PACIFICORP AND THE US BUREAU of Reclamation (USBR) have announced they have reached an agreement in principle whereby USBR will purchase the water rights and the associated equipment and facilities of PacifiCorp's Naches hydroelectric project located in Naches, Washington, US.
The facilities include the 12.8km long Wapatox Canal that also serves local irrigators. The Bureau will assume perpetual responsibility for serving irrigation customers along the canal, but will close the Naches and Naches Drop hydroelectric facilities and return the portion of water used for hydro generation to the Naches river to support recovery of endangered fish species.
PacifiCorp will begin seeking approval from state regulators and expects to be able to close the sale in two-to-three months once approvals are obtained.
