Water gushes from the Blind Slough hydroelectric plant towards the neighboring Crystal Lake salmon hatchery on June 22, 2025. The hydroelectric plant provides about 25% of Petersburg's power, and is one of several in Southeast Alaska that shares its water source with a hatchery.
Southeast Alaska broke records for rainfall this spring. And for the Blind Slough hydroelectric plant near Petersburg, more rain means more power.
Sometimes, however, there is such a thing as too much rain, according to Petersburg Borough Utility Director Karl Hagerman.
"This year, there was just too much water to deal with," he said.
The hydro plant uses water from a dam at Crystal Lake to generate power. But the record-breaking precipitation Mitkof Island got in May caused Crystal Lake to spill over at the beginning of June.
"Whenever you're managing a hydroelectric lake, you don't ever want...
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