Reminder: work meeting on the TMT 5-yr work plan tomorrow 8 Oct. 96 (see below)
INTRODUCTION
This 5-year work plan was prepared by the Technical Management
Team (TMT) at the request of the Steering Committee. It contains
the following information that was specifically requested by the
Steering Committee:
OVERVIEW OF TMT ROLE & RESPONSIBILITIES
The National Marine Fisheries Service's (NMFS) Biological Opinion
(Opinion) on the operation of the Federal Columbia River Power
System (FCRPS) and Juvenile Transportation Program in 1995 and
Future Years calls for a Technical Management Team (TMT) to be
established to advise the operating agencies on dam and reservoir
operations to optimize passage conditions for juvenile and adult
anadromous salmonids. The Opinion also calls for the TMT to develop
a water management plan (Plan) by April 15 of each year based
on the runoff forecast. This plan can be customized each year
to address specific operational objectives that may be required
in that year. The Plan will be able to address special requirements
that have been approved through other processes such as the System
Configuration Team (SCT), Anadromous Fish Evaluation Program (AFEP),
the Dissolved Gas Team (DGT), or other research and monitoring
groups.
The TMT is not a policy making group. Its goal is to implement
the Biological Opinion, not to interpret the Biological Opinion.
TMT recommendations shall be made to the Corps of Engineers (Corps)
and Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), which have authority
to operate the Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS) projects,
and to the Corps and Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), which
have the authority to make agreements with Canada regarding storage
in Canada. Recommendations of the TMT shall be made by consensus.
If consensus is not reached, issues will be elevated to the Implementation
Team.
The TMT will be a year-round technical body with three periods
of operation: pre-season-planning, in-season management, and post-season
review. The pre-season planning will consist of refining the annual
Water Management Plan and coordinating fall and winter reservoir
operations to achieve the prescribed levels of confidence of reservoir
refill. The Corps will coordinate with the TMT regarding operational
decisions outside the fish migration period that could affect
anadromous fish. In-season management will be conducted during
the anadromous fish migration season; when the TMT will meet weekly
or as often as necessary to provide optimum fish passage conditions.
TMT members will reconvene at the end of the fish migration to
provide an auto-critique of the operations implemented during
the previous season, and to formulate an improved process for
the next year's operation.
The cyclical working process described above will be implemented
during each of the next five years covered under this work plan.
Minor procedural changes will be introduced as needed, if and
when circumstances or new information warrant.
TMT DECISION BASE
Consistent with provisions of the TMT Guidelines and Water Management
Plan, the TMT decision process will be based on all or any applicable
parameters and/or actions listed below:
COMPARISON MATRIX TO MAJOR SALMON RECOVERY PLANS
Table 1 contains a condensed table summarizing the specifics of each of the three plans on each reservoir for the short-term. For each measure, proper references to the plan involved are also shown. A description of the measures listed, where and how they differ, and the basis for the differences, follows.
Snake River Operations
Snake River flow targets: Both the Council's 1994 fish
and wildlife program and 1995 NMFS biological opinion identify
Snake River flow targets at Lower Granite Dam. NMFS flow targets
range from 85 up to 100 Kcfs during the spring and between 50
to 55 Kcfs during July and August. The Council's sliding scale
flow equivalent targets range from 85 to 140 Kcfs during the spring
period and 50 Kcfs during July, with no flow target in August.
The Tribal Restoration Plan has no specific flow targets for
the Snake River, instead relying on the volumes identified below
to augment flows for salmon.
Lower Snake Drawdowns: One of the major differences in the three major salmon recovery plans is that both the Council's 1994 fish and wildlife program and the 1995 tribal restoration plan call for a phased implementation of drawdown actions in the Snake River over the next five years, whereas the 1995 NMFS biological opinion calls for a minimum operating pool (MOP) operation at all four lower Snake projects from mid-April through August. NMFS calls for completion of feasibility studies related to drawdown actions with a regional decision made in 1999 as to whether and how much to lower mainstem reservoirs. The Council's fish and wildlife program specifies that, contingent on needed fish passage modifications and development of a mitigation plan, Lower Granite reservoir is to be drawn down 43 feet to near spillway crest elevation 690 feet beginning in the spring of 1996, with Little Goose lowered a similar amount beginning in spring 1999. The tribal plan calls for the Lower Granite project to be lowered to elevation 710 feet beginning in spring 1997. Both the Council program and the tribal plan call for MOP operation during the spring and summer migration periods at Lower Monumental and Ice Harbor projects in the short-term and until a regional decision is made concerning drawdown, although the tribal plan calls for the MOP operation to extend through the end of October.
Upper Snake Basin water: All three plans specify at least
427 Kaf be provided from the upper Snake Basin for salmon flow
augmentation. A difference in the three major salmon recovery
plans is that both the Council's 1994 fish and wildlife program
and the 1995 tribal restoration plan call for more water to be
provided from willing sellers in the upper Snake Basin. The Council's
program takes a phased approach: in 1996, an additional 500 Kaf
is to be found and provided; and in 1998, another 500 Kaf is to
be provided for a total volume of 1.427 Maf. The tribal plan
calls for a volume of between 1 and 3 million acre-feet from the
upper Snake Basin to be used for salmon flows.
Brownlee: The NMFS biological opinion and the Council's
program have identical operations specified for Idaho Power Company's
Brownlee project. Both plans call for a total draft of 347 Kaf
from Brownlee; 110 Kaf in the spring period and another 237 Kaf
in the summer months. The tribal plan calls for Idaho Power to
provide up to 450 Kaf during the spring and summer migration periods.
Dworshak: Both the NMFS biological opinion and the 1995 Tribal Plan call for up to 1.5 Maf be provided from Dworshak during the spring migration, whereas the Council's program specifies a volume of up to 1.0 Maf in the spring. During the summer migration, the tribal plan requires another 1.0 Maf volume be provided from Dworshak. Although both the Council program and the NMFS biological opinion contain a draft limit of 1520 feet for Dworshak, the Council's program results in a greater volume contribution from the project during the summer months than the NMFS plan for several reasons: 1) the Council's program does not draft Dworshak as deeply as the NMFS plan during the spring months and thus is better able to refill from spring operations; and 2) the Council's program calls for refill during August and specifies an additional 200 Kaf be provided in September for Snake River water temperature control operations.
Columbia River Operations
Lower Columbia River flow targets: Both the Council's
fish and wildlife program and the tribal plan specify lower Columbia
River flow targets at The Dalles Dam, while the NMFS biological
opinion specifies flow targets at McNary Dam. NMFS flow targets
range from 200 to 260 Kcfs during the spring and 200 Kcfs during
July and August. The Council's sliding scale flow equivalent
targets range from 170 to 300 Kcfs during the spring period, 200
Kcfs in July, 160 Kcfs in August and 120 Kcfs in September. The
Tribal Restoration Plan has flow targets ranging from 220 to 300
Kcfs in the spring period, with the same flow targets as the Council
during the summer months and September.
Arrow and Canadian Projects: Both the Council's program
and the NMFS biological opinion call for a portion of the total
operational storage volume to be stored and released from the
Arrow project in British Columbia. NMFS specifies a volume of
up to 1 Maf in Arrow, while the Council's program does not specify
how much of the 4 Maf total volume should be stored in particular
projects. The tribal plan, on the other hand, calls for the use
of Arrow, Mica and Duncan projects, as necessary, to help meet
flow targets at The Dalles Dam.
Libby and Hungry Horse: Both the Council program and the
NMFS biological opinion specify that both of these projects operate
near upper rule curve to store a portion of the operational volume
for salmon flows. Also, both programs call for Libby to provide
necessary sturgeon flows according to the USFWS biological opinion
on endangered white sturgeon. A major difference is the Council's
program calls for both projects to be operated to integrated rule
curves year-round, which is intended to provide some storage for
salmon and sturgeon flows while balancing impacts to resident
fish and wildlife. NMFS biological opinion, on the other hand,
establishes maximum summer draft limits of 20 feet at each project
for salmon flows. The tribal plan calls for both projects to
be drafted as necessary to meet salmon flow targets at The Dalles
Dam, with no draft limits or protections for resident fish specified.
Albeni Falls: The Council program is the only plan that
calls for phased-in draft limits at Albeni Falls project on the
Pend Oreille River. By 1998, the minimum elevation at the project
is 2056 feet.
Grand Coulee: Both the Council program and the NMFS biological opinion specify that Grand Coulee and FDR Lake should operate near its upper rule curve to store a portion of the operational volume for salmon flows. A major difference is the Council's program calls for Grand Coulee project to be operated to specified minimum draft limits and water retention times, which are intended to provide some storage for salmon flows while balancing impacts to resident fish and wildlife. NMFS biological opinion, on the other hand, establishes a maximum summer draft limit of 10 feet at Grand Coulee project for salmon flows. The tribal plan calls for Grand Coulee to be drafted as necessary to meet salmon flow targets at The Dalles Dam, with no draft limits or protections for resident fish specified.
Priest Rapids/Vernita Bar Flows: Both the Council program and the tribal plan comply with Vernita Bar minimum flow requirements for fall chinook spawning, incubation and emergence, as specified in a FERC settlement agreement. The NMFS biological opinion has no such flow requirement.
John Day Drawdown: All three salmon restoration plans would have John Day reservoir operated year-round near its minimum operating pool level, or elevation 257 feet, beginning in 1996, contingent upon development of a mitigation plan.
Spill
All three salmon restoration plans call for fish spill levels to obtain an 80 percent fish passage efficiency at each mainstem project. In the NMFS biological opinion, however, spill at collector/transport projects is reduced or eliminated during low flow conditions to increase the proportion of fish transported. In both the NMFS plan and the Council program, fish spill may also be reduced when 12-hour average TDG levels exceed 120 percent saturation at the tailrace monitor below each mainstem dam, or as limited by state water quality standards. In the tribal plan, spill may be reduced when the 12-hour average TDG levels exceed 125-130 percent saturation in the tailrace. Spill periods for both the NMFS biological opinion and Council program generally range from mid-April through August 31, except for the Council program in the Snake River, which curtails spill on July 31. Spill periods are not specified in the tribal plan.
Smolt transportation
The Council program encourages an interim strategy that substantially reduces the number of juvenile fish transported (under a spread-the-risk approach) and calls for a rigorous evaluation of transportation survival versus inriver survival and returns to adult spawners. The NMFS biological opinion calls for transportation of all fish collected at the lower Snake River collector projects, subject to spill operations specified above and unless the TMT recommends otherwise or transport operations are out of criteria. Spill at Snake River collector projects in average and above water years effectively decreases the number of juvenile fish that can be collected and transported. Spring migrants at McNary Dam should be returned to the river to facilitate the evaluation of transportation survival versus inriver survival. The NMFS plan calls for maximum transportation of fall chinook, since spill is not recommended at any of the 4 collector projects during the summer months. Under the tribal plan, mass transportation of juvenile salmon using barges and trucks would be halted at all mainstem Snake and Columbia river dams.
MAJOR ISSUES CONFRONTING TMT
Major issues currently confronting the TMT are listed below. A
short write-up describes the essence of the issues and how they
came up, followed by a short discussion. Some of the issues are
technical in nature, others are more distinctly policy-related.
A third group of issues lies somewhere in between, due in part
to the lack of conclusive information. At this time, as directed
by the Steering Committee, no attempts are made to propose and/or
suggest any resolution process or procedure.
Policy Issues
1. Issue: Definition of, and procedures for emergencies
Discussion: -add text-
2. Issue: Mitigation for emergencies
Discussion: -add text-
3. Issue: Decision-making and conflict resolution
Discussion: -add text-
4. Issue: Start/End Dates of operation
Discussion: -add text-
System/Project Operations Issues
1. Issue: Upstream storage reservoir contributions for salmon flows
Discussion: -add text-
2. Issue: Canadian operations (Arrow swap, IJC)
Discussion: -add text-
3. Issue: Flood control (VAR Q)
Discussion: -add text-
4. Issue: Upper Snake (Idaho Plan, temperature)
Discussion: -add text-
5. Issue: Pending ISAB report on Montana reservoirs
Discussion: -add text-
6. Issue: Transportation limits
Discussion: -add text-
7. Issue: Gas management
Discussion: -add text-
8. Issue: Maintenance scheduling
Discussion: -add text-
9. Issue: Unit operation flexibility (1%)
Discussion: -add text-
10. Issue: Special operational requirements for research
Discussion: -add text-
11. Issue: Use of PIT tag forecaster or other methodology
Discussion: -add text-
BEYOND 1999
The NMFS's Biological Opinion on the "Reinitiation of Consultation
of 1994-1998 Operation of the Federal Columbia River Power System
and Juvenile Transportation Program in 1995 and Future Years"
shall be the guidelines for operations through the year 1999.
At the end of the 1999 season, the operational plan may be somewhat
different than the current Biological Opinion's plan. Although
some of the operations may be different, there will still be a
need for an operational team to perform the day-to-day coordinated
management of the Columbia River system. This team should consist
of the same members including the federal operating agencies,
and sovereign states and tribes. Many of the current processes
will remain in place, such as pre-season planning, in-season management,
and post-season review. The overriding goal will remain the same:
to implement the objectives that are in place in the region.
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NOTE: PREPARATORY MEETINGS. The following meetings have been scheduled to discuss the TMT 5-year Work Plan:
| Date | Time | Location |
| 25 September | 0900-1130 | Emerg.Ops.Mgmt, next to RCC |
| 8 October 1996 | 0900-1130 | -ditto- |
| 22 October 1996 | 0900-1130 | Room 118 |
| 6 November 1996 | 0900-1130 | Room 118 |
POC: Cindy Henriksen (503/326-3745) or Bolyvong Tanovan (503/326-3764)
Table 1. Comparison of the Three Major Salmon Recovery Plans' River Operations Measures
| Project | |||
| Upper Snake Basin | Provide 427 Kaf for flows at LWG Dam | In '95, 427 Kaf for flows at LWG Dam
In '96, provide add'l. 500 Kaf In '98, provide another 500 Kaf | Use 1 to 3 Maf for Snake River flows |
| Brownlee | Jan-Apr15: shift system FC to Coulee
May: up to 110 Kaf (2,069'); June: pass inflow; July: up to 137 Kaf (2,067') ; Aug: pass inflow; Sept: 100 Kaf (2,059') | Jan-Apr15: shift system FC to Coulee
Apr16-30: up to 110 Kaf (2,069') May: up to 110 Kaf (2,069'); June: pass inflow July: up to 137 Kaf (2,067') ; Aug: pass inflow; Sept: 100 Kaf (2,059') | Provide 450 Kaf for spring and summer Snake River flows |
| Dworshak | Sep-Apr15: flood control oper, shift system FC to Coulee
Apr16-June: up to 1.5 Maf; July-Aug: draft limit 1,520' (80') | Sep-Apr15: flood control oper, shift system FC to Coulee
Apr16-June: up to 1.0 Maf; July: draft limit 1,520' (80'); Aug: refill; Sept: 200 Kaf | Spring: 1.5 Maf for Snake River flows
Summer: 1.0 Maf for Snake River flows |
| Lower Granite | Apr16-Aug: operate near MOP (733')
Flow Targets: Apr16-June: 85-100 Kcfs; July-Aug: 50-55 Kcfs | Apr16-Jun15: operate near elev. 690'
Jun16-Aug: operate near MOP Flow Targets: Apr16-June: 85-140 Kcfs equivalent July: 50 Kcfs equivalent | All year: operate near elev. 710' beginning in '97
Flow Targets: No specific targets -- release volumes identified above to augment flows. |
| Little Goose | Apr16-Aug: operate near MOP (633') | Apr16-Jun15: In 1996-98, near MOP
Starting in '99, operate near elev. 590' Jun16-Aug: near MOP | Apr15-Oct31: operate near MOP |
| Lower Monumental | Apr16-Aug: operate near MOP (537') | Apr16-Aug: operate near MOP | Apr15-Oct31: operate near MOP |
| Ice Harbor | Apr16-Aug: operate near MOP (437') | Apr16-Aug: operate near MOP | Apr15-Oct31: operate near MOP |
Table 1 (continued)
| Project | |||
| Arrow | Jan-Apr15: store up to 1 Maf of
"operational" volume | Jan-Apr15: store "operational" volume
(Total of 4 Maf in US and BC projects.) | Use as necessary for flow targets at The Dalles Dam. (Also use Mica and Duncan, if nec.) |
| Libby | Jan-Apr15: flood control operation
May-July: Provide sturgeon flows Apr16-May: draft limit 2,420' (39') June-Aug: draft limit 2,439' (20') | Jan-Apr15: store "operational" volume
Operate to integrated rule curve (IRC) draft limits year-round. May-July: Provide sturgeon flows | Use as necessary for flow targets at The Dalles Dam.
Make add'l. Water available in better than average runoff years. |
| Hungry Horse | Sep-Apr15: flood control oper, Apr16-Aug: draft limit 3,540' (20'), max flow 13 Kcfs. | All Year: Operate to integrated rule curve draft limits | Use as nec. for flow targets at The Dalles. Add'l water available in better than average runoff years. |
| Albeni Falls | In 1996, minimum elevation 2,054'
In 1997, minimum elevation 2,055' In 1998, minimum elevation 2,056' | ||
| Grand Coulee | Jan-Apr15: flood control operation
June-Aug: draft limit 1,280' (10') | Jan-Apr15: store "operational" volume Minimum draft limits:
Jan: 1,270' ; Feb: 1,260' Mar-Apr15: 1,250'; Apr16-30: 1,255' May: 1,265'; Jun-Aug: 1,280' Maximum fill limits: June-Aug: 1,288' /1,283' alternate Sep-Dec: 1,288' | Use as necessary to meet flow targets at The Dalles |
| Priest Rapids
Vernita Bar | None | Comply w/ Vernita Bar min flow plan
(Dec-May: 70 Kcfs minimum flow) | Dec-May: 55 Kcfs minimum flow |
| John Day | All year: near MIP (elev. 263') | All year: near MOP (elev. 257') | All year: near MOP (elev. 257') |
| The Dalles/ McNary
Flow Targets | Apr16-Apr30: 200-230 Kcfs
May-June: 220-260 July: 200; Aug: 200 | Apr16-Apr30: 170 Kcfs
May-June: 180-300 July: 200 ; Aug: 160 | Apr16-Jun15: 220-300 Kcfs
Jun16-Jun30: 200-250 Kcfs July: 200 Kcfs ; Aug: 160 Kcfs Sep: 120 Kcfs |
| Spill | Apr15-Aug 31: 80% FPE; 120% gas cap | Snake River -- Apr15-July 31:
Columbia R -- May-Aug 31: 80% FPE w/120% gas cap | Apr15-Aug 31: 80% FPE
125-130% gas cap |