Eklutna Hydroelectric Project

The Eklutna Hydroelectric Project, located in Southcentral Alaska, has been an essential energy resource since its completion by the federal government in 1955. It provides up to 40 MW of firm, year-round, clean and affordable energy to thousands of Alaskans.

In 1997, the project was sold to Chugach Electric Association, Matanuska Electric Association, and the Municipality of Anchorage following a federal purchase agreement. As part of a 1991 agreement, the project owners were required to assess and address the project’s impact on fish and wildlife every 35 years, balancing environmental concerns with community needs.

To ensure a thorough review, the project owners began the latest process in 2019, well ahead of the October 2022 deadline. After extensive studies, stakeholder consultations, and public meetings, a Final Fish and Wildlife Program was submitted to the governor, as required by the 1991 Agreement, in April 2024. In October 2024, approval of the program was issued by Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy with some minor program amendments. The project owners are now in the process of implementing the approved program.

Program Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation Measures

The Final Fish and Wildlife Program enables the Project Owners to implement fish and wildlife enhancement and mitigation measures, while simultaneously protecting the municipal water supply and continuing to provide low cost, renewable energy to Southcentral Alaska. Key actions of the approved program include:

• Construction of the Eklutna River Release Facility and establishment of year-round instream flows in the Eklutna River;
• Automation of the existing outlet gate at the dam to provide periodic channel maintenance flows in the Eklutna River;
• Construction of eight new bridges along the Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility (AWWU) access road to enable AWWU’s access to critical infrastructure year-round following the establishment of instream flows;
• Payment to Chugach State Park for lakeside trail repairs;
• Establishment of a Committee to oversee implementation of the Monitoring and Adaptive Management Plan;
• Funding to conduct monitoring studies in the Eklutna River throughout the 35-year program;
• Funding for physical habitat enhancement in the Eklutna River based on the monitoring results;
• Procedures for the Committee to adaptively manage the flow regime in the Eklutna River based on the monitoring results;
• Provisions for banking water in Eklutna Lake and potentially increasing the water budget for instream flows in the future;
• Potential installation of a fixed wheel gate to accommodate higher inflows in the future and/or allow higher channel maintenance flows if needed;
• Potential installation of upstream and downstream fish passage facilities that meet specific criteria; and
• Evaluation of a pumped storage hydropower alternative.