US Columbia Operations Overview Columbia Basin Advisory Committee October 27, 2015
The Role of Reservoir Storage The The Role Role of of of Reservoir Storage Reservoir Inflow Reservoir Level Electricity Demand Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 2
Storage vs Run-of-River Plants Storage Reservoir Kinbasket Run-of-river Revelstoke Storage Reservoir Arrow 3
Mainstem Columbia Dams Kinbasket (storage) Roosevelt (storage) Arrow (storage) US Canada Free Flowing River Free Flowing River 4
Columbia Basin 5
Kootenay River Mainstem Columbia Pend Oreille River Snake River 6
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Key Players in US Operations Action Agencies: US Army Corp of Engineers (COE) Owner Operator Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) Operator Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) Owner Regulators & Sovereigns: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) State Regulators Tribal Fisheries (CRITFC very active) Decision Making: Technical Management Team (TMT) Action Agencies, Regulators, Sovereigns 8
US Legislation Endangered Species Act: Some fish species are listed as threatened or endangered. Chum Salmon near mouth of river Chinook Salmon and Steelhead in Snake and Columbia Sockeye Salmon in the Snake River White Sturgeon on Kootenai River Bull Trout on the Kootenai and Pend Oreille Must be actions to avoid jeopardizing the survival and recover of the listed species. 9
US Legislation Biological Opinion: Authored by USFWS Recommending reservoir operations required to meet the terms of the Endangered Species Act. Water Management Plan Developed by Action Agencies, in consultation with regulators and sovereigns (at TMT) The implementation plan for fisheries operations identified in the Biological Opinion 10
Key US Operations Objectives 11
Reservoir Elevation Key US Operational Objectives Flood Control COE have responsibility for both Canadian and US Flood Management Each Storage Reservoir will have Flood Control obligation. Typical Reservoir Flood Control Requirement High Snowpack Low Snowpack Draft Period Prescriptive Requirement???? Refill Period COE Judgment 12
Key US Operational Objectives (Apr 10 - Aug 31) Support out-migration of Salmon Smolt Peak: April June Objective to flush smolt to ocean as quick as possible. McNary Flow Objective: 220 to 260 kcfs at McNary Hold below ~300 kcfs, else Total Dissolved Gas will be too high. 13
Key US Operational Objectives (Apr 10 - Aug 31) Support Spawning Adults Salmon Peak: July Aug Temperature issue in River >21oC can drastically slow spawning. 200 kcfs objective at McNary to help cool river water. 14
Key US Operational Objectives (Sep 1 - early-nov) Grand Coulee Kokanee Spawning Hold Roosevelt high in fall. Vernita Bar Salmon Spawning October Hold water level low for spawning. 15
Key US Operational Objectives (Early-Nov Apr 10) Support Chum Salmon Spawning Higher flow desirable to increase spawning habitat Not too high, else there may not be enough winter water to prevent dewatering Hold the protection level across the winter. Plant Tailwater of about Elev 11.4 feet (~120 kcfs) 16
Other US Operational Objectives Libby Flow pulse at LIB to trigger spawning of Sturgeon. Bull Trout flows Hungry Horse Bull trout flows. 17
US Storage Reservoir Operations 18
Reservoir Level (feet) Inflow Outflow (kcfs) Libby Dam (Koocanusa Reservoir) 2460 2450 2440 Libby Reservoir Summary of inflows, Outflows and Levels (Average: 2004-2014) Full Pool: 2459 ft Norm Year: 10 foot draft by end of Sep 120 110 100 2430 2420 Draft to support downstream Salmon Dry Year: 20 foot draft by end of Sep 90 80 2410 70 2400 60 2390 2380 2370 Draft for Flood Control (VAR-Q) High flow to meet FC 50 40 30 2360 Min Flows 2350 Sturgeon Pulse 2340 01-Jan 01-Feb 01-Mar 01-Apr 01-May 01-Jun 01-Jul 01-Aug 01-Sep 01-Oct 01-Nov 01-Dec Elevation Outflow Inflows 20 10 0 19
Reservoir Level (feet) Inflow Outflow (kcfs) Hungry Horse Dam and Reservoir 3580 Hungry Horse Reservoir Summary of Inflows, Outflows and Levels (Average: 2004-2014) 60 3560 Full Pool: 3560 ft Target Full Normal Year: 10 foot draft by end of Sep 50 3540 Draft to support downstream Salmon Dry Year: 20 foot draft by end of Sep 40 3520 30 3500 Draft for Flood Control (VAR-Q) 20 3480 Min Flows 10 3460 0 20 Elevation Outflow Inflows
Reservoir Level (feet) Inflow Outflow (kcfs) Albeni Falls (Lake Pend Orielle) 2070 Albeni Falls Reservoir Summary of Inflows, Outflows and Levels (Average: 2004-2014) 120 Full Pool: 2062 feet Target Full 2060 100 2050 Decision on fall draft. (Kokanee vs Salmon) 80 2040 60 2030 40 2020 20 2010 0 21 Elevation Outflow Inflows
Reservoir Level (feet) Inflow Outflow (kcfs) Dworshak Reservoir 1620 1600 Dworshak Reservoir Summary of Inflows, Outflows and Levels (Average: 2004-2014) Full Pool: 1599 ft 100 90 1580 1560 1540 1520 Target Full by end of June Flow Augmentation, and Temperature Control Draft to 1520 ft by end of September to support Salmon Migration 80 70 60 50 1500 40 1480 30 1460 20 1440 10 1420 0 22 Elevation Outflow Inflows
Reservoir Level (feet) Inflow Outflow (kcfs) Brownlee Reservoir 2080 2070 Full Pool: 2080 ft Brownlee Reservoir Summary of Inflows, Outflows and Levels (Average: 2004-2012) Draft to support Salmon Migration 80 70 2060 60 2050 2040 Draft for Flood Control Economic Operation?? 50 40 2030 30 2020 20 2010 10 2000 0 23 Elevation Outflow Inflows
Reservoir Level (feet) Inflow Outflow (kcfs) Grand Coulee (Lake Roosevelt) Reservoir 1300 1290 1280 1270 1260 1250 1240 Draft to manage chum flows at Bonneville, while staying below Flood Control. Grand Coulee Reservoir Summary of Inflows, Outflows and Levels (Average: 2004-2014) Full Pool: 1290 Apr 10: Reservoir must be at Flood Control Level. Target Full Reservoir 10 ft from full to support McNary flows Reservoir refilled to min 1283 ft for Kokanee spawning 500 450 400 350 300 250 200 1230 150 1220 100 1210 50 1200 Chum Season The Fish Window Chum Season 0 24 Elevation Outflow Inflows
Downstream Flow Outcomes 25
Discharge (kcfs) McNary Plant Discharge McNary Dam Discharges (Average: 2004-2014) 500 400 300 200 100 Smolt Migration Flow Objective Adult Migration Flow Objective 0 Chum Season The Fish Window Chum Season 26 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Questions? 27