Spokane7
39°Quick links: 2012 graduating seniors • Summer camp guide • Jobs: The Road Ahead • Prep sports • News quiz
An Idaho state lawmaker says the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Bonneville Power Administration have decided against a plan to fluctuate Lake Pend Oreille’s level by five feet this winter, a move that would generate more power but threatened to erode shorelines, shift docks and damage habitat for waterfowl.
Rep. George Eskridge, R-Dover, said he and other North Idaho lawmakers expressed concerns about the move, as did Idaho’s congressional delegation and Gov. Butch Otter. “They’ve recognized those concerns,” Eskridge said. “I recognize the value of this operation in terms of power, but we have to be sure that the value is not at the expense of other concerns. We need to be sure that we evaluate those and that we can find that we’re doing no harm or that we can mitigate the damages in a way that’s appropriate before we implement it.” Eskridge said the lake level fluctuation plan likely will be reconsidered next fall, after more research and public input. “That’s a good thing,” he said. “If they do this right, it’ll give the public a better understanding of the pros and cons of this, and maybe even a better acceptance when we’ve learned more about it.”
999 W. Riverside, Spokane, WA 99201
P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210
Main switchboard: (509) 459-5000 • (800) 338-8801
Newsroom: (509) 459-5400 • (800) 789-0029
Customer service: (800) 338-8801
© Copyright 2012, The Spokesman-Review
Terms of use • Privacy policy • Copyright policy
No comments on this post so far. Add yours!
« Back to Eye On Boise
You must be logged in to post comments.
Please create a profile or log in here.