Washington State’s Snohomish County PUD received the Outstanding Stewards of America’s Waters (OSAW) Award for Operational Excellence at the Clean Currents Conference in Pittsburgh this month.
The honor recognizes the utility’s development of two predictive hydrologic models that strengthen operational insights and decision-making to optimize power generation and water management at Spada Lake Reservoir.
Awarded by the National Hydropower Association (NHA), the OSAW awards recognize organizations in the hydropower and marine energy industry for projects that exhibit exemplary operational, educational, historical, recreational, or environmental enhancement and stewardship.
Fully implemented in 2024, PUD’s new predictive models were developed in response to a month of record-setting rainfall – 48 inches – that created uncertainty around how that volume of water would impact future reservoir levels at Spada Lake.
The new models provide between one and 30 days of future forecasted reservoir elevations. This allows staff to make better informed decisions on setting generation levels to maximize use of the water flowing into the reservoir while also meeting license obligations.
“Management of a multi-use public reservoir is always challenging, and it will grow in complexity with less predictable snowpack,” said Scott Spahr, PUD Manager, Generation Engineering & Administration. “New modeling has helped the PUD optimize generation value in times of both high and low power price which in turn benefits ratepayers.”
Spada Lake Reservoir and the Jackson Hydroelectric Project provide drinking water to 75% of Snohomish County while also generating approximately 5% of PUD’s power demand, enhancing fish habitat and providing recreation opportunities.
“The models have been key for topping off Spada Lake Reservoir heading into dry season,” said Andrew McDonnell, PUD Manager, Natural Resources. “In addition to water supply benefits, a full reservoir also positively impacts water quality by preserving the ability for the Jackson Project to deliver ideal water temperatures to the Sultan River, benefitting all aquatic resources.”
