Cowlitz River Project

Project Licensing

All four of our hydroelectric projects are licensed separately by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), which was created by the Federal Power Act to ensure safe and efficient operation of power plants across the U.S. Many other agencies, tribes, organizations and stakeholders are also an important part of the licensing process. In 2003, we received a 35-year federal license to operate the Cowlitz River Project.

Fish and Wildlife Programs and Public Recreation

Along with generating clean, renewable hydroelectric energy, our FERC license includes mandates for:

• Fisheries programs, including the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery and Cowlitz Trout Hatchery where we raise coho salmon, Chinook salmon, steelhead and cutthroat trout. Details can be found starting on page 50 of the License Settlement Agreement. Also see License Documents for plans and reports submitted about fisheries issues.
• Wildlife programs including habitat protection and enhancement for nearly 14,000 acres of land. Details can be found starting on page 69 of the license.
• Access to recreational opportunities and amenities, including campgrounds, day-use areas, fishing and other outdoor activities near our reservoirs. Details can be found starting on page 65 of the license. Also see License Documents for plans and reports submitted about recreation issues.
• Cultural resource protection and education.

Tour the Facilities​

Free group tours of the Cowlitz River Project facilities are available by appointment for school, civic, business and recreational groups. To arrange a tour, please complete the request form at the bottom of our hydropower page.

Latest News

Check out our fish game for kids!
We’re big fans of fish at Tacoma Power! Kids can learn about which species we raise by printing and filling out this page! Scroll down to the bottom of this section for the answers…

2023 grant round for Cowlitz Hatchery-Associated Production projects: Second workshop opportunity
Do you have ideas for how to help protect and promote restoration and recovery of upper Cowlitz River basin salmonids (spring/fall Chinook, coho and winter steelhead)? Consider applying for a 2023 Hatchery-Associated Production (HAP) project grant through our Cowlitz Restoration and Recovery (CRR) Program. Hatchery-Associated Production projects include the artificial production or rearing of fish to support recovery of the CRR Program target species and populations. Conservation non-profits, Native American Tribes, regional fisheries enhancement groups, conservation districts, local and state governmental entities, and federal agencies are eligible and encouraged to apply. The funding process runs through late fall of 2023.

Learn more by visiting our HAP webpage.

Questions? Contact Tacoma Power CRR Program staff contact Melora Shelton at mshelton@cityoftacoma.org or 253.441.4994.

Kosmos Flats Oil Seep Capped
As part of our commitment to ensuring good stewardship of our environment, Tacoma Power capped the Kosmos Flats oil seep in December 2019. Read more about the project.

• Fact Sheet – Feb. 3, 2020
• Fact Sheet – Nov. 15, 2019

Fish game answers!

1. Sockeye
2. Coho
3. Chinook
4. Steelhead
5. Cutthroat Trout

At our Cowlitz River Project in Lewis County, we raise and release spring Chinook, fall Chinook, coho, summer-run steelhead, winter-run steelhead, and sea-run cutthroat trout. Learn more about our Cowlitz fisheries programs and check out our Cowlitz Fish Report for weekly updates.

At our Cushman Hydro Project in Mason County, we raise and release spring Chinook, winter-run steelhead, coho, and sockeye. Learn more about our Cushman fisheries program.

Public Meetings

Cowlitz Annual Program Review Virtual Public Meeting – June 1, 2022
Online/conference call | 2 to 3 p.m.
26 attendees

Tacoma Power and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife cordially invite you to a Cowlitz Annual Program Review public meeting on Wednesday, June 1, from 2 to 3 p.m. The meeting will be hosted virtually via Microsoft Teams. Check out the agenda.

You do not need to RSVP.

Click here to join the meeting

 Or call in (audio only)
+1 253-666-4424
Phone Conference ID: 151 314 598#

• Agenda
• Presentation

Please email msundbaum@cityoftacoma.org with questions.

Cowlitz Annual Program Review and Science Conference – April 21, 2022
Online/conference call | 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
44 attendees

• Agenda
• Q&A

Presentations:

• Current Status
• Project Operations
• Hatchery Operations
• Habitat Efforts
• Fish Passage
• Pre-Terminal/Terminal Harvest
• Lower Cowlitz Adult Estimates
• Adult Returns to the Separator
• Early Winter Steelhead Run Timing
• Steelhead Enumeration
• Genetics for Early Winter-Run Steelhead
• Carcass Tagging
• Summer-Run Steelhead Recycling
• APR Introduction/Cowlitz Hatchery Programs and Options

Cowlitz Fisheries and Hatchery Management Plan (FHMP) Transition Plans Virtual Public Meeting – Feb. 22, 2022
Online/conference call | 3 to 5 p.m.
32 attendees

The FHMP transition plans outline how we will organize and guide the Cowlitz fisheries/hatcheries programs. They are in final draft form, and we would like to hear your thoughts about them.

We will receive public feedback at the meeting, and will also receive written feedback until 4 p.m. PST on Feb. 25, 2022. Please send your feedback to cowlitz@cityoftacoma.org.

• Agenda
• Coho Transition Plan
• Fall Chinook Transition Plan
• Spring Chinook Transition Plan
• Winter Steelhead Transition Plan
• Presentation
• Q&A

Cowlitz Annual Program Review Virtual Public Meeting – June 23, 2021
Online/conference call | 2 to 4 p.m.
14 attendees

• Agenda
• Presentation
• Q&A

Please email msundbaum@cityoftacoma.org with questions.

Cowlitz Annual Program Review and Science Conference – May 19, 2021
Online/conference call | 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
37 attendees

• Agenda
• Chat Log
• Q&A

Presentations:

Summarize Five-Year Trends

1. Introduction and Meeting Logistics
2. Intro to Current Status
3. Project Operations
4. Hatchery Operations
5. Habitat
6. Passage
7. Pre-Terminal/Terminal Harvest
8. SARs
9. Lower Cowlitz Adult Estimates
10. Separator Returns
11. What We Know/Don’t Know in Our Current State

Annual Program Review

1. Summary of Recent Trends and Current Status, Fisheries and Hatchery Management Plan – Transition Plans Status and Next Steps, 2022 Strategies

Please email msundbaum@cityoftacoma.org with questions.

Cowlitz River Fisheries and Hatchery Management Plan (FHMP) and Annual Project Review (APR) Virtual Public Meeting – Aug. 12, 2020
Online/conference call | 4 to 6 p.m.
21 attendees

• Agenda
• Presentation
• Chat log

Cowlitz River Annual Project Review (APR) Public Meeting – Aug. 14, 2019
Veterans Memorial Museum | 6 to 8 p.m.

• Agenda

Cowlitz River Annual Project Review and Fisheries Science Conference – July 10, 2019
Veterans Memorial Museum | 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
51 attendees

• Agenda
• Purpose of Annual Project Review and Fisheries and Hatchery Management Plan, Fisheries Technical Committee Meeting Look Ahead, and Next Steps
• Trends in Cowlitz River Fish Returns and Hatchery Releases
• Decision Rules 101: General Purpose and Current Rules
• Cowlitz River Habitat Programs
• Hydro Operations
• Natural Production Estimates
• Juvenile Passage – Cowlitz Falls
• Summary of Hatchery Operations – Goals vs. Actuals
• Meeting Survey
• Meeting Survey Answers