Five environmental groups have appealed the state's water quality certification for a proposal to rebuild Enloe Dam near Oroville.

The Wenatchee World (http://is.gd/R1ufUt) reports the groups filed an appeal this month with the state Pollution Control Hearings Board.

Water quality is one of many considerations in a proposal by the Okanogan County PUD to rebuild the dam to generate electricity. The dam was built in 1920 but stopped producing power in 1959 when it became cheaper to buy from the Bonneville Power Administration.

The environmental groups claim that if the dam is rebuilt, it will nearly dry up the Similkameen (sim-IL'-ka-MEEN') River, while Ecology says the certificate prohibits the utility from dewatering the river.

The project still requires approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

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Information from: The Wenatchee World, http://www.wenatcheeworld.com