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  • 7600 B.P.
    Earliest evidence of human presence in the Upper Skagit Valley
  • 1824
    Alexander Ross travels the Upper Skagit
  • 1846
    US / Canada Boundary fixed at 49 degrees N
  • 1858
    Whatcom Trail constructed
  • 1860
    Dewdney Trail (wagon Road) reached Rhododendron Flats (BC highway #3)
  • 1879
    Prospecting begins at Ruby Creek, Washington State.
  • 1884
    Settlers at Big Beaver Creek
  • 1891
    US Forest Reserves established
    Mining at Barron begins
  • 1902
    Seattle Lighting Department (SCL) is formed
  • 1903
    Wagon road from Winthrop over Hart’s Pass to Barron is completed
  • 1905
    Skagit Power Company is formed and proposes hydroelectric dams on the Skagit River.
  • 1906
    Hydropower plant on Ruby Creek supplies power to mines
  • 1908
    Claims for 5 dams filed by Skagit Power Company
  • 1910
    Skagit Power Company is sold to Stone and Webster (Boston)
  • 1914
    Stone & Webster receiver federal permits to build dams on the Skagit River by Dept of Agriculture, Forest Service.
  • 1916
    Lack of construction voids S&W permits
  • 1917
    Seattle (J.D. Ross) applies and receives permits from Department of Agriculture
  • 1919
    Construction of Newhalem Hydro Project commences
  • 1920
    US Federal Power Act is enacted
  • 1924
    SCL Skagit Tours initiated
  • 1927
    Initial Skagit project to include Ruby (Ross) Dam is licensed by Federal Power Commission (FPC). Four stage Ross development is contemplated
  • 1934
    North Cascades Priminitive Area is established
  • 1937
    Clearing for Ruby (Ross Lake begins
    First stage construction of Ruby Project commences
  • 1939
    J.D. Ross dies and Ruby Project is renamed Ross Dam
  • 1940
    Ross Dam first step is completed (3000′). Ross Lake is 9 miles long
  • 1941
    E.C. Manning Provincial Park is established
  • 1942
    International Joint Commission (IJC) authorizes High Ross Dam
  • 1943
    Hope-Princeton Highway (Hwy#3) opens
  • 1946
    Ross Dam second step is completed (495′)
  • 1949
    Ross Dam third step is completed (total height 540′)
  • 1952
    City of Seattle and Province of BC negotiate an agreement required by the IJC
    A new provincial government is elected and agreement abrogated
  • 1953
    Ross Lake reaches teh Canadian border (March 26)
  • 1956
    Final (fourth) generator is installed at Ross Powerhouse (total = 360 MW)
  • 1964
    Pasayten Wilderness Area is established
  • 1967
    SCL and the BC Province execute an agreement for flooding rights to the year 2066
  • 1968
    North Cascades National Park complex is established
  • 1969
    FPC application to complete the fourth and final stage of Ross DAm
  • 1972
    North Cascades highway opens to the public
  • 1974
    A new provincial government abrogates teh agreement, applies to IJC for nullification of the 1942 IJC order
  • 1975
    Skagit Valley Recreation Area established in BC
  • 1977
    FPC authorizes a license for High Ross
  • 1978
    Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FECRC) enters final order
  • 1979
    Arguments before the U.S. Court of Appeals challenging FERC action under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
  • 1980
    U.S. Court of Appeals rejects challenge in July. No appeal to the Supreme Court is filed
    BC Province again files a request to nullify 1942 IJC order and 1967 agreement
  • 1982
    IJEC rejects request and orders a one year negotiation
  • 1982 – 1983
    IJC, U.S. State Department, Canadian External Affairs, consultants, Seattle and BC for a Joint Consultative Group. June meeting in Washington DC, September in Vancouver BC, December in Seattle and FEbruary in Ottawa.
  • 1984
    Agreement between City of Seattle and Province of BC signed March 30.
    Treaty signed between United States and Canada on April 2nd
  • 1985
    Skagit Environmental Endowment Commission initial meeting on April 12th
  • 1987
    Cascade Recreation Area is established

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