LUTHERAN QUILTERS – Members of the Quilts for Comfort Group stand between pews draped with some of the 205 quilts they made, in the Sitka Lutheran Church Tuesday. The group made the quilts for five local non-profits and one in Anchorage. The remaining quilts are sent to Lutheran World Relief which distributes them to places around the world in need, such as Ukraine, as part of Personal Care Kits. Pictured are, from left, Helen Cunningham, Kathleen Brandt,Vicki Swanson, Paulla Hardy, Kim Hunter, Linda Swanson and Sue Fleming. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)
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Daily Sitka Sentinel
Assembly to Hear NSRAA Water Request
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
The Northern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association is asking the city to double the amount of water it provides to the NSRAA Sawmill Creek hatchery.
The request, which will be on the agenda for the Assembly’s Tuesday night meeting, would be for additional water to increase production at the hatchery, at the Gary Paxton Industrial Park.
Electric Utility Director Bryan Bertacchi is recommending the Assembly turn down the request unless certain issues can be resolved, but City Administrator Keith Brady is recommending approval of a proposed letter of intent.
The letter of intent says that the city intends to provide up to 14 cubic feet per second per day of raw water to NSRAA, with usage based on a calendar year average with a maximum continuous flow of 20 cubic feet per second. The letter also says the city and NSRAA will work out the technical details.
“NSRAA is a valued member of our Sitka community and they have recently requested multiple additional services through the GPIP and CBS,” Bertacchi said in his memo. “At the same time, much concern exists in the community over electric rates and electric costs. Embedded within this new NSRAA request, is a subsidization by electric customers for NSRAA activities.”
The NSRAA hatchery at the Gary Paxton Industrial Park is pictured today.
(Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)
The city could supply the additional water from the high-pressure penstock or after-bay system, both of which come with “high costs and risks,” Bertacchi said. The penstock is the tunnel from Blue Lake that delivers water at high pressure for electrical generation. The after-bay source is the low pressure flow of the water after it passes through the generating plant.
“Direction is needed from the Assembly as to how the risks and costs should be allocated,” Bertacchi said.
He asked the Assembly to consider 13 questions related to the request, including who pays the capital cost, ongoing maintenance, and operations of the system; the cost of electricity of pumping water from the after-bay; and the cost if diesel generation is required because of low lake levels related to the NSRAA usage.
The GPIP board recommended approval of the request.
Brady said today that Bertacchi raises a number of good points and questions.
“I feel the list of concerns are legitimate and we will have to work those out with NSRAA,” he said. “The letter of intent is just that: it’s saying the Assembly intends for NSRAA to use the water; it doesn’t say from where. That’s what we will work out with NSRAA.”
The nonprofit produces chum and Chinook salmon at the Sawmill Creek hatchery. In the summer of 2018, some 3.5 million Sawmill Creek-produced chum salmon were caught by seiners and trollers, with a value of $25 million; in addition to the 80,000 cohos that were caught. NSRAA is hoping to begin construction on its expansion project in early 2021, with construction completed by 2022.
Other Issues
Other issues on Tuesday night’s Assembly agenda include the multi-hazard mitigation plan, a grant application for emergency preparedness, appropriations ordinances, a sale of a right-of-way on Sawmill Creek Road, and an application for a $5 million low-interest loan from the state to rehabilitate the wastewater treatment plant.
The Assembly also will discuss a lease to the Sitka Animal Hospital, and a memorandum of understanding between the Sitka Tribe of Alaska, Sitkans Against Family Violence and the Sitka Police Department to provide services and enhance protection for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
Another item is for a tidelands lease seaward of Sitka Tribe of Alaska’s new quarters, the old U.S. Forest Service building, on Siginaka Way.
Farther down on the agenda is an item to discuss Sitka’s seasonal electric rates. Kevin Mosher and Richard Wein wrote a memo to fellow Assembly members:
“It seems that the rate increase for the summer occurred too early, and therefore many people were hit with utility bills $200 or more above their previous bills,” they said. “This is most likely because it is still fairly cold in April. The thought here is to ease the burden so to speak, by effectively shifting the rate changes one month out.”
The two proposed starting the summer at 19.2 cents per KWH rate in May instead of April. The winter rate is 12 cents. They said they’d like to see if there is any interest among Assembly members before they work with the city attorney on an ordinance.
The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at Harrigan Centennial Hall, preceded by a work session on affordable housing at 5 p.m.
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20 YEARS AGO
March 2004
Advertisement: Tea-Licious Tea House & Bakery 315 Lincoln Street Grand Opening! Freshly Baked Scones, Cakes & Pastries Innovative Salads, Soups & Sandwiches Harney & Sons Tea. Lunch * Afternoon Tea * Supper.
50 YEARS AGO
March 1974
Photo caption: National Republican Chairman George Bush takes a drink of water offered by Jan Craddick, Sitka delegate, during the Republican convention held here. Mrs. Craddick explained to Bush that the water was from Indian River, which means, according to local legend, that he will return.