Shanker's Bend Dam

Synopsis

The Shanker’s Bend dam proposed for the US side of BC’s Similkameen River will flood at least 3,600 hectares of Canada to provide hydro and irrigation benefits in Washington State.

Category Energy

Type Big Hydro

Prov BC

Region Similkameen

Posted 29Sep09

Updated 01Feb12

Status Cancelled

Resolution

Okanogan County Public Utilities District (PUD)

September 2011, the PUD voluntarily abandoned the project:

"Due to a variety of District concerns...the District concludes that it would not be prudent to pursue the licensing of the Project at this time."

Contacts

LOCAL
COMMUNITY

South Okanagan-Similkameen National Park Network - Citizens Commitee , www.sosnationalpark.ca, 250-497-6869, info(at)sosnationalpark.ca

PROVINCIAL
REGIONAL

Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society - BC Chapter, www.cpawsbc.org

PROPONENT

Okanogan County Public Utilities District (PUD)

September 2011, the PUD voluntarily abandoned the project:

"Due to a variety of District concerns...the District concludes that it would not be prudent to pursue the licensing of the Project at this time."

More information

The dam is touted to provide US benefits, the flooding effects in parts of BC’s Similkameen Valley would be irreversible. The largest dam proposal would flood, including two aboriginal reserves and two provincial protected areas.

Minister Barry Penner says he will resubmit a request to the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for intervenor status, should the project continue to move ahead. His original intervenor request did not meet the deadline requirements. Only the B.C. chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPWS) took the issue seriously enough to get its act together and achieve intervenor status on behalf of any Canadian group or government agency.

News Article: http://www.omakchronicle.com/nws/n090828a.shtml