Swan Lake update leads to fresh debate

Robert Monteith

June 25, 2009.

Representatives from the private company Cascade Creek, LLC met in Petersburg last week to go over design modifications for a proposed hydroelectric project in Swan Lake. The project has been controversial in the past as many local residents have raised their voices to preserve much of the pristine wilderness surrounding Thomas Bay.

The meeting had political connotations as well. The City of Petersburg is currently competing with the private company for a federal permit to study Ruth Lake for its hydroelectric potential.

The meeting did reveal that Cascade Creek, LLC had considered local concerns when it came to designing the project. It now features designs for an extended tunnel in order to better hide the powerhouse. Chris Spens, a representative of the company, said they had also nixed plans for a dam.

“We’ve modified the project so that the powerhouse has now been moved approximately four miles south of Cascade Creek. There will be no surface access to Swan Lake. It will be entirely a tunnel project with a lake siphon constructed close to the outlet of Swan Lake,” he said.

The project design now includes about three miles of tunneling in order to reach the more secluded powerhouse. Spens also said they were planning to keep lake surface fluctuations to a minimum. That was good news to Petersburg Ranger Chris Savage, who thanked the company for considering a letter he had written.

“We do appreciate Cascade Creek, LLC addressing some of our initial concerns in our December 12 letter by minimizing the drawdown on the level. We appreciate you minimizing it to 10 feet, rather than the 40+ feet and moving the powerhouse away from Cascade Creek,” said Savage.

Several residents testified as well, including Jim Demko, who advocated for keeping the area undeveloped. He said Thomas Bay had enough natural beauty to be considered another Yosemite and also stated that many people lived in the area because of places like it.

Karin McCullough said that Alaska had more to offer than just cheap power. A quiet place that people could explore was one of them.

Mayor Al Dwyer also testified at the meeting, requesting more information on deals between Cascade Creek, LLC and the communities of Kake and Angoon. Kake Tribal has an ownership stake in the company while Angoon filed alongside Cascade Creek, LLC for permits on Ruth Lake, competing with Petersburg, and Scenery Lake.

“Please provide correspondence on any contract to transmit power to Kake on the Kake-Petersburg intertie. Reference has been made to providing payment to Angoon from sales of a Thomas Bay project generating power. Please provide copies of correspondence of any agreements with the City of Angoon,” said the mayor.

That prompted a response from Albert Howard, mayor of Angoon, who said that his city had never received a payment.

“That type of statement implies that we’re doing something wrong,” he said. Later, he continued. “We all have common ground, the high cost of energy, the willingness to want to take care of our families. This is the common thread that goes through everybody…is wanting something better for your children.”