| 26-Feb-2008 |
2008-01 |
IDFG, ODFW, WDFW, SBT, CRITFC, NPT |
Spill 100 Kcfs at Bonneville Dam for four days
following the March Spring Creek Hatchery Release |
| 1. SOR request |
Specifications:
In support of the Spring Creek National Fish Hatchery release of 7.5
million tule fall Chinook beginning on March 5, 2008, the Salmon
Managers listed above requested the following operations at the
Bonneville Project:
- Begin operation of the corner collector on March 5, 2008;
- Beginning March 5, monitor sub-samples at the Hamilton Island
Juvenile Monitoring Facility (JMF). When sub-sampling at the JMF
indicates large numbers of subyearling Chinook have reached
Bonneville Dam, contact COE Reservoir Control Center to begin the
spill operation, but begin spill no later than 1800 hours on March 6,
2008;
- Operate the Bonneville Project to maintain a minimum 15.5 foot
tailwater elevation beginning with the initiation of spill on March 5
or 6;
- Spill at 100 kcfs during daytime hours and 100 kcfs during
nighttime hours (the same levels as included in the 2007 Operation
Agreement for spring spill) for a four day period from the initiation
of spill (96 hours);
- No operation of unscreened units at Bonneville Powerhouse II and
follow the turbine operating priority in the Fish Passage Plan.
- Operate Powerhouse II as first priority. Fully load PH II before
operating PH I.
- Operate turbine units toward the low end of the 1% range of peak
efficiency.
- Minimum Gap Runner (MGR) units will operate at PH1 on a first
on/last off basis when that powerhouse operates. FPP unit operating
priorities will be used.
- Operate juvenile and adult facilities according to criteria.
- Reduce spill if the total dissolved gas concentration measurements
exceed the 12-hour average 120% total dissolved gas limit, measured
at the Bonneville Dam TDG tailrace monitor, as prescribed under the
dissolved gas waiver from the state of Oregon and the Washington
adjusted TDG standards.
- Maintain a maximum level of 105% TDG (factored for depth
compensation) at the chum salmon redds at the Ives Island complex and
on the Oregon shore at Multnomah Falls.
- The Action Agencies should use the flexibility in the system to
implement this SOR without jeopardizing the April 10th rule curve
elevations called for by the Biological Opinion.
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| 2. Participants |
Idaho Fish and Game, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Washington
Department of Fish and Wildlife, Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, Columbia
River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, and Nez Perce Tribe.
|
| 3. TMT recommendation |
TMT could not come to agreement, Oregon elevated to IT.
|
| 4. AA decision |
Follow specifications of SOR 2008-01, except specification 3 and 4.
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| 5. IT recommendation |
IT could not come to agreement, Oregon elevated to Executives.Prior to
the Executives meeting to discuss SOR 2008-01, the Action Agencies
developed a proposed operation in collaboration with representatives
from the Warm Springs Tribe, the Yakama Indian Nation, the Nez Perce
Tribe, and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.
This proposed operation was then shared with the States of Oregon,
Washington, and Idaho. The Action Agencies considered their input and
concerns in refining the proposed operation. The primary biological
concern of the parties was the overcrowding in gatewells and the bypass
system that would likely occur due to the significant number of fish
being released directly above the dam over such a short time frame. In
the interest of compromise and optimizing conditions for Spring Creek
fish, the Action Agencies agreed to spill immediately after the fish
release. Based on advice from NOAA Fisheries and the Action Agencies,
it was believed that a spill of approximately 35 kcfs would help
alleviate the bypass overcrowding concern. In the future, the Federal
agencies will work with the sovereign parties to stagger fish releases
to minimize crowding at the gatewells. In addition, it is an Action
Agency priority to reprogram the Spring Creek Hatchery production so
that this March release and corresponding special operations for this
release are no longer necessary. A mutual commitment is expected from
the sovereign parties to join us in supporting and implementing Spring
Creek reprogramming as early as 2010, but no later than 2012. After
fully considering the technical input received and subsequent policy
discussion, the Corps agreed to operate the Bonneville project in the
following manner:
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| 6. AA decision (after IT) |
Starting on March 5 at 1600 hours: Operate the second powerhouse
corner collector (5 kcfs discharge).Starting on March 6 at 0600 hours:
- Operate the second powerhouse as first priority.
- Operate fish passage facilities in accordance with the Fish
Passage Plan (FPP).
- Operate second powerhouse turbine units toward the low end of the
1% of best efficiency range until 0600 hours March 10.
- Operate first powerhouse Minimum Gap Runner (MGR) units on a first
on/last off basis when that powerhouse operates, and operate the
units within the 1% of best efficiency range. Follow FPP unit
operating priorities at both powerhouses.
Starting midnight on March 6 and ending at 0600 hours on March 10,
provide approximately 36.4 kcfs spill using a modified spill pattern
that will provide good fish passage conditions. In addition, 2 kcfs
spill will be provided during daytime hours at the end spill bays for
adult fish attraction, according to the FPP. Every other spillbay will
be open 2 ft at spillbays 3-17. Adequate flows will be provided to
protect incubating chum salmon downstream of Bonneville Dam from the
effects of elevated TDG levels.
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| 7. Actual Operation |
Corner Collector Operation: The BII corner collector
began operation for the 2008 fish passage season at approximately 1600
hours on March 5. The corner collector will be operated and will
continue to operate (short-term outages for various maintenance
activities may occur) until August 31, 2008 as specified in the 2008
Fish Operations Plan.
Spill Operation: Bonneville project began spilling
approximately 36.4 kcfs (range: 34.6 - 38.2 kcfs) at 2359 hours on
March 6 and continued until 0600 hours on March 10. Hourly total
dissolved gas levels measured at the Warrenton TDG monitoring site
exceeded the maximum 105% depth compensated level specified for Ives
Island Complex Chum salmon redds for a total of two hours (1600-1800
hours) the afternoon of March 8 and one hour (1600-1700 hours) the
afternoon of March 9. Minimum Bonneville project tailwater was
specified to be at or above a minimum of 12.5' measured at Tanner Creek
from 2359 hours on March 6 until 1334 hours on March 7. Actual
tailwater elevation during this time ranged from 12.1' - 15.9'. On
March 7 at 1334 hours, Bonneville project minimum tailwater
specification was amended to a minimum of 13.0' through the end of the
spill operation for Spring Creek fish. Actual tailwater elevation from
1334 hours on March 7 through the end of the operation on March 10 at
0600 hours ranged from 13.0 - 14.4 feet.
Turbine Operation: BII turbines were operated within the
lower quarter of the ±1% peak efficiency range in an effort to
reduce gatewell turbulence and thus minimize the potential for injury
to occur to Spring Creek fish passing through the juvenile screened
bypass system. This operation began at 0600 hours on March 6 and
continued through 0600 hours on March 10. This turbine operation was
subsequently extended and resumed at 1400 hours on March 10 and
continuing until March 13 at 1700 hours.
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| 8. If different from AA decision, why? |
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