Salmon Habitat Enhancement and Protection

Before LaGrande and Alder dams were built, a natural barrier that is now beneath LaGrande reservoir prevented fish from migrating upstream. Therefore, there was no need to install fish ladders at the dams.

Tacoma Power releases water from LaGrande Dam into the Nisqually River to enhance the fish habitat downstream of the dam. The released flows are higher than naturally-occurring flows in the summer and fall months  This practice creates more spawning habitat for Chinook and coho salmon. It also allows fish to distribute more broadly throughout the river, providing more habitat for fish to use.

In addition, Tacoma Power fully funds the operation of the Nisqually Tribe's Clear Creek Hatchery. This hatchery produces approximately 4 million chinook smolts and one million coho smolts each year. These plants result in adult returns to the hatchery of approximately 12,000 adult chinook and up to 4,000 adult coho annually.