Governor Dunleavy Approves Eklutna Hydro’s 35-Year Fish & Wildlife Plan

October 3, 2024

Alaska’s Governor Michael J. Dunleavy seemed to have an easy choice when it came to reauthorizing or rejecting a proposed fish and wildlife agreement for the Eklutna Hydro energy and water distribution system just outside of Anchorage.  In the end, he made the right choice.

His options? Choose to accept the five-year scientific process that the owners of the hydro project undertook to meet the qualifications of the original 1991 agreement.  By doing so, he’d enhance fish habitat, preserve some of the least-expensive power in the state, and secure 90% of Anchorage’s fresh water supply for the next 35 years.

Or, he could have kowtowed to the 100 residents of the Eklutna tribe, who had partnered with misguided members of the Anchorage Assembly (and Mayor) and various environmental organizations, to demand the hydro project be dismantled within 10 years.  Their collective goal? Potentially – with no guarantees whatsoever – reintroduce a small salmon run to the Eklutna River; one that would benefit the tribe, but put fresh water at risk for approximately 275,000 residents, as well as increase energy costs by destroying the hydroelectric capacity of the dam. 

Power The Future had written extensively on this subject during the public hearings, final planning period and during the time the Governor was deliberating.  The needs of Southcentral Alaska as a whole – both for energy and fresh water – seemed much more important than a hypothetical reintroduction of a few thousand salmon to the Eklutna River.

Now, the Anchorage Assembly and Native Village of Eklutna will probably sue to stop the implementation.  This will waste taxpayer and ratepayer money – with most citizens double-dipped in the pocketbook by the sheer stupidity of the lawsuit.

In the end, logic and sound science won the day.  In this world of eco-extremism, that’s not always the case.  This is why we are celebrating with all the Chugach and Matanuska Electric ratepayers who benefit from the power produced by the Eklutna hydro project, as well as the citizens of the Municipality of Anchorage who count on Eklutna for clean water. 

Great job, Governor Dunleavy.  We salute you!