Meet Andrew McDonnell, Fish Fanatic

Andrew was the PUD Employee of the Month for November 2024. This article was part of that recognition. 

Andrew McDonnell is juggling a lot.

He was named PUD’s new Manager of Natural Resources, taking over for the recently retired Keith Binkley. On top of his new role, he’s continuing some of his old tasks, while also heading home where he is managed by his 3-year-old triplets.

Still, even with everything going on, Andrew continues to give his all and bring incredible efforts to the PUD. He recently helped pioneer a new modeling system to predict the amount of water in Spada Lake. The model, worked on with a professor and the Data Analytics team, reviews different generation scenarios for Spada Lake and allows for more informed decisions for the Jackson Project.

“Andrew brings so much to the utility, both with the work he does and how he goes about doing it,” said Jason Zyskowski, Chief Energy Resources Officer. “Andrew is so approachable. He is always willing to help – and we call on him often because of his extensive knowledge on a variety of topics. He is very deserving of this award.”

Known for his willingness to take on any challenge, Andrew has been a valued member of Team PUD since 2015. He has worked on key projects to improve aquatic and terrestrial resources. One that stands out to Andrew was working on the Diversion Dam fish passage, which was completed in 2016. Two weeks after the cofferdam was pulled, Andrew and a few co-workers hiked four miles upstream and saw coho salmon actively spawning in the Sultan River. It was the first documented spawning activity in that part of the river in 85 years.

“Telling that story gives me goosebumps to this day,” Andrew said, “and every spawning season since then, our staff observes salmon and steelhead trout utilizing that 6-mile reach of the river, which begins the next generation of Sultan River salmonids.”

Last year he helped develop the model to analyze water runoff and predict the water level of Spada Lake. The goal was to get the water levels as high as possible without spilling. The model was almost spot on, with the PUD able to predict Spada Lake’s water level to fewer than four inches away from spilling. It also helped map out the highest water elevation on record for July in the project’s 38 years.

“Andrew is a tremendous spokesperson for the PUD based on his knowledge, patience and genuine desire to make the best decisions for the natural resources potentially impacted by Generation,” said Scott Spahr, Manager of Generation Operations and Engineering. “Andrew embodies the humility, knowledge and community outreach that the PUD encourages. He has taken a unique job within the PUD and set it to a record-breaking level of helpfulness.”

Andrew was a Regulatory Scientist prior to being named manager. Keith, the now former Manager of Natural Resources, was also thrilled to see Andrew awarded Employee of the Month.

“Andrew is well-rounded and especially adept when it comes to blending natural science with social science,” Keith said. “He can ‘geek out’ and dive deep into an inquiry, but his real skills come alive when he shares his findings and knowledge with others. He is a truly great communicator and collaborator.”

Andrew said his favorite part of his new job is the variety. He enjoys going out to events, like the recent Return of the Salmon festival in Sultan, and getting to talk to the community about all the cool stuff the PUD is doing. He also appreciates his co-workers.

“What truly makes working at the PUD so great for me is the people I work with,” Andrew said. “The folks I’ve been fortunate enough to work with in Generation, and across the utility, have been awesome to have as colleagues. The PUD is filled with top-level talent and it’s been fun working on teams that share common goals and consistently hit it out of the park.

“Right now, it’s a little bit like drinking from a firehose,” Andrew continued. “I want to make sure my team has all the support I can give and make sure that they feel like they have everything that they need from me. I am humbled by this award and honored to work with such an amazing group of passionate, caring, respectful and well-rounded people on a daily basis!”