Tacoma Power received its fifth straight Outstanding Stewards of America’s Waters (OSAW) Award from the National Hydropower Association (NHA) today. The award, for Recreational, Environmental & Historical Enhancement, honors the Floating Fish Collector at the Cushman Hydroelectric Project in Mason County.
The collector is attached to Cushman Dam No. 1; it gathers juvenile salmon migrating to the ocean. Once collected, they get a 3-mile-long truck ride to Cushman Dam No. 2 and released into the river below. It is a critical component in Tacoma Power’s overall efforts to help restore fish populations in the North Fork Skokomish River.
Tacoma Power collaborated with a variety of federal and state agencies and the Skokomish Indian Tribe to ensure they were satisfied with the collector’s design and goals.
“The NHA is thrilled to present Tacoma Power with the OSAW Award for Recreational, Environmental & Historical Enhancement,” said Linda Church Ciocci, executive director, NHA. “The Floating Fish Collector is a reflection of Tacoma Power’s commitment to the community, sustainability and the environment.”
About Tacoma Power
Tacoma Power serves 172,000 customers in Tacoma, University Place, Fircrest and portions of Fife, Lakewood, Federal Way, Steilacoom, Joint Base Lewis-McChord and other portions of Pierce County. The utility includes seven divisions: Generation, Transmission and Distribution, Power Management, Click! Network, Utility Technology Services, Reliability & Compliance, and Rates, Planning & Analysis. www.tacomapower.com.