Watana, whirlwind and airplanes

In the late 1970s and early 1980s hydroelectric power generation was being studied and was a news topic in South Central Alaska and points north. Rail belt electric cooperatives and Anchorage Municipal Light and Power were much interested too with good reason. “Hydropower is the most efficient way to generate electricity. Modern hydro turbines can convert as much as 90% of the available energy into electricity. The best fossil fuel plants are only about 50% efficient.” (findanyanswer.com) Reading about new power generation technology in 2021, it seems none can compete with hydroelectric generation efficiency.

The project being studied was Watana Hydroelectric which would consist of a dam on the Big Susitna River at a neck in Devil Canyon just above Watana Creek (some maps call it “Watana River.”) Checking the 1990 Ahtna Athabaskan Dictionary at UAF online, I found “Watana” is associated with “whirlwind” and Watana Mountain.

I had been into the mouth of Devil Canyon a bit above Portage Creek with Steve Mahay twice, on June 1st 1978 and 1979. It was a sight, creamed coffee colored water splashing three to four feet in the air over car-sized boulders. Unforgettable! I had also flown with Governor Hammond to the rim of Devil Canyon. The Huey landed adjacent to the precise point at the canyon neck that was the proposed site for the dam, just upstream from the Watana Creek confluence.

Then, early 1980s, I was headed to Homer for a meeting about the Watana Project. As a Matanuska Electric Association (MEA) employee I would make notes and brief the MEA manager and staff on the meeting.

Transportation to Homer had been arranged. I was to meet a senior ALASCOM employee at Merrill Field for mid morning flight with her in her aircraft. I apologize; I don’t recall her name. I found where her plane was parked. It was a blue and white Cessna 172, as I recall. We chatted a couple of minutes then she suggested I wait and ride with another ALASCOM employee flying to Homer. Sorry, I don’t recall his name either.

Shortly, the second aircraft owner-pilot showed up with another fellow. After introductions we walked over to, as I recall, a red and copper colored tail- dragger, a Cessna 185. The flight to Homer was uneventful; well, my head did touch the ceiling three or four times. The other fellow riding to Homer was Tom Stahr, General Manager of Anchorage Municipal Light and Power (AML&P).

The ride back to Merrill Field was smooth but with a circle route. Tom Stahr was a gold seeker. He asked the pilot to circle over the headwaters of Skilak Lake to check out the territory. After a couple of circles we headed to Merrill Field. Little did I know at that time that in 1991 I would go to work for Tom Stahr. When I left AML&P in 1997, Tom and Butch Richner, the IT Manager were working a claim on Willow Creek as time permitted.

As Paul Harvey would say, “the rest of the story;” some months after the flight to Homer and back it was whispered to me that the two pilots flying to Homer always raced clock times when headed to the same destination. So it seems the lady pilot saw my 230 pound weight and figure it would add minutes to the flight. Instead of a pilot and one passenger in each aircraft, the Cessna 185 had pilot and two passengers; the Cessna 172, pilot only. Racing, maybe not this time.

Budd Goodyear is a local freelance writer who has had articles and photos included in publications throughout the state. Goodyear moved to Alaska in 1977 with his wife and children, and has worked in the Valley, Anchorage and Palmer. Goodyear contributes historical pieces to the Frontiersman.