Sullivan Lake Water Supply Project

The Project

The Pend Oreille County Public Utility District will release 14,000 acre-feet of water each summer, when the water is needed most. The Office of Columbia River will issue water rights from ~9,400 of the 14,000 ac-ft of water supply OCR developed at Sullivan Lake. The 9,400 acre-feet will be split in half with 4,700 ac-ft going to new municipal/industrial and domestic water rights and 4,700 ac-feet allocated for all other types of water rights (i.e. irrigation, stockwater, etc).

The remainder will be used to enhance instream flows to benefit fish.

Under state law (Chapter 83, 2011 Laws), water developed from the Sullivan Lake Project may only be allocated to applicants in six northeastern Washington counties: Douglas, Ferry, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, and Stevens.

Please see "Permitting Water from the Sullivan Lake Project" for information about obtaining a water right via the Sullivan Lake Water Supply Project.

Opportunities

Potential water supply opportunities are scarce in northeast Washington. This project will help cities meet present and future demands.

Expected Outcomes

• ~9,400 ac-ft of water will be made available for new water rights.
• ~4,600 ac-ft of water will be put into Sullivan Creek and protected all the way to the Pacific Ocean.

More Information

• Sullivan Lake Secondary Use Permit ROE
• Permitting Water from the Sullivan Lake Project
• Settlement Agreement, Surrender of Sullivan Creek Project License, and Application for Special Use Authorization (Agreement between Pend Oreille PUD, Seattle City Light, Ecology and other interested parties to end hydropower operations.)
• Memorandum of Agreement
• Secondary Use Permit Application (Allows Sullivan Lake water to be allocated for new water rights and in-stream flows.)
•  Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Environmental Impact Statement (Description: Draft Environmental Impact Statement re Application for Hydropower License and Application for Surrender of Hydropower License for the Boundary Hydroelectric Project)
• Sullivan Lake At-a-Glance
• At a Glance: The Sullivan Lake Water Supply Project
• History and Current Operation
• Pend Oreille County Public Utility District's Sullivan Creek Project Web Site