The National Park Service (NPS) Hydropower Assistance program provides technical assistance to participants involved in Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Hydropower Licensing Proceedings. The NPS helps others engage more effectively and ensure projects provide enhanced outdoor recreation opportunities and a quality environmental setting.
The Hydropower Assistance Program:
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Supports and improves recreation and river conservation issues applicable to hydropower projects both within and outside units of the National Park System.
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Provides recommendations to improve recreation access, facilities, and instream flows; shoreline protection; and interpretation and education materials.
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Involves collaboration with other resource agencies including the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs to ensure compatibility of recommendations.
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Enhances interests in the full range of relevant historical, natural, and cultural resource considerations for NPS sites and areas. For example, the program supports projects affecting several parks including Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, Lowell National Historical Park, national park sites along the Delaware River Valley, and the Ross Lake National Recreation Area and North Cascades National Park complex.
In addition, staff prioritize support to projects that involve NPS units and other nationally designated areas managed by the NPS, including the National Wild and Scenic Rivers and National Trails Systems programs.
