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1994 Columbia River Basin Fish and Wildlife Program |
| Council document 94-55 | |
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7.10 Provide Passage and Protective Screens on Tributaries
During the last 50 years, state and federal entities initiated water diversion screening programs and passage improvements in several parts of the Columbia River Basin. Hundreds of screens have been installed on important fish-producing streams. Unfortunately, salmon and steelhead are still being lost in diversions throughout the basin. A large number of diversions, including many on the Salmon and Grande Ronde rivers and other streams that support weak stocks, remain unscreened. In addition, many of the existing screening facilities are in need of maintenance or other improvements.
Installation of new facilities on unscreened diversions and repair or upgrade of older facilities has accelerated since 1992, but many projects remain to be completed. Unscreened or poorly screened diversions result in the loss of many juvenile salmon and steelhead that have survived the rigors of natural rearing only to be killed at the beginning of their journey to the ocean. This effort has a high probability of reducing salmon and steelhead mortality and will require the use of all available resources for funding, design, construction and installation. Because of the continued need for quick action, it is especially important that the resources of the private sector be used to ensure timely construction and installation of high-priority screens and measuring devices, if such resources are necessary to meet the desired installation time line.
This process is not intended to interfere with the implementation of screening activities that use existing funding mechanisms and programs. Those activities should proceed simultaneously with the process outlined below. As the oversight committee and technical work groups are created, the products developed by these groups should be integrated into the ongoing processes, as well as the implementation planning process (see Section 3.1B).
7.10A Update Priorities and Continue to Fund and Implement an Accelerated Screening and Passage Program
Bonneville
7.10A.1 Fund costs associated with operation of the Fish Screening Oversight Committee and technical work groups. These committees should be incorporated into the implementation planning process (see Section 3.1B). The oversight committee should include state, federal (including Bonneville), Council, tribal and irrigation representatives. The committee should provide overall direction, set priorities and ensure oversight of objectives, funding opportunities, standards, biological criteria and evaluation. The technical work groups should include passage experts and other appropriate technical personnel representing federal, state, tribal and irrigation entities. The Yakima Fish Passage Technical Work Groups are to recommend project priorities within their area of concern to the oversight committee. They also should work with the entity constructing the diversion screens and passage facilities to ensure the facilities are constructed according to the prescribed criteria and that the necessary project evaluation is designed and implemented. In the case of large projects, this may include the following:
- establish written operating criteria;
- develop preliminary designs;
- see that necessary permit processes are carried out;
- make certain private landowner and public concerns are addressed;
- review detailed designs to ensure that biological and engineering criteria are met;
- monitor construction phases;
- monitor operation and maintenance phases in compliance with criteria and recommend corrective actions if necessary; and
- conduct project evaluations.
All Parties
7.10A.2 Criteria for design, construction, operation and maintenance of facilities should be based on standards and criteria developed by the National Marine Fisheries Service in concert with agencies and tribes with expertise in the areas of screening and fish protective facilities in the region. Use the existing expertise of federal, state and tribal entities and others, including the private sector, to accelerate implementation of screening and passage measures. In addition, conduct statistically valid evaluations of screening facilities, as necessary, to ensure that fish are adequately protected and the numbers of adult fish returning to the Columbia River, as a result of this program, are assessed. Evaluation should be coordinated through the implementation planning process (see Section 3.1B).
Fishery Managers
7.10A.3 Maintain a prioritized list of tributary screening and passage facility improvements for stream diversions in the Columbia River Basin affecting salmon and steelhead. Improvement can include new facilities and the upgrading and maintenance of existing facilities. The list should also include Columbia River and Snake River mainstem pump diversions. Coordinate this list with the assessment of mainstem diversions in Section 7.10A.6. Priority initially should be given weak stocks, with emphasis on stocks petitioned or listed under the Endangered Species Act in the Snake River Basin. This list should be updated annually by January 31 by the Fish Screening Oversight Committee.
National Marine Fisheries Service, Working with Oversight Committee, Appropriate Technical Work Groups and Bonneville
7.10A.4 Identify resources that will be needed to accomplish screening and passage work, and prepare a general operation and maintenance plan, including a schedule, budget, proposed cost-sharing incentive programs and monitoring and evaluation plans. To accelerate this effort, immediately identify and allocate a budget of at least $15 million per year, from all available sources, to implement the plan. This expenditure will require increased participation from federal, state and private entities. The presumption is that diversion owners will contribute a significant amount of funding for installation and maintenance of screens. Under current federal law, some federal funds may be available to assist in diversion screening. Sources of additional federal funds, as well as state and private funds, need to be investigated and procured. The plan will also address how ongoing screening and passage programs funded by the Mitchell Act and the states will be comprehensively integrated basinwide. The National Marine Fisheries Service, the oversight committee and Bonneville review this plan with the Council annually by the end of January. As part of the review, report on dollars spent individually by federal, state, private and other entities in the past year and overall, according to the plan. Install all needed screens and passage facilities immediately. Complete them no later than the end of 1996. National Marine Fisheries Service should expedite approval of diversion screening in the Endangered Species Act process.
Bureau of Land Management (Idaho and Oregon/Washington Offices), U.S. Forest Service (Regions 1, 4, 6) and Bureau of Reclamation (Pacific Northwest Region)
7.10A.5 Require as a condition of both existing and new water use authorizations, that diversion structures have functional fish screens and other passage facilities for manmade barriers to salmon and steelhead that meet the criteria referenced above. For existing authorizations, wherever practical, and especially on high-priority diversions, the three agencies, in coordination with the state fish screening programs, should proceed to design and install screens on a multiagency or shared-cost basis, with authorization renewals contingent on reimbursement to the agency, or other arrangements satisfactory to the agency. These screens should meet Fish Screening Oversight Committee criteria. By March 1 of each year the three federal agencies should report on their progress, including the number of such permits, estimated screening costs, resources needed to implement and monitor the program, and a time frame for compliance.
Corps of Engineers
7.10A.6 Fund periodic inspections of all underwater diversions in the mainstem Columbia and Snake rivers to determine whether screens that prevent losses of juvenile and adult salmon are installed and operating. Repair, update and, where necessary, install screens on all diversions by December 31, 1995. The presumption is that diversion owners will fund installation and maintenance of screens. The Corps of Engineers, National Marine Fisheries Service and other appropriate entities should use their authority to require expeditious repair or installation of screens if violations are found. Work under this measure should be coordinated with all other measures in this section.
Idaho, Oregon and Washington
7.10A.7 Idaho, Oregon and Washington have laws that require the installation, operation and maintenance of fish screens on water diversions. Develop legislation to obtain greater compliance with fish screen laws in each state. Develop legislation to require forfeiture of associated water rights after three continuous years of unscreened or substandard screened diversions as determined by the state. Report to the Council on this measure by June 30, 1995, and annually thereafter.
7.10B Condit Dam
Condit Dam once had a fish ladder, but the ladder washed out. Therefore, no passage to the upper White Salmon River exists for adult migrants. If fish passage were provided, 30 to 40 miles of spawning habitat would become available above Condit Dam. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ordered PacifiCorp to study the feasibility of providing fish passage past the dam. This study, completed in September 1982, determined that passage is feasible. Under the current relicensing proceeding the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is conducting an environmental assessment of the project. This environmental impact statement will provide a basis for determining the optimum means for providing anadromous fish access to historic range on the White Salmon River.
PacificCorp
7.10B.1 Subject to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approval and in consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service, Yakama Indian Nation, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, implement the alternative that provides the optimum means for anadromous fish to access their historical range in the White Salmon River.
7.10C Enloe Dam
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
7.10C.1 Require any holder of a license for an operating hydroelectric facility at Enloe Dam to design and construct the hydroelectric facility improvements to be compatible with future installation and operation of upstream and downstream anadromous fish passage facilities. If the Council determines that anadromous fish should be introduced into the Similkameen River, above Enloe Dam, require the licensee to construct and operate appropriate anadromous downstream passage facilities. Upstream passage potentially could provide the region with the opportunity to establish an anadromous fish run throughout the more than 320 linear miles of spawning and rearing habitat of the Similkameen Basin. This could be considered as off-site enhancement or mitigation for mainstem Columbia River anadromous fish losses and would not be the responsibility of the Enloe hydroelectric licensee. Determination of regional responsibility, if any, for upstream fish passage facilities will be decided at a future date.
7.10D Dryden Dam
Bonneville
7.10D.1 Conclude evaluation of the Dryden Dam juvenile fish screen and make necessary modifications by March 1, 1995. Monitor operation of and maintain the screen to ensure that it remains effective.
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
7.10D.2 If hydropower facilities are later proposed to be added to the Dryden Dam or diversion, require the licensee to reimburse Bonneville for an equitable portion of the cost of these fish screens and bypass facilities.
7.10E Green Peter Dam
Corps of Engineers
7.10E.1 Conduct studies to determine the effect of fluctuating flows at Green Peter Dam on the maintenance of steelhead runs in the South and Middle Santiam rivers. The studies should include:
- evaluation of the effect of maximum and minimum flows or combinations of flows on adult steelhead movement;
- monitoring of steelhead movement in Green Peter and Foster reservoirs to determine whether delays in migration are occurring in the reservoirs; and
- assessment of spawning and rearing areas above Green Peter Reservoir to determine if alterations that affect spawning and rearing have occurred.
7.10F Willamette Falls
Bonneville and Portland General Electric
7.10F.1 Subject to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approval, jointly install, operate and maintain an adult trapping facility in the Willamette Falls fishway. Funding for the facility should be in the same proportion as the original ratio of federal-to-Portland General Electric funding of the adult fishway.
Portland General Electric
7.10F.2 Subject to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approval, conduct studies to evaluate the juvenile bypass system and screening at the Sullivan Plant at Willamette Falls.
7.10G Clackamas River Dams
Fish and Wildlife Agencies and Portland General Electric
7.10G.1 Work cooperatively to investigate and resolve adult fish passage problems associated with Portland General Electric's Clackamas River hydroelectric dams.
7.10H Leaburg and Walterville Facilities
Eugene Water and Electric Board
7.10H.1 Subject to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approval, design, construct and operate by August 1, 1995, a new right bank fish ladder at Leaburg Dam and a velocity barrier in the Leaburg powerhouse tailrace, or equivalent alternative means to prevent injury and migration delay of adult salmon. Assume full responsibility for annual operation and maintenance of these adult passage facilities. If the Leaburg relicense application is delayed, take prompt action to amend the existing license to complete the right bank fish ladder on schedule. In the event Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approval is earlier than anticipated in the Eugene Water and Electric Board's proposed schedule, make a good-faith effort to accelerate completion of the right bank fish ladder.
7.10H.2 Subject to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approval, make improvements to the existing juvenile fish screen cleaning and bypass facilities at the Leaburg Canal Hydroelectric Project by December 31, 1992, and ensure that the fish bypass and screen cleaning systems continue to operate effectively. Ensure that the juvenile fish passage efficiency of the Leaburg screen and bypass system is not reduced when the Eugene Water and Electric Board's proposal to raise the elevation of Leaburg Lake is implemented. Assume full responsibility for annual operation and maintenance of these facilities. Substantial populations of juvenile salmon and steelhead migrate through the portions of the McKenzie River affected by the Leaburg project. Studies have shown significant mortalities associated with turbine passage. The Eugene Water and Electric Board has agreed to provide a bypass system.
7.10H.3 Subject to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approval, design and construct a velocity barrier in the Walterville Hydroelectric Project tailrace to prevent the migration delay and injury of adult anadromous fish. The velocity barrier should be completed and operational no later than July 1, 1995. Assume full responsibility for annual operation and maintenance of this adult passage facility. If the Walterville relicense application is delayed, take prompt action to amend the existing license to complete the velocity barrier on schedule. In the event Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approval is earlier than anticipated in the Eugene Water and Electric Board's proposed schedule, make a good-faith effort to accelerate completion of the Walterville project tailrace velocity barrier.
7.10H.4 Subject to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approval, design and construct a permanent screening and bypass system for juvenile migrants at the Walterville Canal Hydroelectric Project. The juvenile fish bypass facilities should be completed and operational no later than November 11, 1995. Assume full responsibility for annual operation and maintenance of these facilities. If the Walterville relicense application is delayed, take prompt action to complete the screening and bypass facilities on schedule by either preparing and filing a fish passage facility plan with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission under Article 34 of the existing license or amending the existing license. In the event the Regulatory Commission's approval is earlier than anticipated in the Eugene Water and Electric Board's proposed schedule, make a good-faith effort to accelerate completion of the Walterville juvenile fish bypass facilities. Walterville Canal is operated by the Eugene Water and Electric Board in conjunction with Leaburg Canal. The problems encountered by juvenile migrants at this project are essentially the same as those at Leaburg.
7.10I Foster Dam
Corps of Engineers
7.10I.1 Evaluate existing studies and investigate alternative methods of providing adequate downstream fish passage at Foster Dam.
7.10J Marmot Dam
Portland General Electric
7.10J.1 Immediately begin consultation with the fish managers on the design of juvenile fish passage facilities at Marmot Dam. Report progress annually to the Council in December.
7.10K Passage into Historic Habitat
Fishery Managers
7.10K.1 Where appropriate, determine the feasibility of providing passage above blockages to habitat caused by human development activities. Appropriate habitat includes areas where weak stocks are habitat-limited and, therefore, would benefit from additional habitat. These areas might include parts of the Willamette, Yakima, Grande Ronde and Deschutes basins as well as other subbasins. Submit recommendations for providing passage for Council review and identification of funding sources.