Choosing a better path for Methow powerline
Jan 13, 2010
Conservation Northwest has filed a motion in Okanogan Superior court seeking to intervene in a lawsuit filed against Washington State by the Okanogan PUD. At issue is a new powerline that would punch though the largest remaining block of shrub-steppe habitat in the Methow valley and harm mule deer winter habitat.
A proposed new powerline would entail blasting and roads in shrub-steppe and mule deer habitat in the Methow valley.
Conservation Northwest has filed a motion in Okanogan Superior court seeking to intervene in a lawsuit filed against Washington State by the Okanogan Public Utility District. The PUD is seeking to take possession of state land in order to build a new powerline through important wildlife habitat in the Methow Valley, rather than less expensive routes adjacent to highways where transmission lines already exist.
"We're motivated to engage because there are significant hidden costs with the PUD's plans," said Dave Werntz, science and conservation director with Conservation Northwest. Building the new powerline would fragment the largest remaining block of shrub-steppe habitat in the Methow valley and harm mule deer winter habitat.
A recent report from Washington Department of Natural Resources scientists suggests that the PUD dramatically underestimated impacts to public lands. Installing the new lines will probably require many more miles of new road for heavy equipment and significant mountain top blasting. More roads means more sediment will end up choking the Methow's salmon and trout. New roads would also increase erosion, risk of fire, and spread of noxious weeds.
