D2012-01 D2012-1 D2012-FWS#1 D2012-2 D2012C-1 D2012C-2 D2012-3 D2012-4 D2012C-3 D2012C-4 D2012-USFWS/IDFG-1 D2012C-5 D2012C-6 D2012C-7
D2012-01 Top of Page
|
|||||
| 1. SOR request |
SPECIFICATIONS: Release minimal outflow from Libby Dam during September (6,000 cfs) and October (4,000 cfs minimum), 2012. JUSTIFICATIONS: Minimum flows in the Kootenai River in September and October are requested to allow the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho’s contractor to de-water two areas (channels) located in the Kootenai River Habitat Restoration Project, Phase 2, Braided Reach 2 project area. The restoration strategy for this portion of the project is to stabilize eroding banks, trap sediment and promote floodplain development, increase riparian vegetation, and increase channel margin and side channel complexity. The Upper Meander project will result in restoration of approximately 2,000 feet of river bank and will substantially reduce sediment loading that is contributing to degraded habitat conditions downstream. The North Side Channels project will address degraded habitat conditions in 7,500 feet of side channels. Provide gradually declining discharge to the target flow following ramping rates and minimum flow guidelines in the 2006 BiOp for bull trout and white sturgeon. The proposed operation is requested in order to implement the Tribe’s Phase 2, Braided Reach 2 portion of the Kootenai River Habitat Restoration Project. The proposed operation will also ensure Action Agency compliance with the USFWS Biological Opinion regarding the Effects of Libby Dam Operations on the Kootenai River White Sturgeon, Bull Trout, and Kootenai Sturgeon Critical Habitat (1901F0279R) as clarified (2008). Action 2.1 under RPA Component 2 (Management of Sturgeon Habitat) calls for Action Agency cooperation in implementing the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho’s Kootenai River Restoration Project Master Plan. |
||||
| 2. Participants | Kootenai Tribe of Idaho – Sue Ireland, Fish & Wildlife Department Director | ||||
| 3. TMT recommendation |
This operation was coordinated at several TMT meetings: 3/28, 6/20, 7/11, 7/18, 7/25, 8/8 and 8/15. 3/28 TMT meeting: the TMT provided the following polling results: Washington – Supports the operation so long as it protects the river’s ecology. Oregon – No objection. Montana – Supports the operation. Idaho – Supports the operation. NOAA – Supports the operation with the ability to do in-season management to achieve desired flows. USFWS – Supports the operation. CTUIR – Supports the operation for now. Wants to monitor the operation in-season as it progresses. Nez Perce – No objection. Not available at 3/28 meeting. Provided response to the COE via phone 4/3. Colville Tribes – Supports the operation. Reclamation – Supports the operation. Agrees with the desire to manage the operation in-season. BPA – Supports the operation. COE – Supports the operation. Based on the poll results, the AAs committed to: 1) target an end of August elevation of 2449’, then operate the project to minimum bull trout flows in September (6 kcfs) and October (4 kcfs); 2) manage outflows to achieve the target elevation for August 31 through in-season coordination with TMT as forecasts and observed conditions develop. 7/18 TMT meeting: the COE provided an updated alternative (Alternative 3) based on discussions and recommendations from the 7/11 TMT meeting. All TMT members present concurred with Alternative 3 as the preferred operation to achieve multiple objectives, including the SOR, in light of the record-breaking high flows in the Kootenai River. Details of the Alternative 3 operation can be found on the TMT meeting agenda website at: http://www.nwd-wc.usace.army.mil/tmt/agendas/2012/0718_Libby-Dam-Summer-Ops.pdf 7/25 TMT meeting: the COE provided an update on planned Libby operations as defined in Alternative 3, based on the latest observed and forecast data. Forecasts have remained stable and there is very little change from the previous discussion on 7/18. The COE clarified that any water stored above 2449’ on August 31 will be released sometime from mid-November through December to achieve the end of December flood control target elevation. The timing of this water release will provide a benefit to the chum operation. 8/8 TMT meeting: the COE provided an update that they had received a request from MT to modify the Libby operation to provide a higher September outflow (8 kcfs) for the benefit of the river’s biological productivity. The COE provided an Alternative 4 operation that incorporated MT’s request, using the same inflow triggers in August but a more gradual ramp down to a higher September outflow. Details of the Alternative 4 operation can be found on the TMT meeting agenda website at: wc.usace.army.mil/tmt/agendas/2012/0808_Libby_Dam_Summer_Ops_Aug8.pdf TMT provided the following polling results: Washington – No objection. Oregon – No objection. Montana – Supports the operation. Idaho – Supports the operation. NOAA – No objection. USFWS – No objection. CTUIR – No objection, pending further discussion. Nez Perce – No objection. Not available at 8/8 meeting. Provided response to the COE via phone 8/8. Colville Tribes – No objection. Reclamation – No objection. BPA – No objection. COE – Supports the operation. |
||||
| 4. AA decision |
The AAs committed to implement the SOR as coordinated with TMT, and will adjust through
coordination with TMT as necessary as observed conditions and forecasts develop. |
||||
| 5. IT recommendation | |||||
| 6. AA decision (after IT) | |||||
| 7. Actual Operation | The AAs implemented the SOR as coordinated with TMT, and adjusted as necessary through coordination with TMT. The implemented operation is defined in Alternative 4. | ||||
| 8. If different from AA decision, why? | For the month of June, inflow volume at Libby Dam was 166% of average. In response to these extreme real-time conditions, the COE made adjustments to the initial operation that was coordinated at the 3/28 TMT meeting. Operational adjustments to the SOR were coordinated at several TMT meetings: 3/28, 6/20, 7/11, 7/18, 7/25, 8/8 and 8/15. | ||||
D2012-1 Top of Page
|
|||||
| 1. SOR request |
SPECIFICATIONS: Beginning immediately and maintaining for duration of five days: i. Operate Powerhouse Two (PH2) at the mid-point of the 1% best efficiency range. With all available units operational, at the above operational ranges, this would be the powerhouse capacity over the next five days; any flows above this powerhouse capacity would be spilled. ii. If powerhouse capacity is reached with the above operational criteria, and spill amounts lead to TDG exceedences below Bonneville Dam, then operate Powerhouse One at Open Geometry outside of the 1% best efficiency range, while maintaining operations at Powerhouse Two at the mid-point of the of 1% range. ACTION AGENCY RESPONSE: Action Agencies (AA) indicated it would not be possible to cap PH2 at the mid-point of the 1% best efficiency range because this would result in voluntarily exceeding the gas cap. At this time the AA’s would not be able to voluntarily exceed the gas cap. However in coordination with the TMT the AA’s provided TMT with the following proposed operation that would minimize mortality at PH 2 and could be used to implement the SOR: 1. Bonneville (BON) PH2 units will be operated at the 25% of the 1% operating range. 2. To pass additional flows, operate powerhouse 1 (PH1) units up to the 100% (full capacity) of the 1% operating range. 3. To pass additional flows after PH1 is fully loaded, increase PH2 units one at a time in the order of priority within 25-50% of the 1% operating range. 4. To pass additional flow after PH1 is fully loaded and all available PH2 units are operating at 50%, increase operation of PH1 units up to best geometry. 5. To pass additional flow after all available PH1 units are operating at best geometry, increase PH2 units one at a time in the order of priority withing 50-75% of the 1% operating range. 6. To pass additional flow after all available PH2 units are operating at 75%, decrease PH1 unit operation to 100% of the 1% operating range and increase PH2 units one at a time in the order of priority within 75-100% of the 1% operating range. An additional operational adjustment implemented in an effort to minimize mortality during the Spring Creek hatchery release included changing the spill priority list. This change was coordinated during the April 11 meeting and the TMT changed the spill priority list (moving BON to the top of levels 3-7) in an effort to provide additional spill at BON. |
||||
| 2. Participants |
National Marine Fisheries Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Nez Perce Tribe, the Columbia
River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Idaho Fish and
Game, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW not a signatory on the SOR but ODFW clarified
during the April 13 TMT meeting the lack of inclusion as a signatory was a technical error and
the intention was to be a signatory on the SOR). |
||||
| 3. TMT recommendation |
TMT polling below is based on the AA’s proposed operation to implement the SOR as discussed above
(Section 1. SOR Request, 1-6). TMT polling results: NOAA - Support USFW - No objection OR - No objection BOR - Support WA - No objection Colville - No objection IDFG - No objection Umatilla - No objection Nez Perce - No objection MT - No objection BPA - Support |
||||
| 4. AA decision | AA’s implemented the operation (Section 1. SOR Request, 1-6). | ||||
| 5. IT recommendation | |||||
| 6. AA decision (after IT) | |||||
| 7. Actual Operation |
The AA’s implemented the operation from April 13 to April 17. The operation was effective
at keeping mortality rates low at PH2 during the Spring Creek hatchery release as reflected
in the mortality rates below: 4/13 0700 hours – 4/14 0700 hours: 1,692 sampled fish; 9 mortalities; 0.5% mortality rate 4/14 0700 hours – 4/15 0700 hours: 330 sampled fish; 18 mortalities; 5.5% mortality rate 4/15 0700 hours – 4/16 0700 hours: 322 sampled fish; 8 total mortalities; 2.5% mortality rate 4/16 0700 hours – 4/17 0700 hours: 438 sampled fish; 17 mortalities; 3.9% mortality rate |
||||
| 8. If different from AA decision, why? | |||||
D2012-FWS#1 Top of Page
|
|||||
| 1. SOR request |
SPECIFICATIONS: Based on the Fish and Wildlife Service’s February 2006 Biological Opinion (2006 BO) on operations of Libby Dam, and the May final April-August volume runoff forecast of 7.155 million acre-feet, we are within a Tier 4 operations year for Kootenai River white sturgeon. The minimum recommended release volume for sturgeon conservation in a Tier 4 year is 1.18 million acre-feet and we recommend the following procedures for discharge of at least this minimum volume from Libby Dam: Begin releases of sturgeon volume from Libby Dam once the following conditions are met: Kootenai River temperatures at Bonners Ferry reach 8° C, and Koocanusa Reservoir elevation reaches at least 2,415’ MSL; at least one tagged F4 sturgeon is positioned at Ambush Rock; and the forebay of Koocanusa Reservoir warms such that 20-35,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) can be released in unison through the turbines and over the spillway without decreasing Libby Dam release temperatures by more than 2° C. Ascending Limb: When these conditions are met, increase discharge from Libby Dam (according to ramping rates in the 2006 BO) to 15,000 cfs for 3 days, followed by discharge of 20,000 cfs for 3 days, discharge of full powerhouse capacity (PHC) for 3 days, and maintain peak discharge of PHC plus spill of up to 10,000 cfs for 7 days. Alternatively, if discharges from Libby Dam are higher than 15,000 cfs prior to commencement of sturgeon operations, once the conditions described above are met, increase discharge from Libby Dam (according to ramping rates in the 2006 BO) to 20,000 cfs for 4 days, followed by discharge of PHC for 5 days, and maintain peak discharge of PHC plus spill of up to 10,000 cfs for 7 days. Descending Limb: At approximately 6:00 AM, following peak outflow, reduce discharge from Libby Dam to PHC for 4 days. After four days at PHC, reduce discharge to 20,000 cfs for at least 3 days. This discharge period may be extended if necessary to reduce the rate of reservoir refill. |
||||
| 2. Participants | USFWS and IDFG | ||||
| 3. TMT recommendation |
TMT members provided the following responses to implementing the SOR during the May 25 meeting: • Montana - Supports the SOR. • Washington – Supports the SOR. • Oregon – No objection. • Nez Perce – No objection. • Umatilla – No objection. • NOAA – Supports the SOR. • USFWS – Supports the SOR. • BPA – Supports the SOR. • BOR – Supports the SOR. • COE – Supports the SOR. • Idaho – No objection (TMT alternate polled via phone after the May 25 meeting). |
||||
| 4. AA decision | The AA’s decided to implement the operation. | ||||
| 5. IT recommendation | |||||
| 6. AA decision (after IT) | |||||
| 7. Actual Operation | The AA’s implemented the operation. | ||||
| 8. If different from AA decision, why? | |||||
D2012-2 Top of Page
|
|||||
| 1. SOR request |
OBJECTIVE: To Reduce Descaling of Sockeye at Bonneville Dam. SPECIFICATIONS: In accordance with the 2012 Fish Passage Plan, Section 5.2.1, the Salmon Mangers are requesting that Bonneville Powerhouse Two be operated to the lower end (25%) of the 1% range in an effort to minimize sockeye descaling and potential future mortality associated with that descaling. Operate Bonneville Dam Powerhouse Two at the lower 1% range (25% of the 1% range) while operating Powerhouse One within the 1% Efficiency Range, and spilling the balance of water up to Bonneville Tailrace Total Dissolved Gas Cap. This operation should be implemented immediately and remain in place until the Salmon Managers have reviewed the available Smolt Monitoring Data to determine the juvenile sockeye run has passed Bonneville Dam. |
||||
| 2. Participants | US Fish and Wildlife Service, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, the Colville Tribes, and the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission. | ||||
| 3. TMT recommendation |
5/30 TMT Meeting: In response to the SOR, the Action Agencies agreed to implement the same operation that had been
implemented over the past few weeks, effective today (5/30) through Monday, 6/4 at 6:00 pm: • Operate PH 2 up to the 25% of 1% of Best Efficiency Operating Range • Operate PH 1 up to the upper limit (100%) of 1% • As needed, operate PH 2 within the 25-50% range of 1% • As needed to remain flow neutral, operate PH 1 up to best geometry • As necessary, involuntary spill above the TDG spill cap. TMT poll/planned operation: • Oregon – Disappointed that the planned operation is not different from what was provided before. Does not support the operation as described. Will not object. • Idaho – No objection • Nez Perce – No objection with the understanding that the Corps will implement the request to the extent possible without exceeding TDG standards • CTUIR – No objection, but very concerned that the Corps is not willing to implement the SOR. • Colville – Very concerned; strongly prefers the SOR be implemented; will not object to the planned operation. • Salish-Kootenai – Agree with the other tribes on today’s call; will not object to the planned operation. • NOAA – Supports the Corps’ proposal • BPA – Supports the Corps’ proposal • Reclamation – Supports the Corps’ proposal |
||||
| 4. AA decision | The AA’s decided to implemented the operation described above on 5/30 and continued through 6:00 pm on Monday, 6/4. | ||||
| 5. IT recommendation | |||||
| 6. AA decision (after IT) | |||||
| 7. Actual Operation | The AA’s implemented the operation as described during the 5/30 TMT meeting. | ||||
| 8. If different from AA decision, why? | |||||
D2012C-1 Top of Page
|
|||||
| 1. SOR request |
Specifications:
Implement the following pool operations as a hard system constraint, as follows: June 18, 2012, 6 am, Monday,
through 6 pm, June 21, 2012, Thursday. June 25, 2012, 6 am, Monday, through 6 pm, June 28, 2012, Thursday.
Bonneville: Operate the pool within a 1.5 foot band during the treaty fishing period. The Dalles (Celilo):
Operate the pool within a 1.5 foot band during the treaty fishing period. John Day: Operate the pool within
a 1.5 foot band during the treaty fishing period. |
||||
| 2. Participants | Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission. | ||||
| 3. TMT recommendation | No objections were received from TMT. | ||||
| 4. AA decision |
The Corps agreed to operating the Bonneville, John Day and Dalles pools within a 1.5' operating band, hard constraint.
Note that the 2008 BiOp sets a 1.5 foot operating range at John Day, hard constraint, through 30 September. |
||||
| 5. IT recommendation | |||||
| 6. AA decision (after IT) | |||||
| 7. Actual Operation |
During the 84 one hour intervals associated with the SOR, Jun 18 - 21, the Corps maintained the following system constraints: Bonneville: Operate the pool within a 1.5 foot band during the treaty fishing period -- 100% compliance. The Dalles (Celilo): Operate the pool within a 1.5 foot band during the treaty fishing period --100% compliance. John Day: Operate the pool within a 1.5 foot band during the treaty fishing period -- 100% compliance. During the 84 one hour intervals associated with the SOR, Jun 25 - 28, the Corps maintained the following system constraints: Bonneville: Operate the pool within a 1.5 foot band during the treaty fishing period -- 100% compliance. The Dalles (Celilo): Operate the pool within a 1.5 foot band during the treaty fishing period --100% compliance. John Day: Operate the pool within a 1.5 foot band during the treaty fishing period -- 100% compliance. |
||||
| 8. If different from AA decision, why? | |||||
D2012C-2 Top of Page
|
|||||
| 1. SOR request |
Specifications:
Implement the following pool operations as a hard system constraint, as follows: July 3, 2012, 6 am, Tuesday,
through 6 pm, July 6, 2012, Friday. July 9, 2012, 6 am, Monday, through 6 pm, July 11, 2012, Wednesday.
Bonneville: Operate the pool within a 1.5 foot band during the treaty fishing period. The Dalles (Celilo):
Operate the pool within a 1.5 foot band during the treaty fishing period. John Day: Operate the pool within
a 1.5 foot band during the treaty fishing period. |
||||
| 2. Participants | Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission. | ||||
| 3. TMT recommendation | No objections were received from TMT. | ||||
| 4. AA decision |
The Corps agreed to operating the Bonneville, John Day and Dalles pools within a 1.5' operating band, hard constraint.
Note that the 2008 BiOp sets a 1.5 foot operating range at John Day, hard constraint, through 30 September. |
||||
| 5. IT recommendation | |||||
| 6. AA decision (after IT) | |||||
| 7. Actual Operation |
During the 84 one hour intervals associated with the SOR, Jul 3 - 6, the Corps maintained the following system constraints: Bonneville: Operate the pool within a 1.5 foot band during the treaty fishing period -- 88.1% compliance. The Dalles (Celilo): Operate the pool within a 1.5 foot band during the treaty fishing period --100% compliance. John Day: Operate the pool within a 1.5 foot band during the treaty fishing period -- 100% compliance. During the 84 one hour intervals associated with the SOR, Jul 9 - 11, the Corps maintained the following system constraints: Bonneville: Operate the pool within a 1.5 foot band during the treaty fishing period -- 100% compliance. The Dalles (Celilo): Operate the pool within a 1.5 foot band during the treaty fishing period --100% compliance. John Day: Operate the pool within a 1.5 foot band during the treaty fishing period -- 100% compliance. |
||||
| 8. If different from AA decision, why? |
For the period July 3 - 6 Bonneville pool exceeded the 1.5 foot band for ten hours. For seven of those hours, the range was only .1 foot greater than the allowed band.
For one hour, the miss was .3 feet. The primary reason for slightly exceeding the band was that total river flow was near the peak of the freshet, in an above average
water year, and Grand Coulee flows, as well Dworshak flows, were being adjusted to control final fill. |
||||
D2012-3 Top of Page
|
|||||
| 1. SOR request |
OBJECTIVE: Do not initiate barge transport operations at McNary Dam. SPECIFICATIONS: Do not initiate transport from McNary Dam until truck transport begins, which is scheduled for August 17, 2012. JUSTIFICATION: With regard to summer transportation at McNary Dam, the 2012 Fish Operations Plan (FOP) states: Transportation will be initiated at McNary Dam between July 15–30 per the 2010 Supplemental BiOp (RPA 30, Table 4) and in coordination with NOAA Fisheries and the TMT. If new information indicates that modifying (or eliminating) transportation operations at McNary Dam is warranted, adaptive management will be used to make appropriate adjustments through coordination with the FPOM/TMT. The Salmon Managers signed on to this request recommend modifying transport operations at McNary Dam for the summer of 2012. The recommendation to not initiate transport prior to August 17 is based on the following information: 1. Flow at the McNary project is forecast to be in excess of 200 kcfs until mid-August. Transport benefits were observed in study years during the mid-July to mid-August timeframe when flow was in the range of 80 to 150 kcfs. The most recent data on McNary transport is from the years 2001 and 2002. That data indicated a transport to inriver benefit ranging from 1.2 to 1.5 could occur during the mid-July to mid-August timeframe. Substantial improvements have been made to the McNary project and the projects down river which has likely benefited in-river conditions and reduced the transport benefit observed in those years. 2. A new juvenile outfall has been constructed at the McNary project that should improve survival at this project. 3. Risk to the outfall if there is a problem with a barge operating in the relatively high flow condition at this project this year. Also, interruptions in spill and changes in the spill pattern would be required for the barge to dock at the juvenile facility. 4. Preliminary data indicating high survival of subyearlings released through the McNary outfall this year. |
||||
| 2. Participants | National Marine Fisheries Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, the Colville Tribe, and the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission. | ||||
| 3. TMT recommendation |
7/18 TMT Meeting: NOAA, presented SOR 2012-3 on behalf of the salmon managers, requesting that transportation
at McNary start on 8/17 when trucking begins, and that no fish should be transported via barge this year.
The justifications for this recommendation were that flows are very high this year, well above the target 200
kcfs at McNary; that there had been system configuration improvements at this dam (new juvenile outfall at
McNary Dam) and in the lower river (TSWs at John Day Dam, Extension of the spill wall at The Dalles Dam, and
installation of the corner collector at Bonneville Dam, etc.) which when combines with this years’ above average
flow conditions should improve in-river subyearling survival through the lower Columbia River; and that there are
potential risks to the newly installed McNary outfall if there was a problem with the barge with these higher flow
conditions. Consensus/Planned Operation: In addition to the signatories to the SOR, Montana, BPA, BOR and the Corps agreed with the salmon managers’ proposal, and the Corps planned to implement the request as written after checking in with the Nez Perce Tribe who was not represented during today’s meeting nor a signatory to the SOR. The Corps and others will look at performance standard testing results from this year to help inform future decision-making around transportation, and TMT will do a review at their annual TMT Year End Review in December to look at the impacts on juvenile survival of this special transportation operation. The Corps commended the salmon managers on their process coordination on this issue, and also said this appeared to be a ‘no harm’ operation, which was further justification for their decision to implement it. |
||||
| 4. AA decision | The AA’s decided to not initiate barge transport operations at McNary Dam as described in the SOR. | ||||
| 5. IT recommendation | |||||
| 6. AA decision (after IT) | |||||
| 7. Actual Operation | The AA’s implement the operation described in the SOR. | ||||
| 8. If different from AA decision, why? | |||||
D2012-4 Top of Page
|
|||||
| 1. SOR request |
OBJECTIVE: Do not initiate truck transport operations at McNary Dam on August 17, 2012. SPECIFICATIONS: Delay the Start of truck Transport at McNary Dam until further notice. Due to relatively high existing water temperatures in the holding raceways at McNary Dam coupled with a very warm forecast in the Tri-Cities region, conditions would not be favorable to collect, hold for up to 48 hours, and transport by truck until conditions can be re-evaluated. JUSTIFICATION: The recommendation to not implement truck transport at McNary Dam on August 17 is based on the following information. 1. Average water temperatures in the McNary Forebay have ranged between 68.5-68.9°F from August 8-14, with daily maximum temperatures as high as 69.5°F. Average water temperatures in the McNary tailwater have ranged between 68.6-69.0°F from August 8-14, with daily maximum temperatures as high as 69.2°F (http://www.nwdwc.usace.army.mil/tmt/documents/ops/temp/201208.lcol.html)). 2. The August 3-9, 2012 McNary Dam Temperature report issued by the PSMFC Smolt Monitoring Program recorded daily average water temperatures in Raceway #1 between 67.8-69.7°F with daily maximum temperatures between 69.1-71.8°F (see attachment). 3. Daily maximum air temperatures in the Tri-Cities area are expected to approach or exceed 100°F over the next five days, making it likely that water temperatures will continue to increase. 4. Special sampling protocol has been implemented at the Bonneville and John Day Dam which reduce sampling of juvenile fish to just two days a week at those facilities given the warm water conditions present at those facilities. While no such protocol currently exists for the McNary facility, the fish managers believe it is not prudent to hold fish for an extended period at this facility, especially when the flow in the river is in the 200 kcfs range. 5. A new juvenile outfall has been constructed at the McNary project which should improve survival at this project. |
||||
| 2. Participants | National Marine Fisheries Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, the Colville Tribe, and the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission. | ||||
| 3. TMT recommendation |
8/16 TMT Meeting: TMT revisited McNary transportation discussion with an SOR submitted by FPAC Chair, and
signed by NOAA, USFWS, CRITFC, ODFW, IDFW and WDFW. NOAA said that current data on the benefits of transportation
to fish are not available as all studies at McNary have ceased prior to August 16. That said, NOAA described the
request and biological rationale, which included: • Average water temperatures in the McNary Forebay have ranged between 68.5-68.9°F from August 8-14, with daily maximum temperatures as high as 69.5°F. Average water temperatures in the McNary tailwater have ranged between 68.6-69.0°F from August 8-14, with daily maximum temperatures as high as 69.2°F (http://www.nwdwc.usace.army.mil/tmt/documents/ops/temp/201208.lcol.html). • The August 3-9, 2012 McNary Dam Temperature report issued by the PSMFC Smolt Monitoring Program recorded daily average water temperatures in Raceway #1 between 67.8-69.7°F with daily maximum temperatures between 69.1-71.8°F (see attachment). • Daily maximum air temperatures in the Tri-Cities area are expected to approach or exceed 100°F over the next five days, making it likely that water temperatures will continue to increase. • Special sampling protocols have been implemented at the Bonneville and John Day Dam Smolt Monitoring Facilities in accordance with criteria defined in the 2012 Fish Passage Plan to reduce the frequency of sampling of juvenile fish when temperatures at those facilities are >70°F. While no such protocol currently exists for the McNary Juvenile Fish Facility (JFF), the salmon managers believe it is not prudent to hold fish for an extended period at this facility, especially when the flow in the river is in the 200 kcfs range. • A new juvenile outfall has been constructed at the McNary project which should improve survival at this project. Idaho, added that data indicate that this proposed operation will likely return more adults than would occur with the transportation operation. Corps Decision and Planned Operation: The Corps does not plan to implement the SOR. They acknowledge the current temperature situation at McNary Dam, and said they will follow the special operations described in the Fish Passage Plan to minimize mortalities. Mortalities at the McNary Juvenile Fish Facility have been ?1%, and temperatures are normal for this time of year and consistent with past transportation operations in August; therefore the Corps has determined that an operational adjustment is not necessary at this time. Without an indication of elevated mortalities or abnormally high temperatures, the Corps does not believe it is prudent to make a change at this time. The Corps is aware of the region’s concern and is monitoring the situation closely. If the Corps becomes concerned with the level of mortality observed at the JFF, the Corps will respond by taking immediate corrective steps to switch to bypass operations and return fish to the river. The information the Corps currently has indicates there will be higher smolt to adult return rates (SARs)from truck transportation rather than keeping the fish in river. |
||||
| 4. AA decision | The Corps did not implement the SOR. | ||||
| 5. IT recommendation | |||||
| 6. AA decision (after IT) | |||||
| 7. Actual Operation | Not implementing the SOR the Corps implemented the MCN truck transportation operation as described in the FOP. | ||||
| 8. If different from AA decision, why? | |||||
D2012C-3 Top of Page
|
|||||
| 1. SOR request |
Specifications:
Implement the following pool operations as a hard system constraint, as follows: August 21, 2012, 6 am, Tuesday,
through 6 pm, August 23, 2012, Thursday. August 27, 2012, 6 am, Monday, through 6 pm, August 30, 2012, Thursday.
September 4, 2012, 6 am, Tuesday, through 6 pm, September 8, 2012, Saturday. Bonneville: Operate the pool within
a 1.5 foot band during the treaty fishing period. The Dalles (Celilo): Operate the pool within a 1.5 foot band
during the treaty fishing period. John Day: Operate the pool within a 1.5 foot band during the treaty fishing period. |
||||
| 2. Participants | Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission. | ||||
| 3. TMT recommendation | No objections were received from TMT. | ||||
| 4. AA decision |
The Corps agreed to operating the Bonneville, John Day and Dalles pools within a 1.5' operating band, hard constraint.
Note that the 2008 BiOp sets a 1.5 foot operating range at John Day, hard constraint, through 30 September. |
||||
| 5. IT recommendation | |||||
| 6. AA decision (after IT) | |||||
| 7. Actual Operation |
During the 60 one hour intervals associated with the SOR, Aug 21 - Aug 23, the Corps maintained the following system constraints: Bonneville: Operate the pool within a 1.5 foot band during the treaty fishing period -- 100% compliance. The Dalles (Celilo): Operate the pool within a 1.5 foot band during the treaty fishing period --100% compliance. John Day: Operate the pool within a 1.5 foot band during the treaty fishing period -- 100% compliance. During the 84 one hour intervals associated with the SOR, Aug 27 - Aug 30, the Corps maintained the following system constraints: Bonneville: Operate the pool within a 1.5 foot band during the treaty fishing period -- 96.4% compliance. The Dalles (Celilo): Operate the pool within a 1.5 foot band during the treaty fishing period --100% compliance. John Day: Operate the pool within a 1.5 foot band during the treaty fishing period -- 100% compliance. During the 108 one hour intervals associated with the SOR, Sep 4 - Sep 8, the Corps maintained the following system constraints: Bonneville: Operate the pool within a 1.5 foot band during the treaty fishing period -- 100% compliance. The Dalles (Celilo): Operate the pool within a 1.5 foot band during the treaty fishing period --100% compliance. John Day: Operate the pool within a 1.5 foot band during the treaty fishing period -- 100% compliance. |
||||
| 8. If different from AA decision, why? | |||||
D2012C-4 Top of Page
|
|||||
| 1. SOR request |
Specifications:
Implement the following pool operations as a hard system constraint, as follows: September 11, 2012, 6 am,
Tuesday, through 6 pm, September 14, 2012, Friday. Bonneville: Operate the pool within a 1.5 foot band during
the treaty fishing period. The Dalles (Celilo): Operate the pool within a 1.5 foot band during the treaty fishing
period. John Day: Operate the pool within a 1.5 foot band during the treaty fishing period. |
||||
| 2. Participants | Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission. | ||||
| 3. TMT recommendation | No objections were received from TMT. | ||||
| 4. AA decision |
The Corps agreed to operating the Bonneville, John Day and Dalles pools within a 1.5' operating band, hard constraint.
Note that the 2008 BiOp sets a 1.5 foot operating range at John Day, hard constraint, through 30 September. |
||||
| 5. IT recommendation | |||||
| 6. AA decision (after IT) | |||||
| 7. Actual Operation |
During the 84 one hour intervals associated with the SOR, Sep 11 - 14, the Corps maintained the following system constraints: Bonneville: Operate the pool within a 1.5 foot band during the treaty fishing period -- 100% compliance. The Dalles (Celilo): Operate the pool within a 1.5 foot band during the treaty fishing period --100% compliance. John Day: Operate the pool within a 1.5 foot band during the treaty fishing period -- 100% compliance. |
||||
| 8. If different from AA decision, why? | |||||
D2012-USFWS/IDFG-1 Top of Page
|
|||||
| 1. SOR request |
SPECIFICATIONS: IDFG and USFWS request that the Army Corps of Engineers (COE) draw Lake Pend Oreille down to a winter minimum control elevation (MCE) no lower than 2055’ during the winter of 2012-2013. Conduct drawdowns while minimizing or eliminating the need to spill at Albeni Falls Dam. We request that the drawdown be completed by November 8 if reasonably possible. During the past five years, kokanee spawning has commenced around November 8 (earlier than years prior). If this is not possible, the MCE should be reached as soon as possible after November 8 and no later than November 15, and should not be dropped below this elevation for the duration of the winter. IDFG will monitor arrival time of kokanee at shoreline spawning areas and provide timely reports to the federal agencies. These proposed operations are not anticipated to cause exceedance of the state maximum total dissolved gas standards at downstream projects barring unforeseen circumstances. Lake Pend Oreille will then be held within 0.5’ above the MCE to the end of kokanee spawning (monitored by IDFG) or December 31, whichever comes first. JUSTIFICATION: On September 27, 2011, IDFG and USFWS submitted a systems operations request (SOR) to the Technical Management Team (TMT) for 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 winter operations (USFWS/IDFG-1). The SOR requested an MCE of 2051’ in 2011-2012 and 2055’ in 2012-2013. TMT members voiced no objections to the SOR, with the caveat that 2012-2013 request be revisited the following year. This SOR follows up on that process. The justification for this SOR remains the same as the 2011-2012, including the determination to deviate from the decision tree. |
||||
| 2. Participants | Chip Corsi, Regional Supervisor, Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) Ben Conard, Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) | ||||
| 3. TMT recommendation |
9/19 TMT Meeting: Idaho, presented an SOR for operations to support recovering kokanee populations (a food source
for listed bull trout) in Lake Pend Oreille. Idaho reminded TMT that an SOR was submitted last year that requested
a two-year operation that aligned with a two-year research project to study operation effects on kokanee. The
operation held the pool at the lower, 2051 foot, elevation last year and would put the lake at the higher, 2055
foot, elevation this year. Agreements were reached last year to implement the request, with the caveat that TMT
would revisit the recommendation this year with consideration for current conditions. The recommendation is a
deviation from the decision tree the stakeholders developed to guide recommendations, and Idaho said that the
research results could lead to a refinement of the decision tree for future years. Idaho said that since the
operations have been in place, biologists are seeing positive signs of kokanee recovery. TMT members were polled
on their level of support for the recommendation: • Oregon – no objection • Washington – no objection • Montana – no objection • NOAA – no objection • Nez Perce Tribe – no objection; noted that Lake Pend Oreille is a natural lake and treasured resource. Minimizing fluctuations of lake levels to be more consistent with naturally occurring hydrologic cycle is preferred. • Colville Tribe – no objection • CRITFC/CTUIR –not available during this discussion, did not weigh in at the meeting • Reclamation – supports • BPA – supports |
||||
| 4. AA decision | The AA’s decided to implement the SOR. | ||||
| 5. IT recommendation | |||||
| 6. AA decision (after IT) | |||||
| 7. Actual Operation | The AA’s implement the SOR. | ||||
| 8. If different from AA decision, why? | |||||
D2012C-5 Top of Page
|
|||||
| 1. SOR request |
Specifications:
Implement the following pool operations as a hard system constraint, as follows: September 18, 2012, 6 am,
Tuesday, through 6 pm, September 21, 2012, Friday. Bonneville: Operate the pool within a 1.5 foot band during
the treaty fishing period. The Dalles (Celilo): Operate the pool within a 1.5 foot band during the treaty fishing
period. John Day: Operate the pool within a 1.5 foot band during the treaty fishing period. |
||||
| 2. Participants | Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission. | ||||
| 3. TMT recommendation | No objections were received from TMT. | ||||
| 4. AA decision |
The Corps agreed to operating the Bonneville, John Day and Dalles pools within a 1.5' operating band, hard constraint.
Note that the 2008 BiOp sets a 1.5 foot operating range at John Day, hard constraint, through 30 September. |
||||
| 5. IT recommendation | |||||
| 6. AA decision (after IT) | |||||
| 7. Actual Operation |
During the 84 one hour intervals associated with the SOR, Sep 18 - 21, the Corps maintained the following system constraints: Bonneville: Operate the pool within a 1.5 foot band during the treaty fishing period -- 100% compliance. The Dalles (Celilo): Operate the pool within a 1.5 foot band during the treaty fishing period --100% compliance. John Day: Operate the pool within a 1.5 foot band during the treaty fishing period -- 100% compliance. |
||||
| 8. If different from AA decision, why? | |||||
D2012C-6 Top of Page
|
|||||
| 1. SOR request |
Specifications:
Implement the following pool operations as a hard system constraint, as follows: September 26, 2012, 6 am, Tuesday,
through 6 pm, September 28, 2012, Friday. Bonneville: Operate the pool within a 1.5 foot band during
the treaty fishing period. The Dalles (Celilo): Operate the pool within a 1.5 foot band during the treaty fishing
period. John Day: Operate the pool within a 1.5 foot band during the treaty fishing period. |
||||
| 2. Participants | Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission. | ||||
| 3. TMT recommendation | No objections were received from TMT. | ||||
| 4. AA decision |
The Corps agreed to operating the Bonneville, John Day and Dalles pools within a 1.5' operating band, hard constraint.
Note that the 2008 BiOp sets a 1.5 foot operating range at John Day, hard constraint, through 30 September. |
||||
| 5. IT recommendation | |||||
| 6. AA decision (after IT) | |||||
| 7. Actual Operation |
During the 60 one hour intervals associated with the SOR, Sep 26 - 28, the Corps maintained the following system constraints: Bonneville: Operate the pool within a 1.5 foot band during the treaty fishing period -- 100% compliance. The Dalles (Celilo): Operate the pool within a 1.5 foot band during the treaty fishing period --100% compliance. John Day: Operate the pool within a 1.5 foot band during the treaty fishing period -- 100% compliance. |
||||
| 8. If different from AA decision, why? | |||||
D2012C-7 Top of Page
|
|||||
| 1. SOR request |
Specifications:
Implement the following pool operations as a hard system constraint, as follows: September 26, 2012, 6 am, Tuesday,
through 6 pm, September 28, 2012, Friday. Bonneville: Operate the pool within a 1.5 foot band during
the treaty fishing period. The Dalles (Celilo): Operate the pool within a 1.5 foot band during the treaty fishing
period. John Day: Operate the pool within a 1.5 foot band during the treaty fishing period. |
||||
| 2. Participants | Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission. | ||||
| 3. TMT recommendation | No objections were received from TMT. | ||||
| 4. AA decision |
The Corps agreed to operating the Bonneville, John Day and Dalles pools within a 1.5' operating band, hard constraint.
Note that the 2008 BiOp sets a 1.5 foot operating range at John Day, hard constraint, through 30 September. |
||||
| 5. IT recommendation | |||||
| 6. AA decision (after IT) | |||||
| 7. Actual Operation |
During the 60 one hour intervals associated with the SOR, Oct 2 - 4, the Corps maintained the following system constraints: Bonneville: Operate the pool within a 1.5 foot band during the treaty fishing period -- 100% compliance. The Dalles (Celilo): Operate the pool within a 1.5 foot band during the treaty fishing period --100% compliance. John Day: Operate the pool within a 1.5 foot band during the treaty fishing period -- 100% compliance. |
||||
| 8. If different from AA decision, why? | |||||