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1994 Columbia River Basin Fish and Wildlife Program |
| Council document 94-55 | |
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5.4 Improve Columbia River Flow And Velocity
Biological objective:
To improve conditions for salmonid production by increasing flow and water velocity, decreasing downstream migration time for anadromous fish and decreasing the quantity of habitat for predatory and competing fish species, while endeavoring to provide inriver conditions to maximize adult fish survival between dams.
Operational objectives:
To endeavor to provide a monthly average flow or velocity equivalent at The Dalles as follows in the chart at the top of the following page.
The Council will review these objectives further based on anticipated submittals by the Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Authority in early 1995.
5.4A Performance Standard: Columbia River Spring Migrants
Through firm power planning, provide 58 thousand cubic feet per second per month (3.45 million acre-feet) of shapeable water. In addition, provide at least 4 million acre-feet of water, subject to conditions specified below. Also provide additional water obtained from Canadian storage reservoirs through U.S. State Department discussions with Canada.
Bonneville, Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation and Other Parties
5.4A.1 Beginning immediately, operate John Day Reservoir at minimum irrigation pool from May 1 to August 31 of each year. Minimum irrigation pool is the lowest level at which the irrigation pumps drawing from the reservoir will operate effectively. Monitor and evaluate the biological benefits of John Day Reservoir operations so that the Fish Operations Executive Committee can determine in future years how the operations can complement flow velocities and other factors to achieve rebuilding targets. The Council recognizes that, as was the experience in 1991, under certain conditions a slightly higher elevation may be required and that some daily flexibility is necessary for operation of the reservoir. Other portions of this rule contain measures that will permit irrigators and other users of the John Day pool to operate effectively at lower pool levels. The Council expects the level of the minimum irrigation pool to be lowered as these measures are implemented and that this will be accomplished by 1994. The intent of this provision is that the John Day Reservoir will be operated at the lowest practical level during the spring and summer migrations of juvenile chinook and sockeye salmon.
5.4A.2 Through firm power planning, provide 58 thousand cubic feet per second per month (3.45 million acre-feet) of water at Priest Rapids Dam to be used by the Fish Passage Center consistent with the Fish Operations Executive Committee's annual plan during the period April 15 through June 15.
5.4A.3 When the adjusted April forecast for the January-July runoff at The Dalles Dam is less than 90 million acre-feet, have water in storage and available for juvenile fish flow augmentation by April 30. The appropriate volume is derived from the curve in Figure 5-2 based on the official April forecast and adjusted to the National Weather Service 95-percent confidence level. This volume is in addition to the existing water budget volume. This volume of water would provide approximately the flow equivalents shown in Figure 5-3.
5.4A.4 Actions taken to store the required volume should not violate the following conditions:
- flood control limitations;
- project minimum flow requirements;
- Vernita Bar Agreement requirements, which protect fall chinook below Priest Rapids Dam.
Bonneville
5.4A.5 Beginning in January of each year, provide to the Council, the Fish Operations Executive Committee and other interested parties a monthly written report of the volume of water stored pursuant to Section 5.4A.3, above. By April 30 of each year, identify the location and total volume of water stored for juvenile fish flow augmentation.
Corps of Engineers and Bonneville
5.4A.6 Provide to the Council, the Fish Operations Executive Committee and other interested parties a monthly written report identifying where system flood control storage is being provided, including a summary of system flood control shifts.
All Parties
5.4A.7 Whenever flow augmentation measures are in effect, the weekend and holiday average flows should not be lower than 80 percent of the average of the five preceding weekdays.
5.4A.8 The 140,000 cubic feet per second flow cap in the mid-Columbia River is removed.
Bonneville
5.4A.9 Because of the uncertainty in the supply of out-of-region energy, immediately secure options for one or more resources to augment reduced hydroelectric energy during winter months. If the region is unable to store enough water for any reason other than those specified in Section 5.4A.4, above, immediately begin to acquire the optioned resources called for under Objective 2 of the 1991 Northwest Conservation and Electric Power Plan, or otherwise acquire resources that are consistent with the plan, in an amount sufficient to ensure that the full volume of required water is available in succeeding years. The Council will consult with representatives from all interested parties to determine the proper amount and timing of the acquired resources.
5.4B Summer Migrants
Bonneville
5.4B.1 During July and August in below-average water years, provide a volume of water from the U.S. Non-Treaty Storage water available in that year to facilitate evaluations described below.
5.4B.2 Continue to seek energy exchanges and other energy alternatives with a potential for increasing Columbia River flows in July and August to facilitate evaluations and to improve survival of summer migrants.
5.4B.3 Allow Grand Coulee to draft to an elevation of 1,280 feet by the end of August, if needed to meet the summer flow objective, and consistent with Section 10.3E.3, governing reduction in water retention times.
5.4C John Day Drawdown
Corps of Engineers, Bonneville, Washington, Oregon and Others
5.4C.1 Lower John Day reservoir so that it reaches near minimum operating pool by April 15, 1996, and operate it at that level year-round, conditioned on full, prior mitigation of impacts to irrigators and other reservoir water users. If needed, and unavailable at other projects, allow load following operation outside the fish migration season. For 1995, immediately explore whether immediate and/or temporary mitigation for such users (e.g., by dredging) is possible at the upper end of the reservoir to allow lowering the reservoir below the current minimum irrigation pool.
Corps of Engineers
5.4C.2 By January 1, 1995, develop a budget to finish design work, extend irrigation pumps, modify salmon passage facilities, if needed, and move boat ramps in John Day reservoir. Develop a plan for wildlife mitigation measures and submit it to the Council by January 1, 1996.
5.4C.3 Install fliplips on spillways.
5.4C.4 Develop and implement a monitoring process to determine: the extent to which John Day drawdown reduces predation and travel time for juvenile salmon; impacts on adult salmon; effects of increased turbidity; changes in water temperature; impacts to wildlife; etc.
Corps, Bonneville, Washington, Oregon and others
5.4C.5 Beginning immediately, and concluding not later than April 30, 1996, complete all design, engineering and environmental review of facility and operating changes necessary to operate John Day Dam and its reservoir by 2002 at near-spillway level: a) annually, from May 1 to August 31; or, b) year-round. Include all requirements and impacts and mitigation needed for power production, flood control, navigation, irrigation and other river users. In particular, evaluate: lock modification or reconstruction to facilitate continued navigation; and alternative means to provide irrigation and other water for water users in the John Day pool at the time. Report to the Council by April 30, 1996. The Council will use the report in making a decision on John Day drawdown to spillway.
5.4D River System Investigations
Bonneville, Corps of Engineers and Bureau of Reclamation in Consultation with the Council and Other Parties
5.4D.1 Evaluate seasonal exchanges, long-term nonfirm transactions, options for storing water above power rule curves, accelerated acquisition of winter peaking conservation and renewables, efficient direct application of renewable resources, wholesale and retail price structures and other changes in power system operations that could increase flows for salmon and steelhead or offset the cost of improving salmon and steelhead flows. Report annually to the Council not later than the end of each year. Among alternatives examined in the System Operations Review, include a full range of system coordination alternatives to facilitate such alternative power system operations. Take steps to include the Idaho Power Company in the coordinated system.
Council
5.4D.2 In consultation with and approval of the fishery agencies and tribes, immediately undertake a basinwide comprehensive hydrologic, hydraulic geometry and biological analysis to determine appropriate flow duration and magnitude needed to reestablish critical mainstem and estuarine floodplain habitat. As part of the analysis, explore relation of flood control rule curves, as provided in Section 5.4E, and modification of power sales contracts to move the river hydrograph back toward historical timing and duration.
Bonneville
5.4D.3 Fund the evaluation in 5.4D.2.
5.4D.4 Fund an evaluation of all Columbia River Basin water storage and hydropower facilities to determine the availability of additional velocity improvements or water for mainstem or tributary flow augmentation. The evaluation should include resident fish or other potential endangered species status and impacts. Report to the Council by January 1, 1996.
U. S. State Department
5.4D.5 Initiate discussions with Canada to attempt to secure the use of additional water for flow augmentation from Canadian storage reservoirs. Attempt to reach agreement by December 31, 1996. Report findings or progress to the Council at the end of each year.
Bonneville, Corps of Engineers and Bureau of Reclamation
5.4D.6 Use any resulting water secured through negotiations with Canada to meet the flow objectives of this program and, in addition, to provide a minimum flow of 120 thousand cubic feet per second at The Dalles Dam during September. These flows should: decrease the migration time of the end of the juvenile subyearling fall chinook migration through the lower Columbia; reduce delay and inter-dam loss, and increase spawning success for adult fall chinook migrating through the lower Columbia; and reduce delay and inter-dam loss, and increase spawning success for adult fall chinook and steelhead.
Corps of Engineers
5.4D.7 Maintain Albeni Falls reservoir at a level no lower than elevation 2,056 feet in order to provide an additional amount of water for Columbia River salmon flows (see Section 10.6E). Any replacement energy for this operation must not come from Columbia River Basin storage projects.
Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Soil Conservation Service
5.4D.8 Evaluate the potential for water conservation, water efficiency or other measures in the above-listed agency programs with the most potential to benefit anadromous fish and with the least impact on third parties. Include an evaluation of the potential for using crop rotation programs to facilitate dry-year water leasing activities. Report to the Council.
Bonneville, Corps of Engineers and Bureau of Reclamation
5.4D.9 Under the auspices of the Columbia River Water Management Group, continue with the review of, and make recommended improvements to, the current water supply forecasting products, including, but not limited to:
- potential for improvements in the accuracy of volume forecasts;
- potential for forecasting the shape of runoff;
- potential to incorporate the Southern Oscillation Index, other indices, and/or extended weather forecasts produced by the National Weather Service into runoff forecast procedures;
- benefits of expanding the telemetered snow monitoring system; and
- resolution of the institutional barriers for the installation of hydrologic measurement sites in existing and proposed wilderness areas.
5.4D.10 Based on the October 1993 Review of Runoff Forecasting in the Columbia River and Pacific Slope Basins related to measure 5.4D.9, continue to identify, evaluate and implement methods for improving runoff forecast accuracy. Bonneville, the Bureau, the Corps or the states should fund implementation of those methods and continuing evaluations.
5.4E Flood Control Examinations
Corps of Engineers and Others
5.4E.1 Continue to re-examine all Columbia River Basin flood control strategies and rules to identify modifications, including alternatives to impoundment that could yield more useful or shapeable flows for fish, such as alternative structural and non-structural flood protection measures. Such evaluations should include, but not be limited to: 1) the possibility of shifting flood control storage to the space provided when lower Snake River and John Day reservoirs are drawn down to minimum operating pool or lower; 2) the effects and trade-offs of reduced levels of flood protection, including decreasing the rainfall factor of safety; and 3) separating system flood control from local flood control storage requirements, favoring the latter, in upper basin storage projects. Submit a final report not later than the end of 1995.