The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1955-10-14
FPC GAVE aBRUSH0FF" TO RECREATION
In ITS HELLS CANYON DECISION
BY CONG. LEE METCALF

ment is put into effect, and, of course,
recreational facilities would have to
be provided to accommodate visitors.
Either plan would have favorable
recreation features such as boating.
swimming and lakeside developments.
Insofar as fishing and hunting are
concerned, the three-dam plan would
probably be superior, but on an over
all basis the high Hells Canyon Prof.
ect would probably attract the larger
number of out-of-state tourists be-
cause of its size. Either plan would
require the expenditure of some funds
for recreation facilities and the rec
ord indicates that the larger amount
would be spent under the one-dam
plan"
According to the testimony the
Idaho Power Company planned very
little in the way of recreation. Wit
nesses said that they proposed "the
usual thing" mainly landscaping ada
cent to the power plants-"fre
water, grass and shade" Idaho Power
witnesses professed to see no parallels
between the recreational potentials
of Hells Canyon and those developed
at Hoover, Bonneville and Grand Cou-
lee. They proposed to stay within the
Electric Bond and Share Company
policy of keeping plant costs 'to a
handspring" was all
that was ever done for such projects.
The entire budget for recreation
set up for the Idaho Power Company's
three dams is $95,000-$60,000 of
which is to be spent for a compre-
nensive recreational plan, the actual
facilities to be paid for by
he federal government or other in
lividuals.
An important eff" in the Federal
Power Commissions opinion was the
provision of reasonably good access
'oads." Under the Company plan the
MY access road to the areas most
pectacular site will be alongside the
liver, in the bottom of the canyon
where summer temperatures are very
Ugh and there is to be no crossing of
ny kind at Hells Canyon itself.
The rugged scenery and magnifi-
ent gorges of Hells Canyon, coupled
nth one of the worlds highest dams
/ one of the worlds deepest chasms,
-ould unquestionably attract visitors
rom every part of the earth, Grand
oulee, Hoover and Hungry Horse
re tremendous tourist attractions
nd number their visitors in the hun
reds of thousands annually. The
ureau of Reclamation plans access
,ads along the cool upper rim of the
lnyon and road across the dam
self. Primary recreation develop
ents would be constructed both on
e rim and at water level, consisting
overlook, water acess and picnick-
e facilities. A museum of geologic
hibits is planned and that in itself
one of the most significant features.
For initial recreational facilities
one, the government plan provides
r an expenditure of more than ten
mes the company's total recreation
dget. Integrated with the other rec
alton spots in the Snake River basin
d in the Northwest the govern
.nt's plan would attract an esti-
tied 100000 visitors year. This
more than the entire population of
, State of Idaho. But most visitors
uld be expected during the summer
nths and the hot access roads and
k of facilities on the rim would
courage tourists from afar.
The federal project would mean
addition of superb national rec
.tion area; the company proposal
n effect nothing more than another
il to fish, another small dam and
al picnicking spot. Yet the Com
;sion concluded that recreation
Id be effectuated to the same ex-
t under either plan of develop
nt."