelsofoilannually.Positivecontributionstoimprove-mentsinairandwaterqualitywouldresultfromreductionincoal-firedplantsandreductionintheminingofcoal.AtransmissionintertiebetweenthemajorloadcentersofAnchorageandFairbankswouldprovideanincreasedreliabilityandwouldallowtransferofenergybetweentheloadcenterswithgreaterflexibilityofoperation.Thetransmissionsystemwouldconsistoftwosinglecircuit345KVlinesadistanceof136milestoAnchorageandtwosinglecircuit230KVlinesadistanceof198milestoFairbanks.Valueofthetrans-missionintertiehasbeenestimatedandincludedintheeconomicfeasi-bilityanalysisfortheproject.TheWatanaandDevilCanyondamsitesarelocatedsome50milesfromexistingroadsandtheonlyaccesspresentlyisbyhelicopter.Earlyconstructionofanaccessroadwouldfacilitatepreconstructionplanningactivitiesformappingandfoundationexplorations,withareductionintotalprojectcostsascomparedtoaccessbyhelicopter.Inschedulingtheconstructionactivitiestomeettheexpeditedpower-on-linedateof1986,itwasalsofoundthatearlyconstructionoftheaccessroadwasessentialtomobilizethemen,equipmentandsuppliesnecessaryforconstructionofaprojectofthismagnitUde.Forthesereasons,theaccessroadshouldbeconstructedduringtheinitialphaseofpreconstructionplanningratherthanincuradelayofatleastoneyearinmeetinginitialpower-on-linedateof1986.Inadditiontothesavingsthatwouldbeincurredinmobilizingmenandequipmentduringtheearlyphasesoftheoperation,earlyconstructionoftheaccessroadwouldprovideanadditionalyearofpowerrevenueestimatedatapproxi-mately$115million.Constructionoftheaccessroadatanestimatedcostof$22.3millioniswelljustified.R-1Jun76116 FEASIBILITYOFADDITIONALUNITSStudieshaveindicatedtheneedandfeasibilityofprovidinghydro-powerfromtheSusitnaRiverprojectstomeettherailbeltarea'sfutureloadgrowthfromaprojectedpower-on-linedateof1986through1996whentheprojectsfullpowercapabilitywouldbeutilized.After1996,thesystemwouldrequireadditionalgeneratingcapacity;hydropower,fossilfuel,ornuclearthermalgeneration.Paststudiesbyanumberofagencieshaveindicatedsubstantialhydropowerpotentialavailablefordevelopmenttomeetloadrequirementswellbeyondtheyear2000.TheStateofAlaskahasahydropowerpoten-tialofover27millionkilowatts.Generally,astheavailabilityoffossilfuelsbecomesincreasinglyscarceandmorevaluableovertime,thealternativerenewablehydropowerresourcewillcontinuetoprovidetheroosteconomicalmeansformeetingtherailbeltarea'spowerneedsbeyondtheyear2000.ThefeasibilityofaddingunitsatWatanaandDevilCanyonforsystempeakingrequirementsinconjunctionwiththermalbaseenergywasanalyzed,intheeventmoreexpensivethermalbaseenergywasaddedtothesysteminthepost2000period.Forthisanalysisitwasassumedthatthebaseloadthermalplantswouldoperateat50percentplantfactorthefirstyearand65percentthereafter;also,thepre-Susitnathermalgenerationfacilitieswouldberetiredaftertheir30yeareconomiclife,withthelastunitsretiringinyear2015.Aload~.resourceanalysisdeterminedthattheadditionalunitswouldbeneededasfollows:WatanaWatana#5DevilCanyon#5DevilCanyon#62003200520082010Costswereestimatedforconstructionofskeletonbaysduringinitialpowerhouseconstruction,includingpenstocksandtailraceexcavation.IncrementalcostsatWatanafortwoskeletonbaysareestimatedat$67,560,000(1984-85)and$45millionperunitinyears2002and2004,foratotalof$157,560,000.IncrementalcostsatDevilCanyonfortwoskeletonbaysareestimatedat$32,240,000(1990-91)and$40millionperunitinyears2007and2009,foratotalof$112,240,000.Totalcostsforthefouraddedunitsareestimatedat$270million.ThesecostsdonotincludeareregulatingdamdownstreamofDevilCanyonwithanestimatedcostinexcessof$100million.ThereregulatingdamwouldprobablyberequiredifadditionalunitswereaddedatDevilCanyon.117R - 1Jun76 Estimatedaverageannualcostsandbenefitsareasfollows:($1000)Annua1costsAnnualbenefitsBCRComparabilityratioWatana695074701.070.98DevilCanyon375041101.101.0Ascanbeseen,evenunderthemostoptimisticofassumptions,addedunitsatWatanacannotpassthecomparabilitytest;unitsatDevilCanyonaremarginal;however,withtheaddedcostsofareregulatingdam,addedunitsatDevilCanyonwouldalsonotbejustified.ENVIRONMENTALCONSIDERATIONSTheSusitnaRiver,withanoveralldrainageareaofabout19,400squaremiles,isthelargeststreamdischargingintoCookInletandisanimportantaccessroutetoupperriverandtributaryspawningandrear-ingareasforthefivespeciesofPacificSalmonfoundasadultsintheinlet.PortageCreek,threemilesbelowtheDevilCanyondamsite,istheuppermosttributaryontheSusitnaRiverwheresignificantnumbersofspawningsalmonhavebeennoted.InvestigationsconductedbytheFishandWildlifeServiceintermittentlyfrom1952to1975failedtorevealthepresenceofadultorjuvenilesalmonintheSusitnaRiverabovetheproposedDevilCanyondamsite.NoactualwaterfallsorphysicalbarriershavebeenobservedinorabovetheDevilCanyonareawhichwouldprecludesalmonfromutilizingtheSusitnaRiverdrainageareaabovethedamsite.ThemostlogicalreasonfortheabsenceofsalmonisthepresenceofahydraulicblockresultingfromhighwatervelocitiesforseveralrivermileswithinDevilCanyon.Twenty-sevenspringfedsloughareasadjacenttothemainstreamSusitnaRiverbetweentheDevilCanyondamsiteanddownstreamtotheconfluencewiththeChulitnaandTalkeetnaRivers,adistanceofapproxi-mately60miles,haverecentlybeenidentifiedasbeingimportantforfishrearing.Adultspawningsalmonhavebeenrecordedin9ofthe27sloughs.Rearingsalmonfryhavebeenobservedin17ofthesloughs.Additionalsloughareasareprobablypresentinthesamereachorfurtherdownstream.However,thosesloughareasdownstreamofDevilCanyonwouldnotbeappreciablyinfluencedbyflowreleaseswithnormaldailyfluctuationoflessthanonefootorunderrare,extremeconditionsofuptothreefeetatGoldCreek,15milesbelowDevilCanyon.Inaddition,anychangeinturbidityasaresultoftheprojectwouldnotbeevidentbelowtheconfluenceoftheChulitnaandTalkeetnaRivers.R-1Jun76118 Regulatedflowvs.naturalflowdatashouldbeobtainedintheimportantsloughareastodeterminewhetherremedialmeasureswouldbenecessarytopreventdewateringofthesloughsduringspawningandincubationtimes.Reductioninflowsandturbidityinthesummermonthsmayhaveaminorimpactonadultfishorientation.However,theseimpactsshouldbenegligibleafterthefirstfiveyearsafterconstructionasjuvenilesthathavebeenexposedthechangedflowandturbidityregimenwouldbereturningasadults.Reducedturbiditiesinthesummermonthscouldbebeneficialforfishproductionandforsportfishery.Increasedturbiditiesareforecastedtooccurduringthewintermonths;however,theamountexpectedtooccurwouldbebelowalevelthatwouldadverselyimpactfish.Selectivewithdrawalstructureswillbeincorporatedintheproposedprojecttopermitthereleaseofwaterthathasbeenmixedtoapproachnaturaltemperatureconditions.DissolvedgassupersaturationthatmightoccurwhenspillingwouldbesubstantiallyreducedintheturbulentriversectionthatwouldbepresentjustdownstreamoftheDevilCanyonDam.Upstreamfromthedams,themajorimpactontheresi-dentfishpopulationswouldbecausedbythereservoirimpoundments.Undertheproposedplan.DevilCanyonReservoirwouldfluctuateverylittle.Eventhoughthesteep-walledcanyonofthisreservoirmightprovelessthandesirableforaprogramtodeveloparesidentfishpopu-lation.somespeciesoffishmightbeabletoadapttothisreservoirandprovidesomefuturesportfishingbenefits.WatanaDamwouldhaveawiderangeofdrawdowninthereservoirwhichalthoughnotimpactingthefisheryresourcewouldmakeaccessmoredifficult.resultinginlowerfishingpressure.Suspendedglacialsedi-mentcouldbeafactorinbothofthereservoirsaftertheheavierglacialsedimentshavesettledout;however,manynaturallakesinAlaskasuchasTustumenaandTazlina,withheavyinflowsofglacialdebrissustainfishpopulationsundersimilarconditions,sotodeveloppopulationsoffishunderrelatedconditionsshouldprovefeasible.Mostresidentfishpopulations~especiallygrayling,utilizesomeoftheclearwatertributariesoftheSusitnaRiverorareasnearthemouthsofthesestreamsastheyentheglaciallyturbidmainriverchannelduringperiodsofhighrunoff.Manyofthesetributarieswouldbeflood-edintheirlowerreachesbytheproposedreservoirimpoundments.Theresidentfishpopulationswouldbeaffectedbytheincreasedwaterlevelsintheproposedreservoirs;butinsomeareas,accesstotributariesforresidentfishmaybeimprovedbyincreasedwaterelevations.ImpactsonwildliwouldoccurprimarilyintheWatanaReservoirportionoftheSusitnaRiver.TheareadownstreamoftheWatanaDamisanarrowsteep-walledcanyonwithfewareasofbiggamehabitatandisnotcrossedbyanymajormigrationrouteforbiggame.TheuppersectionoftheWatanaReservoirwouldlieacrossonetheNetchinacaribou119R - 1Jun76 useasanintermittentseasonalmigrationroutebetweentheirmaincalvingareaandtheirsummerrange.Thereservoircouldconceivablyalterhistoricalherdmovementanddistributionandpriortoicebreak-upmortalitiescouldoccurbecauseofice-shelving.MoosehabitatwouldbelostupstreamofWatanaDam.Dataonthenumberofacresofgoodhabitatimpactedandthenumberofanimalsusingtheareasarepreliminary.Additionaldataareneededonboththemooseandcaribouherdsbeforeadeterminationcanbemadefortheneedforcompensationmeasures.Transmissioncorridorsrequiredtodistributetheelectricpowerthatwouldbegeneratedbytheproposedprojectwouldtotalabout364miles.Thecorri"dortoFairbanksisidentifiedastheNenanaCorridorandtheonetoAnchoragetheSusitnaCorridor.Thesecorridorswouldrequireapproximately8,200acres,ofwhich6,100acreswouldhavetobecleared.Aquaticimpactswouldoccurprimarilyduringtheclearingforandtheconstructionoftheactualtransmissionfacilitiesandwouldbeofatemporarynature.Someerosion,causingturbidconditioninstreamscrossedbythecorridors,couldoccuronclearedlandafterconstruction,butisexpectedtobeminor.Impactsoncaribouwouldbelimitedtothe136milesegmentoftheNenanaCorridornorthofCantwellsincethereisnosignificantcaribouuseofareastothesouth.Althoughphysicaldestructionofcaribouhabitatwillnotbeasignificantimpact,in-directconsequencessuchasman-causedfires,noisegeneratedbytrans-missionlinesandincreasedhumanaccesscouldbesignificant.Moosearefoundthroughoutthelengthofthetransmissionlinecorridor.Thegreatestimpacttotheseanimalswouldbetheincreasedhuntingaccessprovidedbyroadsandtheopennessofthecorridoritself.Habitatwouldoverallbeimproved.Subclimaxgrowthwithinthetransmissionlinecorridorwouldincreasemoosebrowse.Atransmissionline,perse,willnothavemanylastingimpactsuponwildlife;most::>ftheimpactswillbearesultofconstructionandmaintenance.R - 1Jun76120 CONCLUSIONSOnthebasisofdataandstudiespresentedinthisreport,itisconcludedthat:a.PowerneedsintheRailbeltAreaofAlaskaareestimatedtomorethandoubleby1985fromthepresent2billionkilowatt-hoursto5.5billionkilowatt-hoursand15billionkilowatt-hoursbytheyear2000.Thesevaluesrepresentthemid-rangegrowthprojectionsofthethreerangesofprojectionspreparedbyAlaskaPowerAdministration,theFederalmarketingagentforelectricalenergyinAlaska.b.Theformulatedplanwouldmeettheneedforincreasedsuppliesofelectricalenergywhileconservingnon-renewablefossilfuels,oil,naturalgasandcoal.Coalistheleastcostlyalternativetohydro-electricpowerintheFairbanksareaandinthemid-1980timeframe,naturalgasandcoalarecomparableasthemosteconomicalalternativeintheAnchoragearea.izingtheuncertaintyofthefutureavaila-bilityofnaturalgasoiafter1985fornewgeneratingcapacity,thepossibilityofitsre~ctiveuseifavailableanditssensitivitytoworld-widedemandandeconomicpressures,coalisthemostlikelyalternativefuelforthermal-electricplantstobeconstructedduringtheprojectlifefortheAnchoragearea.c.Ofthealternativeplansanalyzed,thebestplanisacombina-tionoftwodams,DevilCanyon,locatedatrivermile134withnormalpoolelevationof1450,andWatana,locatedatrivermile165withanormalpoolelevationof2200.d.ThebestsequenceofconstructionwouldbeWatanafirstaddedwithDevilCanyonsecond.Thetwodamsactingtogetherwouldprovide6.1billionkilowatt-hoursoffirmpowerannually.Watanareservoir's6.5millionacre-feetofusablestorageprovidestherequiredflowreleasesfordependablepowerproductionatWatanaandDevilCanyon.e.Undernormalloadrequirements, theWatanaprojectwouldbeoperatedtomeetpeakingrequirementswithDevilCanyonoperatingatamoreuniformrateinthebaseload.WatanaandDevilCanyonreservoirswouldfluctuateonlyslightlyinresponsetodailyloadrequirementsanddailyfluctuationsinriverstagedownstreamofDevilCanyonwouldbelessthanonefoot.Underextremelyrareadverseloadconditions,downstreamriverfluctuationscouldbeasmuchasthreefeetatGoldCreek,15milesbelowDevilCanyon.BecauseDevilCanyonwouldbeoperatingessentiallyasareregulatingdamtocontroltherateofdownstreamflowreleases,areregulatingstructuredownstreamofDevilCanyonisnotrequired.121R - 1Jun76 f.ThefutureadditionofunitsatWatanaandDevilCanyon,basedon1975pricelevelsandprojectedpowerdemandbeyondtheyear2000,isnoteconomicallyfeasibleatthistime.However,duringpreconstructionplanningfortheproject,thefeasibilityofaddingunitswouldbereanalyzed.g.ReservoirstorageontheSusitnaRiverwillpermitmultipleuseofthewaterresourcethroughhydropowergeneration,floodcontrolandrecreation.Totalannualbenefitsexceedtotalannualcostsby$33.8million.Thebenefit-to-costratiois1.3andthecomparabilityratioforpoweris1.2.Costsallocatedtopowerwouldberepaidovera50-yearperiodfrompowerrevenuesatanaveragecostof21millsperkilowatt-hour.h.PositivecontributionstowardtheenvironmentalqualityofthestudyareawouldresultfromdevelopmentoftheUpperSusitnaRiverBasin.Hydroelectricgenerationwouldconserveover5.8milliontonsofcoalannuallyor15millionbarrelsofoilannually.Improvementsinairandwaterqualitywouldresultfromreductionincoal-firedplantsandreductionintheminingofcoal.i.Wehavenotbeenabletoidentifyanyneedformitigationmeasuresatthistime.However,moredetailedstudies,includingpre-impoundmentstudiesofthereservoirareasandstudiesoffisheryhabitatbelowDevilCanyon,areplannedduringpre-andpost-constructionperiods.Anymitigationmeasurefoundnecessaryandeconomicallyjustifiedwillbeprovidedforatthattime.j.Earlyconstructionofaccessroadtotheprojectswouldfacilitatepreconstructionplanningactivitiesandexpediteconstructionandinitialpoweronline.k.ConstructionofthetwodamsandtransmissionsystemwouldbetheresponsibilityoftheCorpsofEngineersandtheoperationandmaintenanceoftheprojectsandtransmissionsystemwouldbetherespon-sibilityofthemarketingagency.One-halfoftheseparableinvestmentcostallocatedtoreservoirrecreationwouldbereimbursableandallcostsofoperation,maintenanceandreplacementoflandsandfacilitiesforrecreationwouldbepaidbynon-Federalinterests,allinaccordancewiththeFederalWaterProjectRecreationAct,PublicLaw89-72.AllcoststopowerwouldberepaidtotheFederalTreasuryfrompowerrevenues.R-1Jun76122 RECorJ1MENDATIONSTheDistrictEngineerrecommends:a.ConstructionbytheCorpsofEngineersoftheSusitnaRiverProjectconsistingofacombinationoftwodamsandreservoirsdesig-natedastheWatanaandDevilCanyonontheupperSusitnaRiver,Alaska,andoftransmissionfacilitiesandgridsystemforsouthcentralandinteriorAlaska,forhydroelectricpower,floodcontrol,andrecreationinaccordancewiththeselectedplandescribedinthisreport,andwithsuchmodificationsasinthediscretionoftheChiefofEngineersmaybeadvisable,allataFederalcostpresentlyestimatedat$1,520,000,000,exclusiveofthecostofpreauthorizationstudies.b.Thatoperationandmaintenanceoftheprojectsandappurtenanttransmissionfacilitiesbetheresponsibilityofthemarketingagency,suchcostspresentlyestimatedat$2,400,000annually,includingthecostassociatedwithmajorreplacements.Providedthat,priortostartofconstructionofrecreationalfacilities,responsiblenon-Federalentitiesprovideassurancesaccept-abletotheSecretaryoftheArmy,theywill,inaccordancewiththeFederalWaterProjectRecreationAct,PublicLaw89-72:a.Administerlandandwaterareasforrecreation.b.Pay,contributeinkind,orrepay(whichmaybethroughwateruserfees)withinterest,one-halfoftheseparablecostoftheprojectallocatedtorecreation,presentlyestimatedtobe$572,300.c.Bearallcostsofoperation,maintenance,andreplacementoflandsandfacilitiesforrecreation,presentlyestimatedtobe$100,000annually.Itisfurtherrecommendedthatauthorityforconstructionofnecessaryaccessroadstotheprojectsbeprovidedforintheauthori-zationforadvancedengineeringanddesign.Suchroads,estimatedtocost$22,300,000,willprovidenecessaryaccessfordetailedprecon-structionsiteinvestigationsandfacilitatetimelyconstructionoftheprojects.123R - 1Jun76 Allcoststopower,presentlyestimatedat$1,516,000,000forconstruction,and$2,397,000annuallyforoperation,maintenance,andmajorreplacements,aretoberepaidtotheFederalTreasuryfrompowerrevenues.R - 1Jun76124 NPDPL-P;:SUBJECT:(12Dec75)1stIndInterimFeasibilityReport,UpperSusitnaRiverBasin,AlaskaDA,NorthPacificDivision,CorpsofEngineers,210CustomHouse,Portland,Oregon9720931December1975TO:ChiefofEngineersIconcurintheconclusionsandrecommendationsoftheDistrictEngineer.125R - 1Jun76 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII RESERVOIRACCESSROAD===TRANSMISSIONROUTELEGEND.._---_..-'"..;",~..,~ANCHORAGE,ALASKADECEMBER1975LOCATIONMAPALASKADISTRICT,_CORPSOFENGINEERSSOUTHCENTRALRAILBELTAREA,ALASKAINTERIMREPORTNO.IUPPERSUSITNARIVERBASINRECOMMENDEDIMPROVEMENTWotanoAccessRoad(Proposed)-<'2200WATAN4Distancesref.,.10miluabOYemouth.Elevationsref.rtomeanHO1.....1.UPPERSUSITNARIVERPROFILERIVERMILES120-290SCALEr-~"""-""'IiOO~-~~~~~~!"",~~1o5101520Miles1450OEVILCANYONRECOMMENDEDADAMANDRESERVOIRATDEVILCANYONDAMSITE.ITALKEETNA)FILENO.2-S0U-92~04-01PLATEI 2THEREARENOKNOWNEXISTINGIMPROVEMENTSONTHISPLATE.PLATE22846-76IANCHORAGE.ALASKADECEMBER1978FULLPOOLEL2200WATANADAMDETAILPLANo()ALASKADISTRICT,CONi'SOFENGINU~SUPPERSUSITNARIVERBASINSOUTHCENTRALRAIL8ELTAREA,ALASKAINTERIMREPORTNOIFILENO.2-S0U-t2-04-01C:::)REMOVALOFOVERBUROENEO6OUNOARYSCALEINFEETPOWERPLANTACCESSROAD5000500•III~Iv(~/(((\,./5O~60POO10,00010.00020,00030,00020.00040,00060.00080,000100,000120.000140,000160.000QINCFSo20I90J~80i10$~80l~isQ0;.0idtit<t,~.<.~.O~;',".p7~WATANADIVERSION.-i'WORKSIfRATINGCURVSI0LINEDTUHti£LS~"n·"o.OI4,300UAX.'OOLIEL.HOCIPOWEll2,200~;3rttGHLEVELOUTLET-,~~Ifl.---T2~OOIIPOoI1T"~'"EM"LEVELoJt~~...HIGHPO\IIElIPOOL,,900fi~'//WATANAPROJECTDISCHARGECAPABILITY,800DURINGEMERGENCYIIMIN,REQ,ELEV.ELI780DRAWDOWN,IT/EMERjNCYORAjDO¥r'NALLGrES7LLOlENI-UJUJlI.~o«UJ:r:0::o:r:I-:lOa.~I.TOPOGRAPHICCONTOURSWERETAKENFROMU.5.GSTOPOGRAPHYSCALEI63.360TALKEETNAMOUNTAINS10-41.ALASKA.VERTICALDATUMISMEANSEALEVEL(M.S.U.NOTES:I-WWlI.!:zoi=~woJwa:(5>a:wIIIwa:SPilLWAYCREST 176MWPOWERALASKADISTRICT,CORPS(IltENGINEERSPLATE3SPIL.LWAYRATI'"FLOWINCFt10<ljX)0200_!lOO/XlOOI$CHAI'tG£.INCFSLOWL.E'IELOUTLETSRATINGDEVILCANYONRATINGCURVES1<\00"••ft!~~~~/1/pI:;;2I&i71"/00010j00~100.0100AN<:ItORME.ALASKADECEMllER1975opoe~-SooTHCENTRALRAILBELTAftEA,ALASKAINTERIMREPORTNO.IUPPERSUSITNARIVERBASINDEVILCAtiYONDAMDETAILPLAN10_FILENO.2-SOO-92-04-0INOTES:TOPOGRAPHYWASCOMPILEDFROMAERIALPHOTOGRAPHYWITHGROUNDCONTROL.VERTICALDATUMISMEANSEALEVEL.(m.s.I.l.2.EXISTINGIMPROVEMENTSWERECONSTRUCTEDTOOBTAININFORMATIONANDDATAFOREARLIERSTUOlES.890"",r...",,"'/PRSUA!LO'/8.III~ONUNN~L~NOHNNE870/1I,)1/1/DE?HOFWATERINTNNE060//1I850//1IIIIII20('-