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Hydrosystem Hydrosystem Operations and Fish Operations and Fish

Recovery in theRecovery in theColumbia River BasinColumbia River Basin

U.S. Army Corps of EngineersU.S. Army Corps of EngineersNorthwestern DivisionNorthwestern Division

June 19, 2008June 19, 2008

Today’s Discussion

Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS) Remand Process

The Columbia Basin Fish Accords

Key Biological Opinion Actions

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2008 FCRPS Remand 2008 FCRPS Remand ProcessProcess

Product of two years of collaboration among Product of two years of collaboration among four federal agencies, four Northwest states four federal agencies, four Northwest states and seven Northwest tribes.and seven Northwest tribes.

Comprehensive biological analysis for each Comprehensive biological analysis for each listed stock and “population”listed stock and “population”

Historical trendsHistorical trends Current conditionCurrent condition Benefits of proposed actions in all HsBenefits of proposed actions in all Hs Goal is trend to recoveryGoal is trend to recovery

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2008 FCRPS Remand 2008 FCRPS Remand ProcessProcess

(continued)(continued)

Juvenile in-river survival is nearly Juvenile in-river survival is nearly three times higher than it was in three times higher than it was in the mid-to-late 1970s.the mid-to-late 1970s.

Adult migration rate and travel Adult migration rate and travel time are similar to levels before time are similar to levels before the Snake River dams were the Snake River dams were completed.completed.

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Bonneville DamBonneville Dam19951995––1999 Route of Passage Survival 1999 Route of Passage Survival

Estimates for Yearling ChinookEstimates for Yearling Chinook

Spillway survival = 98%

B2 survival = 90%

Corner Collector Survival = N/A

Spring Spill Operations:75 kcfs day/ 120 kcfs (Gas Cap) night

Estimated Dam Survival

91.7%

B1 survival = 90%

Route Specific Survival Estimates from PATH Report and 2000 BiOp

Bo

nn

eville 1

Spillway

Bonneville 2

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Bonneville DamBonneville Dam2004 & 2005 Route of Passage 2004 & 2005 Route of Passage Survival Estimates for Yearling Survival Estimates for Yearling

ChinookChinook

Spillway survival = 92.0%

B2 Bypass survival = 98.9% B2 Turbine survival = 95.8%

Corner Collector Survival = 100.0%

Combined Turbine & Sluiceway survival =

93.1%

Spring Spill Operations:100 kcfs 24 hrs/day

Estimated Dam Survival

95.9%

Counihan et al. Final report by USGS

Bo

nn

eville 1

Spillway

Bonneville 2

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2008 FCRPS Remand 2008 FCRPS Remand ProcessProcess

(continued)(continued) All H approach (Hydro, Habitat, Hatcheries, All H approach (Hydro, Habitat, Hatcheries,

Harvest) with significant actions on predation Harvest) with significant actions on predation managementmanagement

Reasonable and Prudent Alternative that Reasonable and Prudent Alternative that includes 73 Actionsincludes 73 Actions

Includes Adaptive Management provisions Includes Adaptive Management provisions including extensive RM&E programincluding extensive RM&E program

Annual progress reports and check-ins at Annual progress reports and check-ins at 2013 and 2016 will contain diagnostic 2013 and 2016 will contain diagnostic analysesanalyses

Continued collaboration with states and tribesContinued collaboration with states and tribes

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Columbia Basin Fish AccordsSigned May 2, 2008

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Columbia Basin Fish AccordsSigned Accords with Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian

Reservation The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Yakama Indian Nation Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission Montana Idaho

Costs over 10 years $900 million incurred by the Bonneville Power

Administration $50 million from the Corps of Engineers for Pacific

lamprey

Significant Benefit Hundreds of “on the ground” habitat projects based

on recovery plans with demonstrated biological benefits

New hatchery actions to promote recovery and regional fisheries, without impeding recovery of listed fish.

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2008 FCRPS Biological 2008 FCRPS Biological OpinionOpinion

FlowsFlows Spill and transport operations timed to Spill and transport operations timed to

the needs of individual speciesthe needs of individual species Expanded habitat programExpanded habitat program Expanded predation-management Expanded predation-management

programprogram Timetable and commitments for site-Timetable and commitments for site-

specific hatchery reformsspecific hatchery reforms Specific mainstem hydro improvementsSpecific mainstem hydro improvements

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Flows Flow augmentation

similar to 2000 BiOp, except for:

Implementation of summer operations at Libby and Hungry Horse dams recommended by the State of Montana

Work on dry water year strategy for Grand Coulee Dam

John Day – Operate John Day pool at the lowest elevation that continues to allow irrigation from April 10 through September 30.

Lower Snake – Operate at minimum operating pool (MOP) elevation from April 3 until small numbers of juvenile migrants are present unless adjusted to meet authorized project purposes.

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Spill Spill OperationsOperations

Spring 24-hour spill at all

projects Lower Snake

collector projects–spill ceases for two weeks in May for transport of steelhead

Continue testing of spill as new surface collectors come online

Earlier transition from spring to summer spill

Summer Similar spill levels as in 2006–2008 Snake River projects–Cessation of spill in August when few fish are present (300–500)

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Juvenile Fish Transportation Program

Spring Chinook typically benefit from transportation after approximately April 20

Steelhead typically benefit from transport throughout the season

Fall Chinook research is in progress

Sockeye has too little data to tell

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Future Hydro Future Hydro Improvements Improvements

$500 million over 10 years$500 million over 10 years

Commitment to higher dam passage Commitment to higher dam passage performance standards:performance standards:

96% average or better survival for spring 96% average or better survival for spring migrantsmigrants

93% average for summer migrants93% average for summer migrants Scheduled commitments to additional Scheduled commitments to additional

surface collectors (RSWs/TSWs)surface collectors (RSWs/TSWs) Improvements to juvenile bypass systemsImprovements to juvenile bypass systems

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Columbia

Riv

er

Sn

akeS

nake

Colum

bia

River

River

Washington Idaho

Oregon

Pac

ific Ocea

n River

Lower Columbia and Lower Columbia and Snake River DamsSnake River DamsLower Columbia and Lower Columbia and Snake River DamsSnake River Dams

The DallesSpillway Improvements 2004,

New spill wall 2010

= Transport Facilities

(all dates subject to change)

Little Goose2009

Lower Monumental2008

John Day 2008-2012

McNary 2009-2012

Juvenile Surface Passage ImprovementsJuvenile Surface Passage Improvements

Bonneville 2004

Ice Harbor2005

Lower Granite2001

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Surface Collection Advantages

Fish pass at normal vertical distribution Reduce forebay delay Improved efficiency for passage Potential improvement in total dissolved gas Kelt passage

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Surface BypassSurface BypassSpillway WeirsSpillway Weirs

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Spillway WeirsMcNary Dam

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Litigation: NWF v. NMFS, Corps, & Reclamation

Remand completed with issuance of 2008 BiOp on May 5

Court-ordered hydro operations remain in effect until Aug 31, 2008

NWF et al. filed complaint against NMFS with U.S. District Court of Oregon, challenging new BiOp

Plans to sue Corps and Reclamation challenging compliance with ESA and CWA

Briefing on the merits will begin mid-summer; schedule is being set to allow time for preliminary injunction hearing before the end of calendar year

Anticipate PI to be broader in scope than mainstem spill operation

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Questions ?

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Initial Spill Operations under the new BiOpProjectProject Spring OperationsSpring Operations Summer OperationsSummer Operations

Planning Planning DatesDates

VolumeVolume

(Day/Night)(Day/Night)Planning Planning

DatesDatesVolume Volume

(Day/Night)(Day/Night)

Lower Lower GraniteGranite

4/3-5/64/3-5/6

5/21-5/305/21-5/3020 kcfs20 kcfs 6/1-8/316/1-8/31 18 kcfs18 kcfs

Little GooseLittle Goose 4/5-5/64/5-5/6

5/21-5/305/21-5/3030%30% 6/1-8/316/1-8/31 30%30%

L. L. MonumentaMonumenta

ll

4/7-5/64/7-5/6

5/21-5/305/21-5/3027 kcfs27 kcfs 6/1-8/316/1-8/31 17 kcfs17 kcfs

Ice HarborIce Harbor 4/7-5/64/7-5/6

5/21-5/305/21-5/3030% vs 30% vs

(45kcfs/gas (45kcfs/gas cap)cap)

6/16-8/316/16-8/31 30% vs 30% vs (45kcfs/gas (45kcfs/gas

cap)cap)

McNaryMcNary 4/10-6/154/10-6/15 40%40% 6/16-8/316/16-8/31 40% vs 60%40% vs 60%

John DayJohn Day 4/10-6/154/10-6/15 30% vs 40%30% vs 40% 6/16-8/316/16-8/31 30% vs 40%30% vs 40%

The DallesThe Dalles 4/10-6/154/10-6/15 40%40% 6/16-8/316/16-8/31 40%40%

BonnevilleBonneville 4/10-6/154/10-6/15 100 kcfs100 kcfs 6/16-8/316/16-8/31 (85kcfs/gas (85kcfs/gas cap)cap)

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Resulting Transport Operations

Spring Operations Spill and Bypass April 3 – April 20 Spill and Transport April 21 – May 6 Maximized Transport May 7 – 20 Resume Spill and Transport May 21 ~ June 1 or until

Fall Chinook predominate

Summer Operations Spill and Transport (~June 1 ~ Aug 31) In August, spill will be curtailed after Aug 1 when

fewer than 300 juvenile fall Chinook per day are collected