Hey there qp peeps,

Tomorrow afternoon and evening, representatives of FERC (the federal energy regulatory commission) will be attending two meetings in North Bend to hear opposition to the proposed hydro-diversion dam on the North Fork of the Snoqualmie river. This small diversion dam would essentially de-water Ernie's Gorge.

If you've ever had the opportunity to boat Ernie's Gorge, then you know what is at stake here. If you have not yet had the opportunity, come out and make your voice heard so that your opportunity to experience this exquisite stretch of whitewater will not be taken from you.

This creek is a step back in time and a valuable resource for recharging your soul. Please come out and show that this treasure will be missed if its taken from us.

Meetings will be held here: Tom O'Keefe has been working thanklessly and tirelessly to stop this from happening and you can read up on his progress so far as well as more about the FERC licensing process right here:
http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Article/view/articleid/31412/

Even if you think you will never desire to boat this incredible river, please come out and make your voice heard. Let North Bend know what kind of a special resource they have in their backyard. Let FERC know that there is more at stake here than soil erosion and physical asthetics. Let Black Canyon Hydro, LLC know that this is not the right thing to do.

If you cannot make it, its ok; support American Whitewater and all the help they give us.
https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Membership/join-aw/

Hope to see people there!

Cheers,
Dan




Edited by tiziak - 18 Jun 2012 at 7:40pm

I want to say that it's late July. I'll check.

Tom O'Keefe is leading the charge here and he needs all the help he can get. If you have the time today, please come out and show your support.

Damn I wanted to go. But I got Lost. I will file a barrage of comments.

One of the things that concerned me at the meeting: there was a very angry homeowner present that insisted that kayakers are destroying his property.

 

I have personally never run into a landowner. I know that some of the landowners near the takeout have been very friendly and offered to shuttle, etc. This man, by the name of Brian (?) stated that kayakers have been destroying the banks of the river, dumping trash on the trail, parking in the road at the put in and take out as well as dying.

 

Regardless of where this animosity is actually coming from, please be respectful of property owners in the area. Its already touchy with the new permit required for access, let’s not make it worse. Please park off the road, pack out what you pack in and try not to "destroy" the river banks on your way down to the river.

 

I was a little surprised as well. I had never heard of a fatality. Tom told me that a pair of brothers had drifted into Ernie's on a raft and one of them drowned. I wouldn't call that the same thing. I think he was just pissed off that we were trying to use his river. I've seen that mentality before.

 

Have there been any kayaking fatalities on the NF Snoqualmie? I couldn't find any.

 

That's why I'm saying the animosity was suspect. He didn't say anything for or against the hydro project. After the meeting was over. he was walking and talking pretty chummy with one of the hydro plant guys though...

Bump!

 

Hey Peeps. We need more people to log on and leave comments against the project to install a diversion dam in Ernie’s.

It doesn’t have to be a long story about how beautiful the river is and how it’s going to kill baby dolphins if it gets a diversion dam. Just log on and say something to the effect of: “ Black Canyon has recreational value to kayakers and rafters, I believe a diversion dam would have negative effect on the community as a whole”.

Like I’ve said before; even if you have no interest in ever kayaking Ernie’s Gorge, please help keep it in its pristine condition.

The public comment period ends on July 24th. In two weeks! So… Please use this link and give AW a couple minutes of your time.

 

You can use this link HERE

Or you can cut and paste this:

http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/ecomment.asp

 

Remember: you’re going to have to reference docket/case P-14110

 

Thanks guys!

 

 

Yep.

something is wrong on the site, it won't let me do ANYTHING, it lets me register and then sends me to the beginning, i click the link again and makes me register but never lets me comment.  What did you do when you commented?

Even if folks don't plan on ever running Ernies I implore you to consider what this might mean for the runs that you do paddle regularly, and what micro hydro will do to wild places.

So much of our daily landscape exists only because humanity has created it, buildings, sidewalks, roads, parks, dams, power generation, etc, but there are still places that exists beyond the sphere of human influence.  Ernies is one of them. Lets keep green spaces green, and use the brown spaces for new power projects. Don't do it because your doing it for yourself, or future generations, or the earth, your conscience, your sense of duty to the river, do it because there are spaces that are un-fu*ked-around-with that nature or god or whatever created, and that's pretty cool.

Also read a few of the comments (they're public, just search for the docket # here http://elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/search/fercgensearch.asp).

Local residents have left comments questioning how the construction will proceed. The hydro co has apparently pledged not to use county roads through Ernie's Grove, but one comment argues this or new roads over private property will be the only way to access the site. In addition the powerhouse is to be sited on private land, and the landowners have denied access to inspect the site and dispute the hydro co's characterization of zoning and improvements.

Thanks Jed!

 

Yeah, sorry. You have to put in your email and full name, the email that they send you contains a link that you use to leave a comment.

 

I realize that a lot of people are not interested in running Ernie's and that’s totally cool. Ben hasn't even been able to talk me into going in there lately.

 

It's the idea. It’s the fact that a company can move in on a navigable waterway and say "We are going to dam this portion of river, to and generate power, that we will then charge you to use".

 

So they divert water from Ernie's and a couple people can't do the run anymore. A couple boaters are now sad but the majority of the community is not negatively affected. But what about when they look over that the Middle Fork and decide that it would be a great reservoir. Wouldn't that bother you? What about if they decide to put a dam on the Skykomish? I would raise my voice. I would try to stop it.

 

Even if this doesn’t directly concern you and your boating ambitions it is still going to affect part of your community; your family. It’s going to affect the people that you carry a throwrope and a breakdown paddle for.

 

If for any other reason, voice your concern just to help stop another corporation from destroying a beautiful natural resource and then profiting off of it.

 

Thanks for the comments so far.
This is a new phase, so even if you posted a comment in the earlier period, you need to re-submit.