The area is entirely within the Wood-Tikchik State Park, the largest state park in the country. The Nushagak Cooperative seeks to develop the project in order to provide electricity to Dillingham, Aleknagik, Koliganek, New Stuyahok, Ekwok and Levelock.

Read more on Nushagak Cooperative’s Nuyakuk Hydro Website

UTBB does not support or oppose the proposed Nuyakuk Hydroelectric project.

Since the potential benefits and impacts of the proposal are still being studied, and to uphold our commitment to protect fish habitat and our subsistence ways of life, at this stage we are actively reviewing the studies, and advocating for public and Tribal engagement and a transparent and thorough scientific review. UTBB is working with a team of technical experts to review the ongoing studies on potential impacts and benefits of the project.

What’s the latest?

The Nushagak Cooperative completed two years of scientific studies in 2023 and 2024 to determine if the project is feasible and to evaluate potential impacts. Community members had the chance to give feedback on their findings during a comment period this spring. Review our key concerns.

UTBB’s staff and technical experts were disappointed in Nushagak Cooperative’s dismissal of the concerns many shared about inadequate studies and projected potential impacts to fisheries. We will continue to engage with the process to ensure our fish and way of life are protected. Click here to download the full report from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission eLibrary.

In May, the federal agency in charge of licensing the project, called the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (or “FERC”), issued a determination on whether the studies conducted in 2023 and 2024 by the Cooperative were complete. FERC determined that the subsistence and cultural resources studies were incomplete, but is not requiring the Cooperative to conduct additional aquatics studies at this phase of the process.

Currently, we are waiting to learn if the Cooperative intends to complete the studies and begin preparing a license application. The Cooperative does not have a deadline for when they need to complete the studies and submit an application. They can complete the studies and prepare a license application at the same time.