Transcript Slide 1

Willamette Project Biological
Opinions
Presentation to the NW Power Council
December 2008
Mindy Simmons
US Army Corps of Engineers
PORTLAND DISTRICT
Dorie Welch, Daniel Spear
Bonneville Power Administration
Stephanie Burchfield
NOAA Fisheries
Chris Allen
US Fish and Wildlife Service
Operation of 13 multi-purpose
dams and reservoirs
Downstream habitat effects
The Willamette Project
Hatchery Mitigation Program
42 miles of bank
protection/revetments
Willamette Basin
– Area: 11,476 mi2
– Rain-driven
hydrology
– Population ~2.5M
– Most populated
sub-basin in
Columbia River
Basin
Willamette
Basin
1890 Willamette Flood
Oregon State Archives, Marion Co Historical Society, MJON0209
1943 Willamette Flood
Oregon State Archives, Oregon Water
Resources Department, OWR0085
Detroit Dam 1952
North Santiam River
Oregon State Archives, Oregon Water Resources Department, OWR0041
Willamette Project
Dam Construction
Lookout Point Dam 1950
Middle Fork Willamette River
Oregon State Archives, Oregon Water Resources Department, OWR0072
Detroit
Big Cliff
Green Peter
Foster
Willamette Project:
13 Multi-purpose Dams and Reservoirs
Cougar
Blue River
Dexter
Fall Creek
Lookout Point
Hills Creek
13 Multi-Purpose
Dams and
Reservoirs
•Located in
tributaries, not on
mainstem
Willamette River
•Most are large,
high-head dams
PORTLAND DISTRICT
Authorized Purposes
• Flood Damage
Reduction
• Hydropower
• Navigation
• Irrigation
• Fish & Wildlife
• Recreation
• Water Quality
• Municipal &
Industrial
Willamette Project Hydropower
Overview
• Eight projects with
generation
• Projects produce 182.8
aMW
• Annual market value of
$90 million
• Three projects with 300
MWs of capacityscheduled for heavy load
hours
• Total of 400 MWs of
capacity for all projects
• Projects can deliver
additional energy in a
shortage
• Projects are close to major
west side load centers
Willamette Basin Project
PORTLAND DISTRICT
System Benefits
• Hydropower
– more than $90 million
annually
• Flood Damage Reduction
– $18.6 billion to date
– $920 million annual
average damage
reduction
• Navigation
– Flows support water
quality
• Irrigation
– minor use but supports
high value crops
Corvallis 1996
Total = 1.6 Million Acre-feet
1.2 MAF total
PORTLAND DISTRICT
Mainstem Columbia Dams
•Operated primarily for hydropower, run-of-river; in series on mainstem
Willamette Basin Dams
•Operated primarily for flood
damage reduction (storage)
•most are high-head
• located in tributaries
DIFFERENT EFFECTS ON FISH
Willamette Project
Biological Opinions
• Completed July 11, 2008 after 8 years of consultation
• Proposed Action Includes:
– Continued operation of 13-dam complex
– Continued maintenance of 42 miles of revetments
– Operation of hatchery program
• View the Supplemental BA at:
https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/pm/e/en _plan_ ba.asp
• View the NMFS Biological Opinion at:
http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/Salmon-Hydropower/Willamette-Basin/WillametteBO.cfm
•
View the USFWS Biological Opinion at:
https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/pm/e/willametteBO-final_071108.pdf
Willamette ESA Consultation
Action Agencies
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
• Owns and operates projects
• Congressional appropriations
• Bonneville Power Administration (BPA)
• Markets power from the 8 power projects
• Funds power share of USACE budgets
• U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (BOR)
• Markets stored water through irrigation contracts
PORTLAND DISTRICT
Anadromous Fish in the Upper Willamette
Basin (NMFS BiOp)
Upper Willamette River Spring
Chinook salmon
Upper Willamette River
winter steelhead
JEOPARDY
Upper Willamette River Chinook
4
3
<------------------------------ Viable ------------------------------->
2
High
extinction
risk
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Cl
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UWR
Chinook
Salmon
Population
Status
Moderate
extinction
risk
Percent spawning
habitat blocked
Chinook Spawning habitat loss due
to no passage at dams
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Moderate
extinction
risk
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All Chinook
populations affected
by Corps dams are
populations important
for long-term recovery
High
extinction
risk
Population
Listed Resident Fish in the Willamette Basin
USFWS Opinion includes
NMFS’ RPA in Proposed
Action
Oregon chub
Columbia River bull trout
NO JEOPARDY
Oregon Chub
Current Distribution
(35 Populations)
Willamette Basin Bull Trout
Distribution
Probable Historic
Current
Clackamas R. (last observed 1963 –
reintroduction being considered)
North Santiam R. (last observed 1945)
South Santiam R. (last observed 1953)
McKenzie R. (approx. 300 adults)
Middle Fork Willamette R. (15 to 20 adults)
rehabilitation program underway since 1998
Summary of Biological Opinions
IMPLEMENTATION
Short term (FY08-15)
Long term (FY16-23)
Willamette Reservoir System
MM
Major Milestone / Decision Point
Detailed Design Report (DDR)
Conceptual ESA Implementation Strategy
AM
Annual Milestone / Decision Point
Construction
IM
Interim Mileston / Decision Point
Monitoring & Evaluation
Flow Actions
6
7
2014
2015
0
2008
Phase / Activity
1
2009
2
2010
3
2011
4
2012
5
2013
15-year
Implementation
timeframe
Configuration / Operation Planning (COP)
Plans & Specification (P&S)
8
2016
9
2017
Site / Concept Study
Authorization & Appropriation
11
12
13
2019
2020
2021
10
2018
14
2022
15
2023
Flow Management
Meet Tributary Flows, Mainstem Flows & Ramp Rates
Annual Opearting Plan Updates and Revisions
AM1
AM1
AM2
AM2
AM3
AM1
AM1
AM1
AM1
AM1
AM1
AM1
AM1
AM1
AM1
AM1
AM1
AM1
AM1
AM2
AM3
AM2
AM3
AM2
AM3
AM2
AM3
AM2
AM3
AM2
AM3
AM2
AM3
AM2
AM3
AM2
AM3
AM2
AM3
AM2
AM3
AM2
AM3
AM2
AM3
AM2
AM3
Near-term Operational changes
Action a (Fall Creek Drawdown?)
Action b (Detroit Temperature?)
Actions/
Annual Fish Passage Management Plan
Flow-Related M&E
IM2
Cougar Adult Trap
Actions/
Construction
Upgrade Existing Fish Collection & Handling Facilities
IM3
Minto Adult Fish Collection
IM7
Dexter Adult Fish Collection
IM12
Fall Creek Adult Fish Collection
Leaburg Dam Sorting Facility
Construction
IM10
Foster Adult Fish Collection
Construct new Fish Release sites
AM3
IM1
IM4
IM8
Configuration / Operation Planning
COP Research, Monitoring & Evaluation
Reconnaissance Phase Study
MM1
MM3
Comprehensive Study / environmental compliance
Longer Term Operational Changes
Prototype Juvenile Head-of-Reservoir Collector
COP Focal Study: Cougar Downstream Passage
Evaluations/
COP Focal Study: Detroit Temperature Control
IM5
MM2
IM9
IM11
MM4
MM5
Authorization (WRDA 2013?) & Appropriation
Preauthorization Engineering & Design
IM13
Implementation
Config Op Plan
COP Focal Study: Lookout Point Downstream Passage
MM6
MM7
Authorization (WRDA 2015?) & Appropriation
Preauthorization Engineering & Design
IM14
Implementation
COP Focal Study: Detroit Fish Passage
MM8
MM9
Authorization (WRDA 2015?) & Appropriation
Preauthorization Engineering & Design
IM15
Implementation
• Describe Effects on Fish
• Highlight Major Actions from Opinions
Downstream Effects:
Altered Seasonal Flow Pattern
• Spring Reservoir Refill (Feb-May)
– Inflow > outflow
– Lower than natural spring flow
– PROBLEM: reduced flows affect winter steelhead
outmigration and adult spring Chinook migration;
steelhead spawning/incubation flows
• Summer Flow Augmentation (May-Aug)
– Outflow > inflow
– Higher than natural summer flow
– Water quality benefits, rearing habitat
PROBLEM: Providing adequate water
downstream of dams for all life stages
Spawning
Egg Incubation
Redd and
eggs out of
water
Flow Management Actions
• Operational changes implemented in 2000
• Minimum mainstem flows
• Tributary flows
– Spawning
– Incubation
– Rearing
• Process for adjusting targets based on water
forecasts
• Coordination and in-season management team
• Down-Ramping rates (avoid sudden decreases in
flow)
Downstream Effects:
Altered Geomorphic Processes
Winter Flood Damage Reduction (Dec/Jan/Feb)
– Capture peaks of flood events, slow release
– Decreases magnitude of floods
PROBLEM:
Fewer channel-forming flows
+
loss of floodplain connectivity
+
Loss of large wood and gravel from reservoirs
PROBLEM: Downstream Loss of Channel
Complexity and Floodplain Connectivity
Willamette River Planning Atlas (PNW Ecosystem Research Consortium)
• Chinook/Steelhead:
– Loss of winter rearing habitat;
reduced spawning gravel
– Loss of floodplain refugia
• Oregon Chub:
– Loss of population connectivity
– Loss of habitat
Habitat Restoration Program
• On-site actions for Oregon Chub, other species
• Action Agencies will develop an off-site habitat restoration program
• Recovery Plans, Willamette Subbasin Plan, and other habitat
assessments will be synthesized to guide restoration work
• Collaborative Habitat Team representing state, tribes, and federal
agencies will recommend projects and assist in the prioritization of
actions
• Action agencies will work with other habitat programs in the
Willamette to identify opportunities and leverage funding where
possible
• Complete 2 habitat projects per year starting in 2010
Downstream Effects:
Temperature
SUMMER
PROBLEM:
Water is too cold during the
summer
Warm
Dam
Too cold
Adult salmon stop migrating
to spawning grounds
Cold
Downstream Effects:
Temperature
FALL/WINTER
PROBLEM:
Water is too warm during the
fall and winter
Reservoir drawn
down for flood
operations
Dam
Too warm
Salmon eggs in gravel
die or hatch too early
Cold
Downstream Effects:
Temperature
Detroit Dam 2007 – 8
Detroit Dam 2009?
SOLUTION:
Temperature Control Operation
“surface spill”
Warm
Dam
Correct
temperature
Correct temp
MIX
Cold
Downstream Effects:
Temperature
Cougar Dam 2005
Detroit Dam 2018?
New Intake
Tower
SOLUTION:
Temperature
Control Structure
Warm
Dam
Correct
temperature
Correct temp
Cold
Willamette Project
Hatchery Mitigation Program
Hatchery Mitigation Program
• Mitigation for lost production caused by blocked
access to habitat upstream of dams
• Current program produces:
• Spring Chinook salmon (part of ESU; integrated)
• Summer steelhead (non-native, segregated program)
• Catchable trout
• NO winter steelhead program (winter steelhead are ESAlisted)
Willamette Basin Hatchery Facilities
5 major hatcheries
• constructed by USACE
• operated by ODFW
• Funded by USACE and
ODFW
Downstream Effects:
Summer Steelhead Hatchery Program
• Non-native Skamania
stock summer
steelhead
– Popular sport fishery
• Evaluate site-specific
effects on ESA-listed
winter steelhead
• Modify program in
collaboration with
ODFW
Downstream Effects:
Spring Chinook Hatchery Program
• Use hatchery fish to evaluate
reintroduction of Chinook
salmon back into their historic
habitat above the impassable
dams (e.g., NS, SS, McK,
MFW)
• Implement new HGMPs for
integrated programs
– supported by Hatchery
Scientific Review Group
– Increase percentage of
natural-origin fish in brood
• Minimize risks on stronghold
wild populations (McKenzie)
– Manage hatchery-origin
spawners
Action: Leaburg Fish Sorter
• McKenzie Chinook is a stronghold wild population
• Leaburg Dam is located on the McKenzie River and owned and
operated by Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB)
• Action Agencies will construct a sorting facility at the dam to
prevent hatchery fish from straying above the dam and into wild
fish sanctuary above Leaburg
• Action Agencies will work with EWEB, ODFW and NOAA to
design, construct and operate the fish sorter
• BPA lead for funding design and construction (USACE and
ODFW fund operation and maintenance)
• Complete by 2014
Dams blocked access
to historical
spawning habitat
Altered downstream
habitat
How do the Action Agencies
ESA Sec 7
move forward?
Consultations
Can we JUST improve habitat downstream of projects?
• Flows and operations
• Improve temperatures
• Habitat improvement and floodplain restoration
• Hatchery improvements
Recovery Planning
Do we ALSO need
access to habitat
upstream of dams?
Considerations:
 Quality adult holding habitat
 adequate quantities of spawning gravel
 most is managed by USFS or BLM
PROBLEM: Inadequate or nonexistent
upstream passage facilities
• Upstream passage
currently provided only at
Foster and Fall Creek
dams (trap-and-haul)
• Fish ladders are likely
infeasible
– High-head dams
– Variable forebay
fluctuations
• Existing hatchery
facilities designed for
broodstock collection
SOLUTION: Use Willamette Basin Hatchery Fish Facilities as
“trap-and-haul” for adult fish
DEXTER DAM
Adult Collection
Adult Sorting; load
on to truck for
transport
SOLUTION: Use hatchery spring Chinook to evaluate
potential for reintroduction in upstream habitat
Upstream Fish Passage Actions
Cougar Fish Trap Plans
•
•
•
Outplanting adult spring
Chinook also provides prey
base for bull trout
•
Continue adult “outplanting”
program
Construct Trap at Cougar Dam
(McK):2009
Improve or replace adult fish traps:
Minto (N. Santiam): 2012
Foster (S. Santiam): 2013
Dexter (Middle Fk Willamette):
2014
Fall Creek: 2015
Develop 4 to 6 adult release sites
above reservoirs by 2012
PROBLEM: Downstream Passage is Challenging
• Long reservoirs
• Predators
Spill gates
(rarely used)
Regulating
Outlets (“spill”)
Power Turbines
• Deep intakes to
passage routes (very
little surface spill)
Cougar Dam and Reservoir
South Fork McKenzie River
Powerhouse
Regulating
Outlet
Photo Courtesy of Portland District USACE
Regulating Outlet
Willamette Project “spill”
Photograph of the instruments located in the RO channel
Biological Opinion Actions:
Step-wise Approach to Downstream Passage
• Measures to improve passage through reservoirs and dams
until permanent facilities are built
– Fall Creek drawdown for Chinook outmigration
– Test other measures: reservoir drawdown, pulsing flows, spill,
other outlets
– Implement feasible alternatives (“simple” by 2009; more
“complex” by 2011)
• Head-of-Reservoir juvenile collection prototype
–
–
–
–
Evaluate feasibility – complete by end of 2010
Construct prototype by 2014
Biological and physical evaluations 2015 & 2016
If effective, include in design alternatives for downstream
passage at other Project dams
• Evaluate fish passage survival, injury, delay, timing and
distribution at 8 Project dams and reservoirs, 2008 - 2015
Biological Opinion Actions:
Step-wise Approach to Downstream Passage
• Downstream fish passage facilities Construction complete by:
• Cougar - 2014
• Lookout Point/Dexter - 2021
• Detroit/Big Cliff - 2023
• Evaluate for use at additional dams
• Analyze feasibility, alternatives, design through the COP
study
Configuration Operation Plan
“COP”
• Reconnaissance Phase Study due 2009
• Feasibility phase to assess alternatives
• All major structural modifications will be
evaluated for:
–
–
–
–
Biological benefit
Technical feasibility
Economic viability
Consistency with overall recovery strategies
Research, Monitoring & Evaluation
• Willamette is data-poor relative
to mainstem Columbia
– Very little monitoring
infrastructure
• Developing comprehensive
program, to feed into COP
– Site-specific field studies
– Coordinated through WATER
• Currently included in AFEP
Annual Review
– Expanded outyear efforts in
separate process in Willamette
Implementation Coordination: Willamette
Action Team for Ecosystem Restoration
“WATER”
Federal and State
agencies, Tribes
Manager’s
Forum
Charter/guidelines
completed by
December 2008
Adaptive
Management
Steering Team
Flow
Management
Team
Fish Passage
and Hatchery
Management
Team
Environmental
Coordination for
Construction
Projects
Habitat
RM&E Oversight
Team
Funding Strategy
• Most large structural modifications will be funded out of the Columbia
River Fish Mitigation Fund (CRFM)
• Authority: Original project authorities, such as 1950 Flood Control Act
(as is the original CRFM Project)
• Proposal to use CRFM appropriation made with 2008 budget submittal
to Congress (including $800k in funding to initiate actions)
• Future Corps budget proposals will account for most critical needs to
meet BiOp commitments in both programs
• The System Configuration Team (SCT) provides input on priorities for
Columbia/Snake program
– WATER group will perform a similar function for the Willamette
component
Willamette dams different than
mainstem Columbia dams
Different effects on fish
The Willamette Project
Summary
Need downstream
habitat for rearing
Need to use hatchery program
to evaluate reintroduction into
spawning habitat upstream of
dams
Long-term structural
modifications may be critical to
success
Short-term improvements and
actions:
•Habitat
•Temperature
•Flow operations
•Hatcheries
The Willamette Project
Approach
Evaluate feasibility of
long-term actions
Improve hatchery collection
facilities as trap-and-haul
Questions?
Willamette Hatchery
Mitigation Program
Facilities
•
North Santiam
–
–
•
South Santiam
–
–
•
South Santiam Hatchery
Foster Dam (Collection)
McKenzie
–
–
–
•
Marion Forks Hatchery
Minto Ponds
Collection/acclimation (nr Big
Cliff)
McKenzie Hatchery
Leaburg Hatchery
Leaburg Dam (EWEB) (some
Collection)
Hatchery
collection
facility
Minto
Marion Forks
South Santiam
Leaburg
McKenzie
Middle Fork
–
–
Willamette Hatchery
Dexter Ponds (Collection,
rearing/acclimation)
Willamette
Cougar Dam Cross Section