
A: Safety is our highest priority: There is not an imminent danger of a canal breach. Even though the canal is dewatered and not conveying operational flows to generate power, EWEB staff continue to monitor the Leaburg Canal on a daily basis to ensure that the canal facilities are safely managing stormwater and tributary creek flows. These creeks, including Johnson Creek, Cogswell Creek and others, flow into the Leaburg Canal, which acts as a tributary to convey those waters to the McKenzie River. As Commissioners have voted to permanently discontinue power generation, the canal will only be used to convey stormwater and tributary creek flows until the long-term canal modifications are complete. The risk of a potential failure is greatly reduced in the de-watered, non-operational condition. EWEB is already implementing near-term risk reduction modifications to further mitigate any hazards posed by a severe precipitation event that could increase stormwater and tributary creek flows. EWEB monitors the canal particularly closely in the wet weather season and during storm events when tributary creek flows rise. EWEB staff members are poised to identify and respond to any unexpected developments along the full length of the canal and will inform canal neighbors of any changes of concern.
A: EWEB has implemented several risk reduction measures and is evaluating the potential for additional near-term, risk reduction measures to mitigate the risk of structural failure from landslides, earthquakes, floods, and internal erosion. These measures include:
A: In short:
EWEB conducted a Triple Bottom Line Assessment to identify and compare the financial, environmental, and social impacts of repairing the canal to resume hydropower generation or decommissioning the Project. The detailed multi-year evaluation revealed that the heavy expenses to return the Project to service would commit EWEB to a high cost of electricity ($117/MWh) for at least the next forty years. Instead, EWEB will seek to purchase electricity from the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) at a much lower cost while also exploring other lower cost alternatives to BPA.
Closing the Leaburg facility would also lower EWEB’s liability to future economic risks, as climate change and increasing regulations on hydropower generation raise further uncertainties as to the economic viability of the Leaburg Hydroelectric Project. Decommissioning the Leaburg Project also aligns with our customers’ values to provide reliable service, protect water quality, and reduce service costs.
A: Commissioners unanimously approved a Record of Decision in support of the “Management Recommendation: Future Disposition of the Leaburg Hydroelectric Project.” The Recommendation advocates:
A: In short - not for at least a decade. Before EWEB begins any work on the ground, we'll have years of investigations and studies to conduct and extensive negotiations with various regulators, agencies, partners and interest groups. Here's a rough timeline of decommissioning milestones:
2018-2022: Leaburg Hydroelectric Project Strategic Evaluation
2023: Decision to Decommission. Leaburg Decommissioning Action Plan (LDAP) development
2023-2027: Implementation of near-term risk reduction measures
2023-2027: License Surrender Application & Settlement Agreement
2028-2029: Environmental Studies (Endangered Species Act consultation, National Environmental Protection Act process)
2030-2032: Design & Permitting - Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Surrender Order
2033: Construction Begins
2033-2040: Decommissioning Implementation & Post-Decommissioning Report