News
PPL Montana Receives National Recognition for River Stewardship
BILLINGS, Mont. (April 24, 2002) - PPL Montana is receiving national recognition for its role in managing environmental and recreational resources at its eight hydroelectric dams and one storage reservoir along the Missouri and Madison rivers. At its annual meeting on April 23, the National Hydropower Association presented PPL Montana with an "Outstanding Stewardship of America's Rivers Award," one of eight projects chosen by the National Hydropower Association this year.
"The award recognizes PPL Montana's role in developing and implementing a comprehensive compliance and stewardship program for hydro operations, recreation, fisheries, wildlife, habitat, water quality and cultural resources along 550 river miles of the Missouri and Madison rivers," said David Tuft, public affairs director, National Hydropower Association. "This award recognizes PPL Montana for having one of the most effective river stewardship programs in the country."
"The people of Montana won and they will continue to win because of the innovative river stewardship partnership put into place by PPL Montana," said Mark Albers of American Rivers.
PPL Montana operates 11 hydroelectric facilities, eight of them on the Missouri River and its headwaters on the Madison River. The company has formed a diverse partnership with state and federal agencies and private conservation organizations like American Rivers and Trout Unlimited to conserve these rivers and their natural resources.
"This highly competitive hydro award, selected by a diverse panel of judges, is very exciting," said Brad Spencer, PPL Montana chief operating officer. "I am very proud of the people who put years of effort into the development of this project. It is gratifying to hear that it is being used as a model for hydro relicensing and river stewardship efforts in other states."
"PPL Montana worked diligently with the agencies, willing partners, independent consultants and public interest groups to develop biologically suitable solutions to the wide array of water users," said Mark Wilson, Montana field supervisor for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
"We believe the solutions to the issues on the Madison River constitute a significant example of technical innovation, conservation and public service within the hydropower industry," Wilson said.
PPL Montana's dams on the Missouri and Madison Rivers, which drain a 41,000 square-mile watershed in central Montana, provide flood control, irrigation, electricity and recreation. The facilities are also operated to protect and enhance fisheries, wildlife and water quality resources.
PPL Montana has been able to leverage the $10.8 million it will contribute over the next eight years for fisheries, wildlife, habitat, and water quality restoration projects into a total of $56 million when combined with other federal, state, and private fish and wildlife restoration funds for this river system.
The National Hydropower Association established the Hydro Achievement Awards in 1994 to recognize members of the hydroelectric industry that protect the nation's rivers and champion hydropower as a key part of society's energy future.
Founded in 1983, the nonprofit trade association advances the interests of the hydropower industry in the United States. It seeks to secure hydropower's place as an emission-free, renewable and reliable energy source that serves national environmental and energy policy objectives.
PPL Corporation, headquartered in Allentown, Pennsylvania, controls or owns more than 10,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the U.S., sells energy in key U.S. markets, and delivers electricity to nearly 6 million customers in Pennsylvania, the United Kingdom, and Latin America.