US utility PSE received the Outstanding Stewards of America’s Waters Award for its new fisheries protection system at the Baker River plant, in Washington state. The system is a floating surface collector that attracts, guides and captures young salmon to be transported downstream past the two dams. The US$50M system was completed and began operations last year.
NYPA received an award for its spawning beds initiative at Lake Sturgeon, which was part of its relicensing work for the St Lawrence/FDR scheme in New York state.
Yuba County Water Agency was given the award for its multi-partner accord to help improve the management of water flows to meet competing demands on the Yuba river. The agency also received an award last year. Other winners in 2008 were Seattle City Light, Chelan County PUD and San Diego County Water Authority.
The fourth award this year was given to TransCanada in relation to Public Education, for the media project it did featuring the upgrade work at its century-old Vernon plant, in Vermont. The plant capacity was doubled with the installation of Kaplan turbines.
