Hydroelectric development in the Clark Fork Basin 

 provides a significant part of the electrical energy 

 generated by the WWP, MPC, and the BOR. The five major 

 hydropower facilities in the Clark Fork Basin have a total 

 maximum generating capacity of approximately 1,332 megawatts 

 (MW) (Table 2-9) . On average, however, these five plants 

 generate approximately 600 MW of power. In comparison, 

 hydropower facilities in the Northwest have the capacity to 

 generate approximately 20,000 MW, and on average generate 

 16,400 MW (NWPPC 1986). Thus, these five facilities account 

 for approximately 4 percent of the average hydropower 

 generation in the region. In addition to power generation. 

 Hungry Horse Reservoir provides substantial headwater 

 benefits associated with its large storage capacity, 

 3,468,000 AF, and its location in the basin. This storage is 

 released to augment streamflows that are then used to 

 generate power by the downstream facilities. 



The facility owners listed in Table 2-9, as members of 

 the Pacific Northwest Coordination Agreement, operate their 

 hydropower facilities in concert with others in the Northwest 

 to maximize the utilization of water discharges for optimum 

 energy production and minimum wastage, thereby deferring the 

 need for new energy resources. 



TABLE 2-9. GENERATING CAPACITY AND MAXIMUM FLOW CAPACITY 

 OF THE FIVE MAJOR HYDROPOWER FACILITIES 



Hydropower plants provide benefits to the local area 

 through employment and dollars spent in the operation and 

 maintenance of the facilities. In addition, the nonfederal 

 facility owners pay generation-based taxes on the production 

 output of the plants and property taxes, which contribute 

 significantly to the local tax base. In addition to revenues 

 gained from hydropower production, damming of the Northwest's 

 rivers provides additional benefits associated with irriga- 

 tion, navigation, flood control, and diverse recreation. 



2-15 



