D2020-1 D2020-FWS#1 D2020-3 D2020-C1 D2020-4 D2020-5 D2020-August 11 D2020-August 14 D2020-C2 D2020-06
D2020-1 Top of Page
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| 1. SOR Request |
OBJECTIVE: Maintain a minimum tailwater elevation of 12.5 feet at Bonneville Dam from April 10-20, 2020, during all hours. SPECIFICATIONS: This SOR seeks to have operators maintain a minimum tailwater elevation at Bonneville Dam of 12.5 feet beginning at the start of spill (April 10, 2020) and continuing through April 20, 2020, during all hours. The Flex Spill Operation will remain unchanged as previously coordinated. JUSTIFICATION: NOAA Fisheries expressed concern that the current 11.3’ tailwater elevation is inadequate to provide depth compensation for incubating and emerging chum when spill begins April 10, 2020. Operational shaping and cold conditions in the upper basin watersheds have resulted in projections of low flows in the Columbia River that have April flow being projected to be lower than usual. Columbia Basin Water Managers could manage discharges to supplement flows in the Lower Columbia River to maintain higher tailwater elevations below Bonneville while not risking projections to meet spring refill objectives. Most chum redds in the Ives Island area are estimated to be near an elevation of 10.5 feet. This is roughly 0.7 feet below the 2019?2020 minimum tailwater criteria of 11.3 feet as implemented by TMT. The proposed minimum tailwater below Bonneville Dam of 12.5 feet is expected to allow for depth compensation of approximately 2 feet. This tailwater elevation increase is estimated to reduce TDG exposure to emerging chum. This may also benefit other species (i.e., fall Chinook) that spawned in the area. The effect this operation may have on system operation could depend on the effect of natural flows during the timeframe of April 10?20, 2020. Based on March 30, 2020 STP projections for Grand Coulee, as an example, to meet a minimum tailwater of 12.5 feet at Bonneville could cause an additional draft of two feet beyond that anticipated in the STP. We anticipated that with the natural variability in flows, this operation could realistically cause Grand Coulee to draft as much as five feet, or as little as zero feet beyond that in recent projections. Coordination with BOR, BPA and Corps expressed this change will put minimal risk to meeting spring flow objectives. |
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| 2. Requester(s) | NOAA Fisheries, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Nez Perce Tribe, Colville Tribes, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, and the Yakama Nation | ||||
| 3. TMT Recommendation |
April 8, 2020, TMT Meeting. The Corps reported that the TMT coordinated chum operation is still being implemented (operate the Bonneville Dam tailwater no lower than a minimum elevation of 11.3 feet at all hours); the operation is posted to the TMT website. The current project tailwater elevation at 0600 hours was 11.6 feet with a total outflow of 127.2 kcfs. The 10-day RFC inflow forecast ranges between 127-150 kcfs; with a low of 130 kcfs on April 9, peaking on April 13 at 150 kcfs, and back down to 140 kcfs by the end of the 10-day period. The USFWS, updated the TMT on SOR-2020; as posted on the TMT website. Salmon Managers discussed and agreed on a chum operation request for Bonneville Dam to hold a minimum tailwater elevation of 12.5 feet at all hours, from April 10-20 (a couple of extra hours have been added to ensure enough water is present when spill starts). This request is to mitigate for the impacts of spill and total dissolved gas during lower than average flows in the Lower Columbia by providing additional depth over redds at the Ives Island complex and in the mainstem. BPA, noted no issues with implementing the SOR, and the impact on Grand Coulee elevation is expected to be insignificant, as the Snake River will provide most of the flow. BOR’s desire to not draft Grand Coulee below 1,240 feet. All TMT members present supported the SOR, and Action Agencies will move forward with implementation. |
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| 4. AA Decision | The BOR informed the USFWS that the BOR would implement the SOR as coordinated during the April 8, 2020 TMT Meeting. | ||||
| 5. IT Recommendation | |||||
| 6. AA decision (post IT) | |||||
| 7. Actual Implemented Operation | The Action Agencies implemented the operation as coordinated during the the April 8, 2020, TMT Meeting. | ||||
| 8. If different from AA decision, why? | |||||
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| 1. SOR Request |
SPECIFICATIONS: Based on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (Service) February 2006 Biological Opinion (2006 BO) on operations of Libby Dam, and the May final April-August volume runoff forecast of 5.76 million acre-feet (MAF), we are within a Tier 2 operations year for Kootenai River white sturgeon. The minimum recommended release volume for sturgeon conservation in a Tier 2 year is 0.80 MAF and we recommend the following procedures for discharge of at least this minimum volume from Libby Dam: The precise means that will be utilized to meet these objectives are largely dependent on real-time conditions and in-season management. It is not possible to develop a single definitive recommendation for a sturgeon operation at this time due to the uncertainties in the forecast, and shape and volume of inflow. Given these uncertainties, the Service has developed the following guidelines for sturgeon operations in 2020: •The 2020 sturgeon operations at Libby Dam will consist of one period of ramp-up/pre-peak/ascending limb flows, one period of peak flow (up to powerhouse capacity; < 25,000 cfs), and one period of ramp-down/post-peak/receding limb flows. The ramp-up and ramp-down will occur within 2006 BO ramping rates. • Selective withdrawal gates at Libby Dam above elevation 2,326 mean sea level will be installed immediately prior to, and during, the augmentation operations, with the objective of passing the warmest water available in the forebay as it becomes available. Minimum submergence of selective withdrawal gates at Libby Dam is 30 feet, and gates will be installed to keep withdrawal elevations within 30-40 feet until all gates are installed. • Release of the warmest water possible from Libby Dam, in combination with lower volume of release, will allow the Kootenai River temperature to increase to appropriate spawning temperatures at Bonners Ferry (8-10°C) during the receding limb of the hydrograph. • Based on the Service’s 2006 BO on operations of Libby Dam, and the May final April-August volume runoff forecast of 5.76 MAF, we are within a Tier 2 operations year for Kootenai River white sturgeon. The minimum recommended release volume for sturgeon conservation in a Tier 2 year is 0.80 MAF, and we recommend the following procedures for discharge of at least this minimum volume: o Begin sturgeon augmentation flow operations on 21 May. o After approximately 12-14 days of flows of 20,000 cfs discharge (pre-peak), increase discharge from Libby Dam to 22,500 cfs (peak, up to ~25,000). o Maintain peak discharge (~22,500 cfs, depending on head of the forebay and river stage at Bonners Ferry) for as long as possible (~ 7 days of peak flows), taking into account the shape and volume of the ascending and descending limbs of the hydrograph and the total sturgeon flow augmentation volume available (i.e. 0.80 MAF). Although ~22,500 cfs is requested for sturgeon operations, under current conditions dam managers may need to increase outflows from Libby Dam to full powerhouse for flood risk management purposes. o After peak flows, decrease discharge at Libby Dam (post-peak), adhering to ramping rates in the 2006 BO, to stable summer flows, to no less than bull trout minimum flows (7,000 cfs in Tier 2). o Total number of days at peak discharge will depend on real time conditions and the shape of the inflow hydrographs. As always, flood risk reduction operations supersede sturgeon flow augmentation, and dam managers will coordinate operations with regional sturgeon managers. Sturgeon augmentation discharge may be extended for additional days if the Corps elects to provide volume in excess of the minimum volume requirement in the 2006 BO and to control the refill rate of Libby Dam. Additional recommendations may be provided as water supply forecasts are updated. JUSTIFICATION: The objective of the 2020 sturgeon augmentation operation described in this SOR is to provide, and maximize the duration of, peak river stages/flows during the spring run-off period. While preliminary analysis of sturgeon telemetry data by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game indicates that the number of days at or above 30,000 cfs at Bonners Ferry plays a role in increasing the likelihood that spawning sturgeon will migrate upstream of Bonners Ferry, the slightly below average water supply in 2020 limits our ability to achieve that flow target. Two options were analyzed: target 30,000 cfs flow at Bonners Ferry for the maximum duration possible, followed by a sharp receding hydrograph (2006 BO ramping rates), or target 30,000 cfs flow at Bonners Ferry for the maximum duration possible, followed by a slowly receding hydrograph to optimize riparian seedling establishment and survival, which provides complimentary ancillary ecosystem benefits. It was decided that maximizing the duration of flow at Bonners Ferry of 30,000 cfs, followed by a flexible/adaptive and gradual ramp-down from the period of peak flows is likely to have the greater benefit to the species. Overall, the goal of this operation is to provide conditions that will enable sturgeon to migrate to, and spawn over, rocky substrates that exist upstream of Bonners Ferry, while providing for improved riparian habitats. The operating parameters outlined in this SOR are intended to provide some guidance on how to achieve the attributes listed in Table 1 of the 2008 BO RPA clarification, given the current water supply forecast. Previous years’ operations have shown that conditions at Libby Dam and in the Kootenai River basin can change rapidly. Recognizing this, the start date and exact shape of the operation will need to be developed and modified in-season as more is known. The in-season coordination will occur via the Kootenai River Sturgeon Flow Plan Implementation Protocol Team with a final recommendation coordinated through the Action Agencies and the Technical Management Team. |
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| 2. Requester(s) | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | ||||
| 3. TMT Recommendation |
May 13, 2020, TMT Meeting. USFWS, reported on SOR #FWS1 (posted on the TMT website). The SOR from USFWS is for Libby Dam releases for sturgeon and Bull Trout augmentation flows to provide, and maximize the duration of, peak river stages/flows during the spring run-off period. The proposed operation is based on USFWS’s 2006 BiOp and May’s April-August volume runoff forecast that indicate a Tier 2 operation year for Kootenai River white sturgeon. The Corps, clarified that research suggests when there are more days of 30 kcfs at Bonner’s Ferry, it is more likely for white sturgeon to migrate upstream to spawning grounds and that habitat is improved. The Corps, presented on the 2020 Libby Dam Sturgeon Operations, as posted on the TMT website. The presentation included Koocanusa Reservoir water operations for WY20, official Water Supply Forecasts for May, BiOp objectives, monthly water supply volumes, and flow augmentation. DS Consulting polled TMT Members on the SOR: o NOAA = Supports o Corps = Supports o OR = Supports o USFWS = Supports o WA = Supports o ID = Support o Kootenai = Support o MT = Support o Colville = Absent o Nez Perce = Support o Umatilla = Absent o Warm Springs = Absent o BOR = Support o BPA = Support |
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| 4. AA Decision |
May 13, 2020, TMT Meeting. With full support of the SOR, the Corps, reported that the Corps would implement operations as described in the SOR. |
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| 5. IT Recommendation | |||||
| 6. AA decision (post IT) | |||||
| 7. Actual Implemented Operation |
May 13, 2020, TMT Meeting. The Corps coordinated the impelementation of the following operation. Begin sturgeon augmentation flow operations on 21 May 12-14 days of flows of 20,000 cfs discharge (pre-peak), followed by an increase in discharge from Libby Dam to 22,500 cfs (peak, up to ~25,000). Maintaining that peak discharge for a period of ~7 days. Decreasing discharge (post-peak) at Libby Dam to a summer flat flow following 2006 BiOp ramping rates. Since this year is classified as a “Tier 2” year due to the forecasted runoff volume, the operation calls for 3 peak flows of 20 cfs for 2 weeks. The operation would allow for flows of 30,000 cfs at Bonners Ferry for ~ 1 month. Corps NWS, gave a presentation on how Libby will be operated to implement the SOR. Currently, the forebay is at 2,406 ft. The minimum elevation was 2,403.1 ft on April 17. The May water supply forecast for April-August runoff is 5.76 maf (98% of average). Libby Dam inflow volumes were below average in March and April. Current ESP forecasts indicate average inflow volume for May and above average conditions in June and July. The sturgeon volume is 0.92 maf and the bull trout minimum flows following the Sturgeon Pulse through August 31 is 7 kcfs, based on the May water supply forecast. The current VarQ flow is 17,500 cfs. The official May water supply forecast for The Dalles is for 87.3 maf (100% of normal). |
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| 8. If different from AA decision, why? | |||||
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| 1. SOR Request |
OBJECTIVE: Increase the number of hours of Performance Standard Spill at Little Goose Dam to reduce travel times of adult spring/summer Chinook salmon. SPECIFICATIONS: This SOR seeks to: (1) have operators maintain Performance Standard spill for a 12 hour block from 0400-1600 hours at Little Goose Dam (LGS). Extended Performance Standard spill hours will be implemented every other day from 08 -20 June. On off days, Performance Standard spill will occur as stipulated in the FOP. (2) increase the number of hours spilling to the 125% TDG gas cap at Lower Granite Dam (LWG) by three for a total of 19 Gas Cap spill hours at LWG. This operation will only occur on days when 12 hours of Performance Standard spill are implemented at LGS. JUSTIFICATION: Tailrace conditions at Little Goose Dam (LGS) during periods of high spill proportions make it difficult for adult Chinook salmon to find and enter the fish ladder. As a result, higher spill proportion at LGS is associated with higher travel times between Ice Harbor Dam (IHR) and Lower Granite Dam (LWG; Siegel and Crozier 2020). Subsequently, higher travel times may decrease survival to the tributary spawning habitats for some threatened populations in the Salmon River basin (Siegel and Crozier 2000), but that the observed effects may be limited to extreme travel times of greater than 20 days (FPC 2020). Additionally, individuals exhibiting slower travel through the hydrosystem arrive at the spawning grounds with lower energy reserves than individuals that travel faster with potential consequences for spawning success (Bowerman et al. 2017). Furthermore, faster travel times support timely tribal harvest opportunities of high quality fish in tributary areas.ts. Longer travel times occurring with increased proportion and duration of spill in recent years led to the implementation of a contiguous eight hours of Performance Standard spill (30% spill) from 0400-1200 hours at LGS. The goal of this operation is to provide a window within which adult Chinook salmon can locate the fish ladder entrances and pass over the dam. Overall, this block of Performance Standard spill has been effective with approximately 86% of PIT tagged fish first entered the LGS ladder during Performance Standard Spill for the period April 15 - May 27, 2020 (n total = 173; Figure 1). Similarly, approximately 86% of spring/summer Chinook salmon entered the ladder during Performance Standard spill during 2019 (n total = 587). Yet travel times have steadily increased since May 13. At present, the majority of tagged fish have travel times of greater than 8 days from IHR-LWG and greater than 3 days from Lower Monumental Dam (LMN) to LGS (Figure 2; Figure 3). We suggest implementing the 12 hour Performance Standard spill operation every other day from June 08-20, 2020 to evaluate not only whether it allows the fish currently between LMN and LGS to pass, but also whether it results in lower travel times for fish passing ICH from approximately June 05 – 17. Reducing spill at LGS to facilitate faster adult passage has the potential to negatively impact some juveniles and reduce SARs. NOAA used the COMPASS model in 2019 to evaluate potential effects on juveniles of 8 hour versus 12 hour daytime Performance Standard spill periods and concluded that any impacts on juvenile survival and travel time would be unmeasurably small at a season and hydrosystem wide scale. Yet, reach and time specific impacts to juvenile survival and travel times are important to consider given that this SOR seeks to address time- and reach- specific increased travel times of adults associated with the current operation. Instantaneous PITPH at LGS as estimated by the NPT Shiny App increases from 0.19 to 0.27 during period described in this SOR, which may reduce SARs for 8% of juvenile Chinook salmon passing Little Goose during the period. The impact of the requested LGS operation on system PITPH for the period can be offset by 3 hours of additional spill at Lower Granite Dam, where spill has lower effects on adult passage. As such, we also request that an additional 3 hours of spill to the 125% TDG gas cap (3 hour reduction in Performance Standard spill) be implemented at Lower Granite Dam. |
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| 2. Requester(s) | Idaho Department of Fish and Game and NOAA Fisheries | ||||
| 3. TMT Recommendation |
June 3, 2020, TMT Meeting. ID introduced SOR #2020-03 (posted on the TMT website). The intent of the SOR is to increase the number of hours of Performance Standard spill at Little Goose Dam to reduce travel times of adult spring/summer Chinook, specifically: 1. Operate a 12-hour block of Performance Standard spill from 0400-1600 hours, with extended Performance Standard spill hours implemented every other day from June 8-20. On off days, spill will occur as stipulated in the FOP. 2. Offset impact to juveniles by increasing the number of hours spilling to the 125% TDG gas cap at Lower Granite Dam by three (for a total of 19 gas cap spill hours). Operation to occur only on days when 12 hours of Performance Standard spill are implemented at Little Goose. It was noted that the SOR does not have consensus among Salmon Managers / FPAC, because of concerns that increasing performance standard spill hours negatively impacts juveniles and their powerhouse encounter rates at Little Goose and other projects along the lower Snake River. Some Salmon Managers wanted to look closer at options within the flex spill agreement before using an SOR. The Corps suggested reviewing the Fish Passage Plan for Little Goose for more information on adult diel passage distribution at the project, which may be less skewed than present data, as ID noted. Additonal information may be found in the June 3 meeting minutes on the following website. http://pweb.crohms.org/tmt/agendas/2020/ TMT Members were polled on: 1) The SOR as a whole package (which cannot be implemented as written at this time); and 2) Only specification #1 from the SOR (which can be potentially implemented today) o NOAA = 1) Supports and 2) Supports o COE = 1) Objects and 2) Supports o OR = 1) Objects and elevates (supports ASW request) 2) Objects and elevates o USFWS = 1) No objection 2) Abstains o WA = Supports1) Abstains (if implemented, does support the package) 2) Abstains o ID = 1) Supports and 2) Supports o Kootenai = Absent o MT = 1) Supports and 2) Supports o Colville = 1) Supports and 2) Supports o Nez Perce = 1) Supports and 2) Objects and elevates o Umatilla = 1) No objection and 2) Objects and elevates o Warm Springs = Absent o BOR = 1) No objection 2) No objection o BPA = 1) Objects (suggests elevation if wanted) 2) Supports |
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| 4. AA Decision |
June 3, 2020, TMT Meeting. Based on the votes for objection and elevation, the SOR was elevated to the Flex Spill Working Group. |
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| 5. IT Recommendation | |||||
| 6. AA decision (post IT) | |||||
| 7. Actual Implemented Operation |
June 8, 2020, TMT Meeting. The Corps, noted that today’s unscheduled meeting was requested to provide an update on SOR 2020-3. The Nez Perce, reported that the Flexible Spill Working Group meeting met last Friday, and decided to watch how things progressed over the weekend and discuss what they saw at TMT. If there is an objection and desire to elevate by one of the Working Group parties, elevation will go directly to RIOG. In response to a question about whether the group saw a change regarding the SOR, ID, confirmed that the Working Group had not reached consensus on the direction of the SOR. Instead, weekend data showed fish numbers at Little Goose rising in daily passage, and after reviewing the data and conditions, Idaho and NOAA chose to rescind the SOR. ID noted that the scientific debate over impacts on travel times is ongoing and there are still important questions to answer moving forward. ID noted that travel times have changed with the onset of spill operations, and their concern has been present from mid-May to last week. Washington also supported the need for more discussion in the future. It was suggested to revisit this issue in the near term (July/August) and at the Year End Review. |
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| 8. If different from AA decision, why? | |||||
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| 1. SOR Request |
The Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (CRITFC), on behalf of its member tribes,
the Nez Perce Tribe, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the
Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon, and the Confederated
Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, requests the following (Zone 6) reservoir operations
(BON to MCN dams) during the summer 2020 Treaty fishery. This effort supports the 2020
ceremonial, subsistence, and commercial Treaty fishery times as set by the tribes and the
Columbia River Compact.
SPECIFICATIONS: Monday, June 22, 2020, 6 am, through Wednesday, June 24, 2020, 6 pm • Bonneville: Operate the pool within a 1.5 foot band during the treaty fishing period. • The Dalles: Operate the pool within a 1.5 foot band during the treaty fishing period. • John Day: Operate the pool within a 2-foot band during the treaty fishing period. CRITFC will notify the Corps with specific times for the tribal fishery after a Compact hearing. JUSTIFICATION: The 2020 summer treaty fishing season is of critical importance to CRITFC’s member tribes. The run sizes (Columbia River at Bonneville Dam) of an estimated 38,000 (below average) adult summer Upper Columbia chinook, and 246,300 sockeye (below average) will create harvest opportunities for tribal fishers who will exercise their treaty rights by participating in this harvest using platform and gillnet fishing methods. This harvest will provide for the cultural, religious, and economic needs of the treaty tribes. CRITFC will sponsor net flights each week to count the set-nets in each Zone 6 pool. The survey data will be shared with COE-RCC staff within four days of the flight day. Achieving good river conditions through managed river operations during the treaty fishery has been the basis of past litigation that have been supported by federal courts and are consistent with the trust and fiduciary responsibilities that the federal operators have with respect to CRITFC’s member tribes. In past meetings with Corps officials, tribal fishers have explained that a pool fluctuation of more than 1.5 foot disrupts fishery operations. Specific problems include: (1) increased local currents that sweep debris into fishing nets, (2) rapid water level drops lead to entanglement of nets or change local currents that affect fishing success, (3) boat access problems, and (4) Nets and gear are costly to replace and may become lost or torn from their anchors if pools are raised after nets are set. Delays or disruptions to tribal fishing operations caused by the excessive pool fluctuations in Zone 6 can negatively impact tribal incomes, food resources and cultural practices. For many tribal fishers’ much of their annual income and food is generated during the brief treaty fishing season. The fishers have expressed to Corps officials that the loss of fishing opportunity during the extremely limited treaty fishery period cannot be replaced. If this SOR cannot be accommodated, CRITFC requests a verbal response with an explanation from the federal operators by COB, Friday, June 19, 2020. Thank you for considering this request. Please contact Kyle Dittmer or Stuart Ellis should you have any questions at (503) 238-0667. |
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| 2. Requester(s) | The Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission | ||||
| 3. TMT Recommendation |
June 17, 2020, TMT Meeting. CRITFC, presented SOR 2020-C1 (posted on the TMT website) for the summer 2020 treaty fishing season. The request from CRITFC is to operate Bonneville and The Dalles pools within a 1.5-foot band and the John Day pool within a 2-foot band from June 22 at 0600 hours to June 24 at 1800 hours for summer fishery. CRITFC noted that Tribal members are fishing for subsistence and ceremonial fish, commercial fishing is down due to Covid-19 effects; as a result, there may only be 2 weeks of fishing this season. CRITFC also reported that CRITFC will use their new drones for net counts. |
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| 4. AA Decision |
June 17, 2020, TMT Meeting. The, Corps, plans to implement the SOR as requested, from June 22 through June 24. It was clarified that, in the past, this SOR called for a 1-foot band, and was changed to a 1.5-foot band roughly 5-10 years ago. John Day pool has a hard constraint of 2.0ft |
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| 5. IT Recommendation | |||||
| 6. AA decision (post IT) | |||||
| 7. Actual Implemented Operation | The, Corps, implmented the SOR as requested, from June 22 through June 24. | ||||
| 8. If different from AA decision, why? | |||||
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| 1. Objective |
Change juvenile transportation resumption date from August 15th to August 1st,
2020 at Lower Granite and Little Goose dams, and suspend transportation collections at Lower
Monumental Dam for the remainder of 2020.
SPECIFICATIONS: This SOR seeks to adjust juvenile transportation operations from those described in the 2019 - 2021 Spill Operations Agreement and in the 2020 Fish Operation Plan. We request the Corps of Engineers resume juvenile transportation, using trucks, at Lower Granite and Little Goose dams on August 1, 2020 (start collections at 0700 August 1) and not re-initiate summer transportation at Lower Monumental Dam in 2020. NOTE: This SOR does not change the date when reduction in summer spill levels are scheduled to occur (August 15th). JUSTIFICATION: The 2019 - 2021 Spill Operations Agreement (Agreement) suspended the use of juvenile transportation from the start of the summer operations period (June 21 st) through August 14th . This action was partially based upon a review of draft results from the Responses of Snake River Fall Chinook Salmon to Dam-Passage Strategies and Experiences report (now final report - Smith et al 2018). The Agreement captured the potential for revising the transportation resumption date -“with allowance for Technical Management Team adaptive management adjustments,” because it acknowledged that the August 15th date to resume juvenile transport did not receive robust technical review and was questioned by some Spill Operations Technical Team participants at the time of Agreement development. There has been additional analysis and review of juvenile transportation effectiveness data relative to the date for resuming juvenile transportation. Smith et al (2018) provided information on juvenile migration timing and transport vs bypass (T:B ratio) performance. The T:B ratio represents the ratio of the SARs of the two groups of fish. In addition, supplemental analysis of the Smith et al (2018) results and consideration of management preferences has occurred. The Smith et al (2018) results advanced our knowledge regarding the relative SARs of juvenile fall Chinook salmon that are transported and bypassed. The results showed more adults return from juvenile fall Chinook salmon that are 1) bypassed early in their migration season and 2) transported late in the transportation period. It is likely that this pattern arises from deteriorating conditions in the river associated in part with increasing temperatures and declining flows that increase predation rates. However, a definitive date when transportation becomes an unequivocal net benefit to adult returns is not clear due to low precision and inter-annual variability in the seasonal patterns of T:B rations. As such, determining a date to commence summer transport has led to substantial discussions involving diverse management perspectives. This SOR for an August 1 commencement of summer truck transport is specific to 2020 operations. Collaborative development of a transportation strategy for operational planning in 2021 and beyond is expected. Potential attributes of such a strategy include: staggered operation, PIT-tagging all collected summer juvenile migrants between July 1st and August 31st, intensified PIT-tagging of Clearwater natural production, examination of passage routes (spill, ASW, RSW versus powerhouse) relative to summer operations and reach survival from Lower Granite Dam to below Little Goose Dam. The following influenced our SOR request and should inform future deliberations of summer period transportation. 1) Spawning, release, and rearing location of juveniles effects emigration timing. Natural origin juveniles from Clearwater spawning locations are the predominate post-June migrants. - Future transportation resumption date analysis should emphasize data specific to Clearwater natural origin or surrogates (or proportionally weighted for migrant “type”) for weekly periods starting July 1 and ending August 31. Some concern with using surrogate data to represent natural origin behavior and performance exists. - PIT-tag data for the time period in question is limited and may be inadequate to inform or provide reasonable inference for a decision. 2) Transport:Bypass (T:B) ratios characterize (with associated uncertainty) periods when transported juveniles exhibit higher, equal, or lower SARs relative to bypassed juveniles. - Some fish managers consider transportation as beneficial only when T:B ratios are statistically higher than 1 (i.e., dark green in Figure 36, Smith et al 2018). Performance of transported and bypassed fish should be viewed as biologically uncertain during periods when T:B ratios are not statistically higher (light green) or lower (light blue) than 1. While point estimates in these light color areas are either above or below 1, the associated uncertainty of those estimates indicates that the actual outcome may not have actually been beneficial or detrimental as indicated by the colors in the figure. True in-river migrants (non-JBS route) are not represented in the evaluation used to calculate T:B ratios in this evaluation. T:B ratios only apply to fish that encounter a JBS route. 3) Across year variability in date when T:B is statistically greater than 1 is high. For example, Lower Granite and Little Goose dam T:B estimates range from ~July 15 to years with no values greater than 1, with a geometric mean of ~August 10 and ~July 10, respectively. - Some managers feel the date for resumption of transportation should be based on mean or latest date (using the mean hedges bets for big impacts to adult returns yet uncertainty of benefits is high whereas using the latest acknowledges that transported fish rarely show robust SARs and have impacts to adult migration success - they exhibit lower spawning site fidelity and slower migration rates). Managers also acknowledge that other ongoing and future efforts aim to achieve in-river survival greater that 40% and target robust SARs, not just the higher of two potentially low SARs. - August 15th resumption was pragmatically associated with the operation change that reduces spill; increases in powerhouse encounter and routing through the Juvenile Bypass System (JBS). - Changing the summer transportation date in the agreement may not reasonably result in further improved fish benefit as estimated through indices of improved smolt-to-adult returns, (e.g., reservoir reach survival, fish travel time); it does not change/improve the in-river migration conditions. 4) Some motivation for ceasing transportation was cost savings (reduced barging contract cost). We understand that these cost reductions are not applicable to the revenue pillar of the Agreement, however reduced barging cost was anticipated to help fund other Corps Operation and Maintenance (O&M) activities that have direct fish benefits. 5) NOAA-led PIT tagging of juvenile summer migrants handled in the juvenile bypass systems will not occur in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions on field work by Department of Commerce staff. - Learning opportunity from a staggered (e.g. - 4 day transport/4 day bypass) operation not possible in 2020. References Smith, S. G., T. M. Marsh, W. P. Connor. 2018. Responses of Snake River fall Chinook salmon to dam passage strategies and experiences. Report of the National Marine Fisheries Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Walla Walla, Washington. https://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/assets/26/8240_11162018_154745_Fall%20Chinook%20Tr ansportation%202018.pdf |
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| 2. Requester(s) | NOAA Fisheries, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Nez Perce Tribe, Yakama Nation, Colville Tribes, and the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission. | ||||
| 3. TMT Recommendation |
July 15, 2020, TMT Meeting. The USFWS, presented SOR 2020-4 (posted on the TMT website) which would change the juvenile transportation resumption date in the Snake River. The request is to resume transport, using trucks, at Lower Granite and Little Goose dams on August 1 (from August 15), and not resume transportation at Lower Monumental. The Nez Perce, clarified that the SOR is specific to transport only and does not impact summer spill operations, which are still scheduled to change on August 15. Because this is a change to the Spill Agreement, if there is an objection and request to elevate from any of the Spill Agreement signatories, the SOR would have further discussion at the Spill Operations Work Group. SOR signatories included: NOAA, USFWS, ID, WA, Nez Perce Tribe, Yakama Nation, Colville Tribes, and CRITFC. The remaining TMT members were polled on the SOR: o MT = No objection o OR = Objects, does not elevate o BPA = No objection o Spokane = Absent o BOR = Support o Warm Springs = Absent o Corps = Supports |
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| 4. AA Decision |
July 15, 2020, TMT Meeting. The Corps, confirmed that the SOR will be implemented as written. The transport program is scheduled to resume at Lower Granite and Little Goose Dams, with collection starting at 0700 hours on August 1. Truck transport will occur every other day, starting in the morning on August 3, and will continue based on collection numbers. |
||||
| 5. IT Recommendation | |||||
| 6. AA decision (post IT) | |||||
| 7. Actual Implemented Operation |
July 15, 2020, TMT Meeting. The Corps, implemented the SOR as written. |
||||
| 8. If different from AA decision, why? | |||||
|
|||||
| 1. SOR Request |
Leave the RSW at Lower Granite Dam in place through the end of August
regardless of river flow level to facilitate evaluations of subyearling Chinook salmon passage
route selection.
SPECIFICATIONS This SOR seeks to adjust Lower Granite RSW operations from those described in the 2020 Fish Passage Plan. We request that the Corps of Engineers leave the RSW at Lower Granite in place through the end of August (summer spill season), regardless of river flow level, unless there is a recommendation from FPAC to remove it. A recommendation to remove it would likely occur if the PIT tag data show that either juveniles are not using the RSW route in significant numbers, or if we start to see problems such as adult passage delays. This is not a request for a permanent change to the FPP, it only applies to the 2020 season. JUSTIFICATION: Previous studies of juvenile Chinook passage at the projects during times of low flows and relatively high water temperatures were limited in sample size due to low juvenile passage during summer, or due to restrictions on handling fish during warm water conditions. However, we now have the ability to monitor passage through the RSW using the newly operational PIT tag antenna. Recent (July and early August 2020) detections at the Lower Granite RSW PIT tag antenna show that juvenile Chinook salmon are continuing to utilize the surface passage route even as the water has warmed. On August 15th of 2020, a new spill operation will be implemented at Lower Granite Dam which limits spill to the RSW flow (or its equivalent volume if the RSW is removed) through the end of August. If the RSW is still in place during this period, it will become the only available surface route for downstream migrants, and we can then directly compare the numbers passing via a surface route to those passing via a deeper route (JBS) without the complication of an unknown number of juveniles passing through other spillbays. Leaving the RSW in place will allow us to learn more about subyearling Chinook route selection at Lower Granite Dam by using associations between detections from the new PIT tag antenna in the Lower Granite RSW, the Juvenile Bypass System, and environmental conditions. |
||||
| 2. Requester(s) | NOAA Fisheries, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Nez Perce Tribe, Yakama Nation, Colville Tribes, and the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission. | ||||
| 3. TMT Recommendation |
August 7, 2020, TMT Meeting. The USFWS, presented SOR 2020-5 (posted on the TMT website) which would adjust Lower Granite RSW operations from those described in the 2020 Fish Passage Plan (FPP). The request is for the Corps to leave the RSW in place through the end of August (summer spill season), regardless of river flow level, unless there is a recommendation from FPAC to remove it if juveniles stop using it. Salmon Managers noted that they are closely monitoring data from the new PIT tag antennae in the RSW at Lower Granite, which currently shows sub-yearling Chinook still using the RSW at higher rates than the Juvenile Bypass System (JBS). It was noted that because fish are still using the RSW route, this is an opportunity to learn and experiment with a new tool and evaluate for future operations as a possible permanent change. The operation will be reviewed regularly at FPAC and TMT meetings; passage information is available on the DART and FPC websites. The Corps, noted that Dworshak operations will not be impacted, as the project is on minimum generation based on current flows. Spill will be maintained regardless of the RSW operations SOR signatories included: NOAA, USFWS, ID, WA, OR, Nez Perce Tribe, Yakama Nation, Colville Tribes, and CRITFC. The TMT Members polled on the SOR: o NOAA = Support o USFWS = Support o OR = Support o ID = Support o WA = Support o MT = No objection o Kootenai = Absent o Spokane = Absent o Colville = Absent, but signatory of SOR o Nez Perce = Support o Umatilla = Absent, but signatory of SOR o Warm Springs = Absent o BOR = Absent o BPA = Support o Corps = Supports |
||||
| 4. AA Decision |
August 7, 2020, TMT Meeting. The Corps will implement the SOR as written. If there is desire or need to revert back to the flow trigger identified in the FPP, the USFWS will notify the Action Agencies via email. |
||||
| 5. IT Recommendation | |||||
| 6. AA decision (post IT) | |||||
| 7. Actual Implemented Operation |
August 7, 2020, TMT Meeting. The Corps implement the SOR as written. |
||||
| 8. If different from AA decision, why? | |||||
|
|||||
| SPECIFICATIONS: |
Raise Lower Granite pool from Minimum Operating Pool (MOP) to MOP + 3.5 as soon as
possible and hold until 1700 August 29, 2020 before resuming normal operations
JUSTIFICATION: The last dredging of the location in front of the Lewis-Clark Terminal in Clarkston, WA, (LCT Clarkston) occurred January and February 2015. More sediment than anticipated arrived in 2017 as a result of a very rainy spring which caused flooding and erosion (see Attachment A). As a result, barges calling at the LCT Clarkston must be light-loaded and topped off at the Port of Lewiston, because shoaling prevents adequate depth for fully loading a barge at the Clarkston facility. In fact, on February 27, 2020, a barge got stuck at that location. There is increased demand for services at the LCT Clarkston, and the goal to keep separate different types of wheat results for a need for a very temporary increase in water levels to facilitate loading and grain movement on the river system. Additional water will prevent grounding of barging, making movement safer for people involved in loading barges, as well as the equipment itself including operating tugs. Transportation is one of the authorized, multiple uses of the river system. After years of economic uncertainty (from tariffs, weather, disease and other factors), farmers in Asotin County, on the Palouse, and in the Camas Prairie are experiencing huge harvest volumes. Wheat production from this region has been an economic driver for over a century. Agricultural product movement on the Snake River system benefits farms, wheat suppliers and farming communities. Barging provides the best transportation alternative because it reduces truck and rail miles (thereby making surface travel safer for all), has comparatively low fuels costs, reduces carbon loads compared to other options, and provides greater safety. In fact, except for a short period of time from the late 1940s to the 1970s, moving wheat by water has been the transportation solution for wheat produced from this world-class region since wheat production began in the 1870s. Presently, more than 95% of the wheat produced in Asotin County is shipped out by barge with the bulk of that intended for foreign markets. LCT is a cooperative of three big cooperatives: CHS, Pacific NW Farms and Uniontown Cooperative. It represents 3,500 farm families, 60% of whom are in Idaho. Grain grown in Idaho and Oregon, as well as Washington, is moved from the Clarkston facility. In addition, a small percentage of wheat (approximately 2% of that moved from the combined Lewiston/Clarkston facilities) originates in Montana. Approximately 192 barges per year are moved by Lewis-Clark Terminal (LCT) out of its Clarkston and Lewiston locations. (The LCT is a cooperative of farmers who have made investments themselves to assure solutions to logistics in getting their products to market.) Wheat on LCT barges has a market value of $138,000,000 when using an average market value of $6.00/bushel. The month of August is typically one of the busiest times of the year for movement of grain, as the month is the height of harvest season. With the bumper crop this year, it is essential to keep wheat moving toward its ultimate destination, in order to handle volumes still coming from the fields. Preparation: The Port of Clarkston anticipated shoaling around its facilities and has been engaged in seeking resources for maintenance dredging (see “Going forward” on page 3). More obvious challenges identified over the past few years at the Port of Clarkston, however, were identified in relation to cruise boat traffic and a sand bar located within the navigation channel which limited access to the cruise boat dock berthing area. Therefore, the need for coordinated dredging with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was and continues to be essential. Minimizing impact: The window of time making up this request has been narrowed down as much as possible, as well as the depths being requested, as we understand obligations the TMT has balancing multiple river uses with the needs of ESA listed species and other species of interest. If approved, it would take place a week later than the start time requested in our 8-11-2020 SOR, which was not approved. With this ask, we have pared down the desirable pool adjustments to only that which is essential for the safe movement of barges and tugs. This request does extend later into August than did our first request (8-11-2020). Going forward: The Port of Clarkston and its tenant, LCT, have been investing in preliminary steps for berth dredging in partnership with a larger dredging project with the Walla Walla District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Sediment Quality Testing (Task Order W912ER19F9002) has been completed, and funding for the larger project will be requested for the federal FY22 budget year. Permitting will need to occur when funding becomes confirmed and before maintenance dredging is put out under contract. Once dredging is complete, it will not be necessary to request the raising of the water levels to accommodate barge loading and movement. In addition, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers continues to fulfil its obligations relating to sediment management with a meeting planned in Clarkston on October 28, 2020. Appendix A What happened to the highway? Man has rude awakening on his early morning commute By KERRI SANDAINE of the Tribune Apr 14, 2017, Lewiston Morning Tribune RATTLESNAKE GRADE - A Clearwater Paper employee who was driving to work early Thursday encountered a huge wall of mud and uprooted trees blocking State Route 129. Shannon Beach, 36, who lives on Buford Ridge in Oregon, said he couldn't believe what was in his headlights at 4:40 a.m. after he crossed the bridge by Boggan's Oasis on the Grande Ronde River. Instead of a highway, the bottom of Rattlesnake Grade had transformed into a swirling mass of logs, dirt and debris. A small bridge over Rattlesnake Creek was completely wiped out and was sitting upstream in the Grande Ronde River. "I drive this road every day," Beach said. "It was the craziest thing I've ever seen." Beach said he headed home to notify the Asotin County Sheriff's Office and transportation officials about the slide, and to let his boss know he'd be late for work. Ronnie Mock, maintenance supervisor for the Washington State Department of Transportation, arrived a short time later. "We had to cut logs with a chain saw just to get a vehicle through," Mock said at the scene, about 30 miles south of Asotin. "Some of those logs will probably wind up downstream in the Snake River." By mid-morning, state crews had one lane of the highway cleared, but it will take a week or more to clean up the damage, Mock said. Luckily, the area's main bridge over the Grande Ronde was not damaged. Behind Mock stood a pile of skinned trees about 20 feet tall and 70-feet wide. The power of the slide uprooted a thick alder stand, peeled back the bark and took out cattle gates and fencing on a steep hillside near the road. The log jam picked up rocks and blocked the highway as it made its way down the creek corridor toward the Grande Ronde. The final punch blew out the private metal bridge. A portion of the highway at the bottom of the winding, aptly-named grade was closed for a few hours until a path was cleared. Pilot cars then assisted motorists through a curvy, 1.5-mile stretch of debris as road crews tackled the mess. "It's right up to the edge of the pavement in a couple of places," Mock said. "We're hoping no one was in its path. So far, there is no sign of any victims." Later Thursday, Shannon Beach brought his parents, Tom and Laura Beach, down from their ranch on the ridge to survey the damage. "I call it Mother Nature," said 62-year-old rancher Tom Beach. "The only woman I'd never marry." The area has had its fair share of weather-related drama in recent months, from ice jams on the Grande Ronde to flooding on county roads. The latest gully washer was likely caused by a heavy rain that pelted the area Wednesday night and early Thursday, said residents gathered at Boggan's Oasis. Snow was falling at Fields Spring State Park near Anatone a few days ago, and all that water had to go somewhere. "It rained so hard last night, we still have standing water on top of the ground," Tom Beach said. An exact time of the slide is tough to pinpoint, but officials said it must have been an impressive incident, based on the aftermath. "I would've liked to have seen it," Mock said. "I'd really like to know how that small bridge got upstream." Shannon Beach said he's thankful he wasn't caught up in the powerful mud ball. "I'm usually on the road 10 minutes earlier," he said. "When I got down here today, there was no highway left. It was quite a sight." |
||||
| 2. Requester(s) | Port of Clarkston | ||||
| 3. TMT Recommendation |
August 11, 2020, TMT Meeting. The Port of Clarkston, presented an SOR (posted on the TMT website) which requests to raise the Lower Granite pool from the current 2-foot raised MOP range (735.0-736.5 feet) to a 3.5-foot raised MOP range (736.5-738.0 feet) as soon as possible and hold until 1700 August 29, 2020. The request comes as the Port of Clarkston and the Lewis-Clark Terminal (LCT) work to light-load grain into barges. The barges would then be “topped off” with grain at the Port of Lewiston before transportation down river. The Port of Clarkston noted that sedimentation at the Port has prevented adequate depth for fully loading barges and this is the height of harvest season. Thus, the Port is requesting a temporary increase in pool elevation to allow more room for operating the barges. In 2018 the Port requested a raised pool to allow cruise ship passage in the navigation channel. This request is for barge access to the grain terminal. The Port of Clarkston noted that it is the Port’s responsibility to dredge this section of the terminal and they are working with the Corps to invest in berth dredging, which once complete, would mitigate the need for raising water levels in the future. They have applied for funding through the Corps for FY22. The Corps, presented 2 potential operations for implementing the SOR (posted on the TMT website), noting that these were just 2 options and there could be others 1. Begin 12 August a. Spill through RSW only, close all other spill gates early b. Raise Lower Granite forebay to 736.5-738.0 feet, approximately 1-2 days to achieve c. Operate forebay from 736.5-738.0 feet through 29 August @ 1700 hours d. Operate forebay from 735.0-738.0 feet from 29 August @ 1700 hours through 31 August @ 2400 hours (end of MOP) 2. Begin 15 August a. Spill through RSW only, close all other spill gates as scheduled per FOP Table 4 b. Raise Lower Granite forebay to 736.5-738.0 feet, approximately 1 day to achieve c. Operate forebay from 736.5-738.0 feet through 29 August @ 1700 hours d. Operate forebay from 735.0-738.0 feet from 29 August @ 1700 hours through 31 August @ 2400 hours (end of MOP) TMT took a brief caucus to discuss the options and concerns offline. Following the caucus, TMT members were polled on both proposed SOR implementation options: Poll on Option 1 – Begin August 12 o NOAA = Objection w/o elevation o USFWS = Objection w/o elevation o OR = Objection w/ elevation o ID = Objection w/ elevation o WA = Objection w/o elevation o MT = No objection o Kootenai = Absent o Spokane = Absent o Colville = Absent o Nez Perce = Objection w/ elevation o Umatilla = Objection w/ elevation o Warm Springs = Absent o BOR = No objection o BPA = No objection o Corps = No objection Poll on Option 2 – Begin on August 15 o NOAA = Objection w/o elevation o USFWS = Objection w/o elevation o OR = Objection w/ elevation o ID = Objection w/ elevation o WA = Objection w/o elevation o MT = No objection o Kootenai = Absent o Spokane = Absent o Colville = Absent o Nez Perce = Objection w/ elevation o Umatilla = Objection w/ elevation o Warm Springs = Absent o BOR = No objection o BPA = No objection o Corps = No objection For clarity and transparency, some TMT Members provided rationale for their polling responses: • NOAA: NOAA recognizes the need to balance the multiple authorized purposes for these projects, and if the effects appeared to be neutral then they would not object, however, NOAA’s primary concerns around water temperatures in the Lower Granite tailrace and forebay, which are currently near critical thresholds. Lessons learned in the past point to the impact of temperature impacts on adult passage in the Lower Granite ladder and without a clearer understanding of the outcome of operation NOAA cannot support this SOR. NOAA was open to considering a revised SOR with additional analysis and revised timeframe for a start after the heatwave. • WA: WA echoed the concerns voiced by NOAA and was also concerned about the impacts on sub-yearling survival and travel times. Additionally, potential implications on adult trap operations led to their objection. WA noted support for other TMT members to elevate the issue. • OR: OR did not see the SOR as a balancing action and noted that it has harmful changes to fish protection measures • USFWS: USFWS echoed NOAA’s concerns, noted uncertainties around forebay temperatures, and complications with leaving the RSW in place. USFWS would also be willing to consider a revised SOR with a later start date. • ID: ID did not support using Dworshak water for depth compensation or to mitigate the action implemented. Additionally, ID was concerned with unintended impacts on the adult trap operations, noting the possibility of trap being shutdown due to water temperature and the impact that would have on the state’s broodstock collection. • Nez Perce: Nez Perce echoed other fish impact concerns previously voiced, including impacts in the tailrace and the ability to implement trap operations for hatchery broodstock collection. Nez Perce is also concerned about reduction in spill volumes in Option 1, which would be a deviation from the Spill Operations Agreement. • BPA: BPA recognizes that this was a difficult subject and noted that there did not seem to be a long-term solution ready for implementation in the Port with dredging challenges. BPA agreed with fish concerns identified by Nez Perce and had concerns about the impacts on power, as increased flow out of the RSW reduces generation at Lower Granite. • Corps: The Corps recognizes the multi-purpose system with competing demands and noted that they attempt to strike a balance. The Corps could implement the options laid out, but not without more regional support. • Umatilla, BOR, and MT did not have additional comments. |
||||
| 4. AA Decision |
August 12, 2020, TMT Meeting. The Corps will not implement the SOR due to lack of regional support. |
||||
| 5. IT Recommendation | |||||
| 6. AA decision (post IT) | |||||
| 7. Actual Implemented Operation |
August 12, 2020, TMT Meeting. As stated during the August 12, TMT Meeting, the Corps did not implement the SOR. |
||||
| 8. If different from AA decision, why? | |||||
|
|||||
| 1. SOR Request |
Raise Lower Granite pool above Minimum Operating Pool (MOP) to between 736.5 and
738 as soon as possible and hold until midnight August 31, 2020 before resuming
normal operations.
JUSTIFICATION: The last dredging of the location in front of the Lewis-Clark Terminal in Clarkston, WA, (LCT Clarkston) occurred January and February 2015. More sediment than anticipated arrived in 2017 as a result of a very rainy spring which caused flooding and erosion (see Attachment A). As a result, barges calling at the LCT Clarkston must be light-loaded and topped off at the Port of Lewiston, because shoaling prevents adequate depth for fully loading a barge at the Clarkston facility. In fact, on February 27, 2020, a barge got stuck at that location. There is increased demand for services at the LCT Clarkston, and the goal to keep separate different types of wheat results for a need for a very temporary increase in water levels to facilitate loading and grain movement on the river system. Economic impact: Agricultural product movement on the Snake river system benefits farms, wheat suppliers and farming communities. Barging provides transportation in that it reduces truck and rail miles, has comparatively low fuels costs, reduces carbon loads compared to other options and provides greater safety. Approximately 192 barges per year are moved by LewisClark Terminal (LCT) out of its Clarkston and Lewiston locations. These barges have a market value of $138,000,000 – $138 million when using an average market value of $6.00/bushel. The month of August is typically one of the busiest times of the year for movement of grain, as the month is the height of harvest season. For Asotin County, more than 95% of the wheat is shipped out by barge with the bulk of that intended for foreign markets. Preparation: The Port of Clarkston anticipated shoaling around its facilities and has been engaged in seeking resources for maintenance dredging (see “Going forward” below). Minimizing impact: The window of time making up this request has been narrowed down as much as possible, as well as the depths being requested, as we understand obligations the TMT has balancing multiple river uses with the needs of ESA listed species and other species of interest. With this ask, we have pared down the desirable pool adjustments to only that which is essential for the safe movement of barges and tugs. Going forward: The Port of Clarkston and its tenant, LCT, has been investing in preliminary steps for berth dredging in partnership with a larger dredging project with the Walla Walla District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Sediment Quality Testing (Task Order W912ER19F9002) has been completed, and funding for the larger project will be requested for the federal FY22 budget year. Permitting will need to occur when funding becomes confirmed and before maintenance dredging is put out under contract. Once dredging is complete, it will not be necessary to request the raising of the water levels to accommodate barge loading and movement. Appendix A What happened to the highway? Man has rude awakening on his early morning commute By KERRI SANDAINE of the Tribune Apr 14, 2017, Lewiston Morning Tribune RATTLESNAKE GRADE - A Clearwater Paper employee who was driving to work early Thursday encountered a huge wall of mud and uprooted trees blocking State Route 129. Shannon Beach, 36, who lives on Buford Ridge in Oregon, said he couldn't believe what was in his headlights at 4:40 a.m. after he crossed the bridge by Boggan's Oasis on the Grande Ronde River. Instead of a highway, the bottom of Rattlesnake Grade had transformed into a swirling mass of logs, dirt and debris. A small bridge over Rattlesnake Creek was completely wiped out and was sitting upstream in the Grande Ronde River. "I drive this road every day," Beach said. "It was the craziest thing I've ever seen." Beach said he headed home to notify the Asotin County Sheriff's Office and transportation officials about the slide, and to let his boss know he'd be late for work. Ronnie Mock, maintenance supervisor for the Washington State Department of Transportation, arrived a short time later. "We had to cut logs with a chain saw just to get a vehicle through," Mock said at the scene, about 30 miles south of Asotin. "Some of those logs will probably wind up downstream in the Snake River." By mid-morning, state crews had one lane of the highway cleared, but it will take a week or more to clean up the damage, Mock said. Luckily, the area's main bridge over the Grande Ronde was not damaged. Behind Mock stood a pile of skinned trees about 20 feet tall and 70-feet wide. The power of the slide uprooted a thick alder stand, peeled back the bark and took out cattle gates and fencing on a steep hillside near the road. The log jam picked up rocks and blocked the highway as it made its way down the creek corridor toward the Grande Ronde. The final punch blew out the private metal bridge. A portion of the highway at the bottom of the winding, aptly-named grade was closed for a few hours until a path was cleared. Pilot cars then assisted motorists through a curvy, 1.5-mile stretch of debris as road crews tackled the mess. "It's right up to the edge of the pavement in a couple of places," Mock said. "We're hoping no one was in its path. So far, there is no sign of any victims." Later Thursday, Shannon Beach brought his parents, Tom and Laura Beach, down from their ranch on the ridge to survey the damage. "I call it Mother Nature," said 62-year-old rancher Tom Beach. "The only woman I'd never marry." The area has had its fair share of weather-related drama in recent months, from ice jams on the Grande Ronde to flooding on county roads. The latest gully washer was likely caused by a heavy rain that pelted the area Wednesday night and early Thursday, said residents gathered at Boggan's Oasis. Snow was falling at Fields Spring State Park near Anatone a few days ago, and all that water had to go somewhere. "It rained so hard last night, we still have standing water on top of the ground," Tom Beach said. An exact time of the slide is tough to pinpoint, but officials said it must have been an impressive incident, based on the aftermath. "I would've liked to have seen it," Mock said. "I'd really like to know how that small bridge got upstream." Shannon Beach said he's thankful he wasn't caught up in the powerful mud ball. "I'm usually on the road 10 minutes earlier," he said. "When I got down here today, there was no highway left. It was quite a sight." |
||||
| 2. Requester(s) | Port of Clarkston | ||||
| 3. TMT Recommendation |
August 19, 2020, TMT Meeting. The Corps, presented the revised SOR from the port of Clarkston (posted on the TMT website) which requests to raise the Lower Granite pool above MOP to between 736.5 and 738 feet as soon as possible and hold until midnight on August 31 before resuming normal operations. The Port of Clarkston, emphasized the need for more water so grain from the Port can be moved down river as grain storage from bountiful harvests is quickly backing up. The water depth at the Port has dropped 6 inches since the issue was identified on August 11. TMT members asked clarifying questions to address biological concerns. The Port of Lewiston, noted that with the continued drop in water depth comes significant risks and hazards to workers as the barges are filled and moved. If the 3,500 farmers from OR, ID, WA and MT cannot get grain out of the Port they will push to competitors. The Corps presented updated modeling to provide information on the potential temperature effects and determine the impact of using Dworshak water to compensate filling the Lower Granite pool. Dworshak will need to make up about 30% of the incoming flow throughout to compensate the warmer water being stored from the Snake River and keep the adult fish trap within temperature criteria for operation. An additional 1,000 cfs will be needed per day for every 6 inches the pool is raised. Dworshak release of 10 kcfs would need to extend longer than currently planned in order to maintain temperatures. TMT Members were polled on the revised SOR: o NOAA = Objection w/o elevation o USFWS = Objection w/o elevation o OR = Objection w/ elevation o ID = Objection w/ elevation o WA = Objection w/o elevation o MT = Abstain o Kootenai = Absent o Spokane = Objection w/o elevation o Colville = Objection w/o elevationR o Nez Perce = Objection w/ elevation o Umatilla = Objection w/ elevation o Warm Springs = Absent o BOR = Abstain o BPA = No objection o Corps = No objection For clarity and transparency, some TMT Members provided rationale for their polling responses: NOAA: NOAA reiterated their comments from last week regarding concerns about water temperature and safe and effective passage for adult fish. Their concerns were reinforced with the temperature modelling presented. OR: OR did not feel that the request was a balanced operation. USFWS: USFWS had similar concerns as when discussed last week, noting discrepancy in opinions on whether the federal navigation channel requirements are being met. Additionally, using additional water from Dworshak to mitigate temperatures was a major concern. ID: ID echoed USFWS’s concerns around using additional water from Dworshak. In general, ID supports efforts by the Port of Clarkston to dredge the berth and find a long-term solution for this issue. Nez Perce: Nez Perce’s concerns remain based on adverse impacts from rising water temperatures and management relative to adult trap operations. WA, Colville, Umatilla, BOR, Corps, MT, Spokane, and BPA did not have additional comments. |
||||
| 4. AA Decision |
August 19, 2020, TMT Meeting. The Corps stated that without regional support, they would not be able to implement the SOR as requested at this time. |
||||
| 5. IT Recommendation | |||||
| 6. AA decision (post IT) | |||||
| 7. Actual Implemented Operation |
August 19, 2020, TMT Meeting. The Corps did not implement the SOR. |
||||
| 8. If different from AA decision, why? | |||||
|
|||||
| SOR Request |
The Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (CRITFC), on behalf of its member tribes,
the Nez Perce Tribe, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the Confederated
Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon, and the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the
Yakama Nation, requests the following (Zone 6) reservoir operations (Bonneville to McNary dams)
during the fall 2020 Treaty fishery. This effort supports the 2020 ceremonial, subsistence, and
commercial Treaty fishery times as set by the tribes and the Columbia River Compact.
SPECIFICATIONS: Implement the following pool operations, as follows: Monday, August 24, 2020, 6 am, through Thursday, August 27, 2020, 6 pm Monday, August 31, 2020, 6 am, through Thursday, September 3, 2020, 6 pm • Bonneville: Operate the pool within a 1.5 foot band during the treaty fishing period. • The Dalles: 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. CRITFC will notify the Corps with specific times for the tribal fishery after a Compact hearing. JUSTIFICATION: The 2020 fall treaty fishing season is of critical importance to CRITFC’s member. The run sizes (Columbia River at Bonneville Dam) of an estimated 196,000 adult fall chinook (below 10-year average), 95,000 A and B-Index steelhead (below 10-year average), and 43,000 coho (below 10-year average) will create harvest opportunities for tribal fishers who will exercise their treaty rights by participating in this harvest using platform and gillnet fishing methods. This harvest will provide for the cultural, religious, and economic needs of the treaty tribes. CRITFC will sponsor net flights each week to count the set-nets in each Zone 6 pool. The survey data will be shared with COE-RCC staff within four days of the flight day. Achieving good river conditions through managed river operations during the treaty fishery has been the basis of past litigation that have been supported by federal courts and are consistent with the trust and fiduciary responsibilities that the federal operators have with respect to CRITFC’s member tribes. In past meetings with Corps officials, tribal fishers have explained that a pool fluctuation of more than 1.5 foot disrupts fishery operations. Specific problems include: (1) increased local currents that sweep debris into fishing nets, (2) rapid water level drops lead to entanglement of nets or change local currents that affect fishing success, (3) boat access problems, and (4) Nets and gear are costly to replace and may become lost or torn from their anchors if pools are raised after nets are set. Delays or disruptions to tribal fishing operations caused by the excessive pool fluctuations in Zone 6 can negatively impact tribal incomes, food resources and cultural practices. For many tribal fishers’ much of their annual income and food is generated during the brief treaty fishing season. The fishers have expressed to Corps officials that the loss of fishing opportunity during the extremely limited treaty fishery period cannot be replaced. If this SOR cannot be accommodated, then CRITFC requests a verbal response with an explanation from the federal operators by COB, Friday, August 21, 2020. Thank you for considering this request. Please contact Kyle Dittmer or Stuart Ellis should you have any questions at (503) 238-0667. |
||||
| 2. Requester(s) | The Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission | ||||
| 3. TMT Recommendation |
August 19, 2020, TMT Meeting. o NOAA = Support o USFWS = Support o OR = Support o ID = Support o WA = Support o MT = No objection o Kootenai = Absent o Spokane = No objection o Colville = Support o Nez Perce = Support o Umatilla = Support o Warm Springs = Absent o BOR = No objection o BPA = Support o Corps = Support |
||||
| 4. AA Decision |
August 19, 2020, TMT Meeting. The Corps will implement the SOR as requested, and it was noted that John Day Dam will operate at a 1.5- foot range as a soft constraint and a 2-foot range as a hard constraint. |
||||
| 5. IT Recommendation | |||||
| 6. AA decision (post IT) | |||||
| 7. Actual Implemented Operation |
August 19, 2020, TMT Meeting. As noted during the August 19, 2020, TMT Meeting the Corps implement the operations identified in the SOR. |
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| 8. If different from AA decision, why? | |||||
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| SPECIFICATIONS: |
The fishery managers recommend continued application of Zero
Nighttime Flow limitations and criteria, implemented since 2005, at the Snake River projects.
JUSTIFICATION: Zero nighttime flow operations at federal projects in the Lower Snake River have been the subject of much discussion since the dams were completed. Decades of discussion culminated in limiting Zero Nighttime Flow operations to periods after December 1 and through February 28 “when there are few, if any, actively migrating anadromous fish present in the Snake River” in Water Management Plan Seasonal Updates beginning in 2004. Fish managers defined “few, if any” in SOR 2005-22 and the criteria in this definition have guided and governed implementation since then. However, zero night time flow operations do not support normal ecological river functions and as such are not supported by all fish managers. The 2020 Columbia River System Operations Biological Opinion (Page 65, Section 1.3.1.3.) and pending Water Management Plan do not include fish-based zero flow implementation criteria and extends the zero flow operation period by 45 days: “Between October 15 and February 28, when power market conditions warrant and when river conditions make it feasible, power generation at Snake River projects may cease, and water stored, during nighttime hours, most commonly implemented between 2300 and 0500 hours when demand for power is lowest or other renewable resources are generating surplus power (or both). This operation will end no later than 2 hours before dawn between October 15 and November 30. During the operation between December 15 and February 28, daytime hours will no longer be excluded from this operation, and up to 3 hours of daytime cessation will be part of the proposed action.” Dropping implementation criteria and implementing zero flow operations earlier would allow river flows in the Lower Snake River to be shutoff for up to 25% (6 hours) of each day (37.5% or 9 hours after December 15) for 4.5 months, even during periods of known significant adult and juvenile passage. Zero nighttime flow is a load-following operation, often referred to as “peaking”, where water is stored during periods of low power demand and subsequently released when demand is high. Little definitive information on the impacts of peaking on anadromous fishes in the Lower Snake River exists and is largely limited to upstream migrating adults, with no analysis of the impacts on juveniles. Furthermore, it is difficult to predict the impacts of the new zero nighttime flow operation because of the flexibility afforded to the Action Agencies — it can occur every day or very seldom. No study completed to date indicates that zero flow operations benefit fish passage or protection measures. Impacts on adults Multiple species of anadromous fish migrate through the lower Snake River as adults during October, November, and December (Figure 1). Chinook salmon passing Lower Granite dam after August 17th are considered fall Chinook run type. Fall chinook adult run timing currently peaks in late-September and continues through late November. The 10-year average Lower Granite Dam daily passage abundance of fall Chinook on October 15th is 218 fish. Many of these adults move through the Lower Snake in ripe spawning condition, with spawning typically starting in early-October and extending into early-December. Migration of adult coho salmon through the Lower Snake River starts in mid-September, peaks in early-October, and continues through late-November. Similar to fall Chinook, coho have a minimal maturation period between arrival to natal streams and spawning. Adult steelhead are present year-round, with peak passage at Lower Granite Dam occurring around the end of September. The 10-year average daily steelhead passage on October 15th is 1,681 fish. Three separate studies have investigated the response of migrating adult fish to zero nighttime flow operations — McMaster et al 1977, Liscom et al. 1985, and Bjornn et al. 1998 — with variable results and limited direct applicability to the operation set to begin October 15th, 2020. McMaster et al. 1977 used a small number of radio tags, magnetic tags, and count data to monitor Chinook salmon and steelhead movement patterns under controlled nighttime flows (10,000 or 20,000 cfs) or zero nighttime flow in 7 day blocks during July – November 1975 and on 2 day rotating blocks from July – September 1976. Radio tagged Chinook salmon had low conversion rates, which the authors attributed to handling and tagging effects. The authors did not attribute changes in steelhead behavior to the zero nighttime flow operations. Following the results of McMaster et al. 1977, Bonneville Power Administration requested the ability to implement zero flow conditions for 9 hours at night (22:00 – 07:00) and for a continuous 35 hours on weekends from August – April (Liscom et al. 1985). Concern over this operation led NMFS and the state fishery agencies to again study adult passage under zero flow conditions by radio tagging 232 steelhead and 32 Chinook salmon and monitoring their migration rate between Lower Monumental and Little Goose Dams from July – September 1981. They used alternating 1 week blocks of the zero flow operations requested by BPA and “normal” conditions. This study found high variability in passage times under zero flow conditions potentially worsened by high water temperatures, which also reduced tagging rates. Travel times for steelhead and Chinook salmon were significantly higher between Lower Monumental and Little Goose Dams during zero flow treatment blocks. As part of a large multi-part study on adult salmon and steelhead migration, Bjornn et al. (1998) employed spaghetti loop tags and radio transmitters to steelhead in two week blocks of zero versus minimum flows from September – mid November 1991-1993 where zero flow was implemented between 23:00 and 05:00. These authors found changes in steelhead travel time, but differences were not statistically significant and attributed the observed changes in passage to differences in temperature among treatment blocks. More specifically, slow travel times were documented at the beginning (early September) and end (late October) of the study period. The combined results of these three studies suggest that the impacts of zero nighttime flow may be small for steelhead, but larger for Chinook. However, all three studies discuss temperature as a confounding factor and the difficulty of drawing conclusions from this type of blocked design. No study investigated coho, or tagged Chinook later than mid-September. It is, however, important to note that zero nighttime flow operations may directly impact steelhead passing the dams at night, which was estimated to be 5.4 – 8.7% of adult steelhead passing Lower Granite Dam during non-window count hours (20:00 – 04:00) (FPC 2015). Impacts on juveniles Assessment of zero nighttime flow operations on juvenile fall Chinook behavior has not occurred and effects are unknown. Juvenile migrants passing Lower Granite Dam October through December are primarily natural-origin fall Chinook salmon originating from Clearwater basin spawning aggregates (Figure 2). Index median passage timing of natural-origin juveniles tagged in the Clearwater River is October 25 (Figure 3). Juvenile fall Chinook emigration timing is diverse, with a majority passing May through July as sub-yearling smolts. Abundance gradually decreases through September as the juveniles that remain transition to a lower Snake River reservoir rearing yearling life-history, then increases after the beginning of October, with spikes of movement into lower Snake River critical habitats - likely associated with environmental cues. The Lower Granite Dam juvenile bypass system (JBS) is typically shutdown in late November, limiting data on juvenile movement (Connor et al 2011). Radio tag data generated by USGS (Tiffan et al 2012) shows juvenile fall Chinook passage continues after shutdown of the JBS. Radio tag data also shows passage is normally distributed between nighttime and daytime periods (i.e. juvenile fish do not stop migrating at night) (Figures 4 and 5). |
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| 2. Requester(s) | Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Nez Perce Tribe, Yakama Nation, Warm Springs Tribe, Spokane Tribe of Indians, and the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission. | ||||
| 3. TMT Recommendation |
September 23, 2020, TMT Meeting. Nez Perce Tribe, presented SOR 2020-06 (posted on the TMT website), which recommends the continued application of Zero Nighttime Flow limitations and criteria, implemented since 2005, at the Snake River projects. The SOR addresses pending operations included in the NOAA and USFWS Biological Opinions that could start as early as October 15, assuming that the Record of Decision (ROD) reflects operations consulted on in the BiOps. The Nez Perce noted that SOR 2020-06 includes a change in the criteria from the 2005 SOR: a shift in the start date for the enumeration process, from June 1 to July 1. This shift was not considered to be a significant change, however, more accurately reflected the adult run timing. FPAC acknowledged that the 2005 SOR is not the preferred operation from a biological perspective, but it is what has been historically agreed on and implemented. Salmon Managers shared concerns over impact to adults and juveniles with passage and reproduction success. The Corps appreciated receiving the SOR information sooner rather than later. They noted that in regards to process, although discussion is fine among TMT members, the AAs cannot respond to the SOR until the ROD has been signed. The ROD signing is projected for the end of the month, after which the SOR can be finalized and the TMT polled. As the AAs anticipate the ROD signing by September 30, a TMT meeting was tentatively scheduled for September 30, right after the signing, in an effort to provide enough time for elevation to RIOG if needed. The AAs will check in ahead of the September 30 meeting to provide an update to the best of their ability. If it looks like the meeting will not be substantive, it will be cancelled and the SOR discussion will resume on October 1 or 2. September 30, 2020, TMT Meeting. The TMT revisited SOR 2020-06 (posted on the TMT website), which recommends the continued application of the historical Zero Nighttime Flow timing and criteria at the Snake River projects. The operation in the 2020 BiOps and the CRSO EIS Record of Decision (ROD) removed the steelhead abundance criteria and formalized an October 15th start date. TMT members were polled on the SOR: * This SOR polling process was unlike other recent TMT polling on SORs because the polling responses outlined in the TMT Guidelines did not align well with the needs of the situation. As a result, parties that supported the SOR elevated the Action Agencies objection of the SOR to RIOG. The TMT will continue conversations to clarify and refine the SOR polling and elevation processes. o NOAA = Abstains o USFWS = No objection o OR = Supports o ID = No objection o WA = Supports o MT = Abstains o Kootenai = Absent o Spokane = Supports o Colville = No Objection o Nez Perce = Supports o Umatilla = Supports o Warm Springs = Supports o BOR = Objects without elevation o BPA = Objects without elevation o Corps = Objects without elevation Additional information on the SOR may be found in teh September 30, 2020 TMT Meeting minutes that may be found on the following website. http://pweb.crohms.org/tmt/agendas/2020/ |
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| 4. AA Decision |
September 30, 2020, TMT Meeting. Moving forward, the Corps clarified that the Corps would implement operations identified in the 2020 ROD and NOAA and USFWS BiOps. To be clear, the Corps will not implement the SOR as it is outside the scope of operations included in the ROD. Oregon, Washington, the Nez Perce and Umatilla Tribes clarified that they would elevate the desired SOR operation to RIOG. |
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| 5. IT Recommendation | |||||
| 6. AA decision (post IT) | |||||
| 7. Actual Implemented Operation |
September 30, 2020, TMT Meeting. At coordinated during the September 30, 2020, TMT Meeting the Corps did not implement the SOR. |
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| 8. If different from AA decision, why? | |||||