OLYMPIA… Today Sen. Linda Evans Parlette introduced legislation aimed at keeping a local recreational area open and assisting a local public utility at the same time. The legislation is aimed at meeting the requirements of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). 

Senate Bill 5422, which has bipartisan sponsorship, specifically addresses a challenge the Chelan County Public Utility District faces in keeping the Chelan Gorge area open to the public. The area is popular with skilled kayakers who have given the area’s waterfalls, cascades and chutes names like “Punch Bowl,” Pile Up” and “Double Slide.” While these provide many hours of enjoyment and challenge, the PUD faces potential liability associated with people taking such risks on its property. In fact, as part of an agreement to receive a new license the PUD is required to seek specific changes in the law to provide liability protection for the use of its land and the release of water for kayaking. 

Senate Bill 5422 would offer the PUD the same types of protection offered to landowners who allow rock climbing on their property. It would amend the state’s Recreational Use Statute to specify that hydroelectric project owners have liability protection under the law for kayaking, canoeing and rafting on lands under their control. This would allow the PUD to keep the area open for these activities.  

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