HRC or member-contributedComments from American Rivers, American Whitewater, Friends of the Teton River, Greater Yellowstone Coalition, Idaho Conservation League, Idaho Rivers United, and Trout Unlimited on the draft license application from Fall River Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc. on the Felt Hydroelectric Project (P-5089).
The 12-foot-high dam, originally constructed in the early 1900s, was granted a 40-year license by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in 1983. Since its construction, the Felt Dam has largely blocked Yellowstone cutthroat trout and other native fish species from accessing the upper reaches of the Teton River where colder water would give them a better chance of persisting in the face of climate change. These comments are focused on ensuring complete upstream and downstream passage for native fish.
