Transcript No Slide Title

Klamath Watershed in Perspective
A Review of Historical Hydrology of Major
Features of the Klamath River Watershed and
Evaluation of Hardy Iron Gate Flow
Requirements
K.A. Rykbost
R. Todd
Superintendent
Klamath County Extension Service
Klamath Experiment Station
Oregon State University
Oregon State University
Objectives of the Study
• Gain a better understanding of the total
Klamath watershed and its hydrologic history
• Develop multi-year hydrographs at key locations
in the watershed to look for long-term trends in
flows of major tributaries and the Upper Basin
• Examine Klamath Project long-term operations
to determine the probability of achieving flow
requirements recommended in Hardy Reports
Data Sources and Limitations
• Streamflow data are from Bureau of Reclamation
and U.S. Geological Survey records available on
the Internet
• Years of record vary for various subbasins in the
watershed
• Minimum Instream Flows from Hardy studies
are taken directly from Hardy Phase I Final
Report and Hardy Phase II Draft Report
Data Sources and Limitations
• Klamath Project water diversions reported
include agricultural and refuge use as
calculated by Jim Bryant at the Bureau of
Reclamation
• Data are summarized over years to mask the
inherent and large variability between water
year types due to precipitation fluctuations
Selective Use of Data
 Major studies and reports shaping public policy
have used a non-typical hydrologic period as the
basis for historical flows
 Reports by Balance Hydrologics, Inc. and Hardy
Phase I use flows at Keno, OR from 1905-1912 as
a partial basis for estimating pre-Klamath
Project Upper Basin flows
Selective Use of Data
 Balance Hydrologics, Inc. used a 4% correction
to account for 1905-1912 being an above average
precipitation period
 Compared with long term records, 1905-1912
experienced 21% above normal precipitation in
Yreka, CA and 4% above normal in Klamath
Falls
 The Bureau of Reclamation estimated inflow to
UKL at 34% above normal in 1905-1912
Changes in Upper Basin Hydrology
• The Lost River Slough was dammed in 1890 to
stop drainage of excess flows from Klamath
River to Tulelake
• Construction of a railroad through Lower
Klamath Lake between 1907-1911 reduced
overflows from Klamath River to Lower
Klamath Lake, reducing large evaporation losses
• Both changes resulted in increased flows at Keno
compared with pre-settlement hydrology
Changes in Upper Basin Hydrology
 Pre-development, the Lost River system was a
closed basin with no access to Klamath River
 Project features now allow diversion from the
Gerber, Clear Lake, Lost River system to
Klamath River through the Diversion Channel
 Direct access to Klamath River is available from
Tulelake through Lower Klamath Refuge and the
Straits Drain
Annual Precipitation in the
Klamath Basin
• Long-term NOAA precipitation records are
available for Klamath Falls, Crater Lake, and
Keno, OR, and Yreka and Klamath, CA
• Total Annual precipitation is charted for each
location for 1951-2000
• Average precipitation for multi-year periods that
will be used for streamflow data presentation are
quite similar at each location
Mean Annual Precipitation in the Klamath
Watershed
Mean Annual Precipitation (inches)
100
90
80
1951-1963
70
60
1963-1976
50
40
1977-1989
30
1990-2000
20
10
0
Klamath Falls
Crater Lake
Keno
Yreka
Klamath CA
Location
K. Rykbost and R. Todd
OSU 2003
Streamflows for Klamath River
Tributaries
 Iron Gate Dam records begin in 1960
 Data for the Klamath Mouth is not available for
1994-1997
 The major tributaries contribute about 54% of flow
at the mouth for the period of record
 Remaining flows are from smaller tributaries and
include 360 TAF (thousand acre-feet) of accretions
from Keno to Iron Gate Dam
Klamath River and Tributaries Streamflow
Mean Annual Streamflow (1,000 cfs)
20,000
18,000
Iron Gate
Dam
16,000
14,000
Shasta
River
12,000
Scott River
10,000
Salmon
River
8,000
6,000
Trinity
River
4,000
Klamath
Mouth
2,000
1961-1970
K. Rykbost and R. Todd
1971-1980
1981-1990
Period
1991-1993 and 1998-2000
OSU 2003
Annual Klamath Water Volumes
14000
Klamath Project
Thousand Acre-Feet (TAF)
12000
10000
Iron Gate
8000
4 Tribs
6000
Sub Total
4000
Klamath Mouth
2000
0
1961-1970
K. Rykbost and R. Todd
1971-1980
1981-1990
Period
1991-1993 and 1998-2000
OSU 2003
Klamath Mouth Annual
Hydrograph
•
•
•
•
•
Limited Klamath Project diversions in 1911-1925
Klamath Project fully developed by 1960
Trinity River Diversion started about 1964
Consistent low flows in August and September
Wide range of flows in December through March
Mean Monthly Outflow at Klamath River Mouth
60
50
1911-1921
1922-1925
Outflow in 1,000 cfs
40
1951-1963
30
1964-1976
1977-1989
20
1990-1993
1998-2000
10
0
Jan
Feb
Mar
K. Rykbost and R. Todd
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Month
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
OSU 2003
Trinity River Annual Hydrograph
• Shape of hydrograph is very similar to Klamath
mouth hydrograph
• Significant change in April through June for
periods before and after Trinity Diversion
• Diversion was about 1.1 MAF (million acre-feet)
in 1964-1986 and 0.73 MAF from 1987-2000
(CDWR)
Trinity River Flows at Hoopa, CA
18.0
Mean Monthly Flows (1,000 cfs)
16.0
14.0
12.0
1932-1937
1938-1950
1951-1963
1964-1976
1977-1989
1990-2000
10.0
8.0
6.0
4.0
2.0
0.0
Jan
Feb
Mar
K. Rykbost and R. Todd
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Month
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
OSU 2003
Trinity Hydrograph Pre- and PostDiversion
• Important to note that diversion only diverts
flows from the upper 20% of the total Trinity
system measured at Hoopa, CA
• Hydrograph suggests diversion occurs between
March and July
• February dip in post-diversion hydrograph is
related to filling of Trinity reservoirs
• August through December graphs are identical
Trinity River Outflow at Hoopa, CA
Mean Monthly Flows (1,000 cfs)
14.0
12.0
10.0
1932-1963
Pre-Dam
8.0
6.0
1964-2000
Post-Dam
4.0
2.0
0.0
Jan
Feb
Mar
K. Rykbost and R. Todd
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Month
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
OSU 2003
Klamath Mouth Hydrograph pre- and postTrinity River Dams
• Main difference coincides with reduced
post-dam spring Trinity River hydrograph
• August and September flows nearly
identical pre- and post-Trinity dam
• Period of apparent shortage coincides with
request for increased flows for smolt outmigration
Outflow at Mouth of Klamath River
Pre- and Post- Trinity Dam Periods
40.0
Mean Monthly Flow (1,000 cfs)
35.0
30.0
Pre 1964 (28 Years
Ending in 1963)
Post 1964 (33 Years
From 1964 to 2000)
25.0
20.0
15.0
10.0
5.0
0.0
Jan
Feb
Mar Apr May Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Month
K. Rykbost and R. Todd
OSU 2003
Salmon River Hydrographs
• No out of stream diversions from Salmon River,
but seasonal hydrograph coincides with
Trinity’s
• Hydrographs show similar trends for varied
flows from December through April, but
consistent low flows in August and September
• Pre- and post- Trinity Diversion periods have
nearly identical hydrographs from June
through October
Salmon River Flows at Somes Bar
Mean Monthly Flows (1,000 cfs)
6.0
5.0
1928-1937
1938-1950
1951-1963
1964-1976
1977-1989
1990-2000
4.0
3.0
2.0
1.0
0.0
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Month
K. Rykbost and R. Todd
OSU 2003
Mean Monthly Outflow at Salmon River
Pre- and Post-Trinity Dam Periods
Mean Monthly Flows (1,000 cfs)
4.0
3.5
3.0
2.5
1928-1963
2.0
1964-2000
1.5
1.0
0.5
0.0
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Month
K. Rykbost and R. Todd
OSU 2003
Scott River Hydrographs
• Same seasonal hydrograph trends as
observed for Trinity and Salmon Rivers
• Diversions for agriculture are estimated at
70 TAF or about 15 % of Scott River
watershed yield (CDWR)
• Study by Drake, Tate, and Carlson reported
precipitation accounted for 75-80 % of fall
flow variability
Streamflows in Scott River at Fort Jones
1800
1600
Mean Monthly Flow (cfs)
1400
1200
1942-1950
1000
1951-1963
800
1964-1976
600
1977-1989
400
1990-2000
200
0
Jan
Feb
Mar
K. Rykbost and R. Todd
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Month
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
OSU 2003
Shasta River Hydrographs
• More uniform hydrographs across years
than other tributaries
• CDWR estimates agricultural diversion is
about 100 TAF annually
• Diversion represents about 40 % of Shasta
yield and 25 % of Klamath Project
diversion from UKL and Klamath River
Shasta River Flows near Yreka, CA
600
Mean Monthly Flow (cfs)
500
400
1934-1941
1945-1950
300
1951-1963
1964-1976
1977-1989
200
1990-2000
100
0
Jan
Feb
Mar
K. Rykbost and R. Todd
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Month
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
OSU 2003
Iron Gate Dam Hydrographs
• Annual discharge declined from 1.75 MAF
in 1964-76 to 1.38 MAF in 1990-2000
• No significant increase in Klamath Project
agriculture diversions from 1960s to present
• Mean flows from May through August were
similar in all periods
Iron Gate Flows 1961-2000
4.50
4.00
Monthly Flow (cfs)
3.50
3.00
1961-1996
Average
2.50
1964-1976
2.00
1977-1989
1.50
1.00
1990-2000
0.50
0.00
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Month
K. Rykbost and R. Todd
OSU 2003
Meeting Hardy Minimum Instream
Flows at Iron Gate Dam
• Hardy Phase I recommended an “average” year
flow regime requiring annual discharge at Iron
Gate Dam of 1.62 MAF
• Average 1961-1997 Iron Gate flow is 1.53 MAF
• Total annual flows at Iron Gate were less than
Hardy Phase I “average year” flows in 25 of the
42 years from 1961-2002
Meeting Hardy Minimum Instream
Flows at Iron Gate Dam
Revised Hardy Phase II flow regimes set 5
hydrologic year-types based on projected AprilSeptember inflow to UKL:
• Critical:
Inflow < 286.8 TAF
• Dry:
Inflow 286.8 – 458.3 TAF
• Average:
Inflow 458.4 – 568.5 TAF
• Above Avg:
Inflow 568.6 – 785.2 TAF
• Wet:
Inflow >785.2 TAF
Monthly Hardy Stream Flows at Iron Gate Dam
4.0
Mean Monthly Flows (1,000 cfs)
3.5
3.0
Actual Mean
1961-1996
2.5
Hardy Phase I
2.0
1.5
Hardy Phase II
(Average Year)
1.0
Hardy Phase II
(Dry Year)
0.5
Hardy Phase II
(Critical Year)
0.0
Jan
Feb
Mar
K. Rykbost and R. Todd
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Month
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
OSU 2003
Can Hardy Phase II Targets for
Iron Gate Dam be Met?
• No consideration for minimum lake elevations,
overflows in spill mode, or timing of flows to
meet summer targets in the analysis
• Evaluation only considers total annual Iron
Gate flows and whether individual years
achieved those flows based on year type targets
• Results are charted by year type for 1961-2002
• Charts show surplus or deficit (-) by year type
Hardy Summer Flow Targets
600
Monthly Flow TAF
500
400
June
300
July
Aug
200
Sept
Total
100
0
1961-1997
K. Rykbost and R. Todd
Hardy Dry
Hardy Below
Hardy Avg
Year Type
Hardy Above
Hardy Wet
OSU 2003
Acre Feet Surplus
or Deficit (-)
Hardy Compliance "Wet Years"
50
0
-50
-100
-150
-200
-250
1971
1983
1984
Year
K. Rykbost and R. Todd
OSU 2003
Hardy Compliance "Above Average Years"
Acre-Feet Surplus or
Deficit (-)
600
400
200
0
-200
63
67
69
72
74
75
82
89
93
96
98
-400
-600
Year
K. Rykbost and R. Todd
OSU 2003
99
Hardy Flow Compliance "Average Years"
Acre-Feet Surplus or
Deficit (-)
1500
1000
500
0
64
65
76
78
85
86
95
97
2000
-500
Year
K. Rykbost and R. Todd
OSU 2003
600
400
200
-200
-400
Year
K. Rykbost and R. Todd
OSU 2003
2002
90
88
87
80
79
77
73
70
68
66
62
0
61
Deficit (-)
Acre-Feet Surplus or
Hardy Compliance "Below Average" Years
Hardy Compliance "Dry" Years
Acre-Feet Surplus or
Deficit (-)
100
0
-100
81
91
92
94
2001
-200
-300
-400
-500
-600
Year
K. Rykbost and R. Todd
OSU 2003
Hydrographs for Klamath River
below Keno
• No data are available for 1913-1930
• Historical flow models in Balance Hydrologic
Inc., Trihey, and Hardy Phase I Reports are
partially based on 1905-1912 Keno flows
• Trends are same as Iron Gate for 1964-2000
• Annual accretions between Keno and Iron Gate
Dam are about 360 TAF or about 500 cfs
Klamath River Flows at Keno, OR
3500
Mean Monthly Flows (cfs)
3000
2500
1905-1912
2000
1938-1950
1951-1963
1500
1964-1976
1977-1989
1000
1990-2000
500
0
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
June
July
Aug
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
Month
K. Rykbost and R. Todd
OSU 2003
Williamson River Flows at
Modoc Point Road
• Williamson River accounts for about 46 % of
inflow to UKL according to several studies
• Williamson River watershed yield per inch of
precipitation at Klamath Falls or Crater Lake
has declined significantly over the past 50 years
• Changes in the upper Williamson, Sycan, and
Sprague Rivers seem apparent
Williamson River Flows at Modoc Point Road
3000
Mean Monthly Flows (cfs)
2500
1938-1950
2000
1951-1963
1500
1964-1976
1977-1989
1000
1990-2000
500
0
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
June
July
Aug
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
Month
K. Rykbost and R. Todd
OSU 2003
Williamson River Yield Per Inch of Precipitation
90
TAF/Inch of Annual Precipitation
80
70
60
50
40
Klamath
Falls
30
Crater
Lake
20
10
0
1951-1963
K. Rykbost and R. Todd
1964-1976
1977-1989
Period
1990-2000
OSU 2003
Klamath Watershed in Perspective
Summary
• The Upper Basin above Iron Gate Dam,
including Klamath Project diversions, accounts
for about 15 % of annual flow at the mouth of
Klamath River over past 40 years
• Klamath Project agricultural water use has not
changed significantly in the past half century
• High summer flows requested for environmental
use are only potentially available because of
storage designated for agricultural irrigation
Klamath Watershed in Perspective
Summary
• All tributaries in the Klamath system produce
hydrographs with widely varying winter and
spring flows but consistently low summer flows
• Trinity diversions represent about 20 % of river
yield and appear to mainly affect the spring
hydrograph for Trinity and mouth of Klamath
• Watershed yield above UKL appears to have
declined in recent decades
Klamath Watershed in Perspective
Summary
• Hardy flow regimes requested for summer
months could not be met in a significant number
of years even if the Klamath Project received no
diversions from UKL or Klamath River
• Basing historical flows on 1905-1912 Keno flows
results in unachievable expectations
Klamath Watershed in Perspective
Summary
• The 1905-1912 period used to model flows is the
only period since 1905 when streamflow records
are unavailable in all other reaches of the
watershed
• This fact precludes the ability to compare the
yield at Keno, OR with flows in the Lower
Klamath River Basin or other tributaries