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Middle Fork Project Betterments for Relicensing

This document outlines potential betterments to be evaluated during the relicensing process of the Middle Fork Project. It includes inventory of betterments, improvements to water supply and power generation, and project operations. The document also discusses specific projects such as the Duncan Diversion trash rack, small hydro projects, turbine upgrades, pumped storage, and sediment management.

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Middle Fork Project Betterments for Relicensing

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  1. Middle Fork Project Additional InformationPotential Project Betterments to be evaluated during Relicensing July 2006

  2. Outline • Inventory of Betterments • Duncan Diversion trash rack • Small hydro projects (Interbay & Ralston) • Ralston turbine upgrade • French Meadows & Hell Hole raises • French Meadows Pumped Storage • Sediment management • Preliminary Environmental Review

  3. Betterments are “Developmental Values” FEDERAL POWER ACT Section 4(e) In deciding whether to issue a license, the Commission must give equal consideration to developmental and environmental values. Environmental values include: fish and wildlife resources, including their spawning grounds and habitat, visual resources, cultural resources, recreational opportunities, and other aspects of environmental quality. Developmental values include power generation, irrigation, flood control, and water supply.

  4. Purpose of Betterments • Improvements to water supply or supply reliability • Improvements to electric power generation • Improvements to project operations

  5. Betterments Analysis for Relicensing Flow Chart Initial data collection & screening - Conceptual design work PCWA inventory of potential betterments Betterments to carry forward in relicensing Project Description, June 2006 We are Here Include viable projects in License Application Engineering/environmental studies and agency/public consultation 2007-2010

  6. Proposed Relicensing Upgrades

  7. Duncan Creek Diversion • More water is available at the Duncan diversion • Main problem is blockage of the intake with trash during storms Upgrade trash rack structure to alleviate trash blockages May be constructed prior to 2013 as a maintenance item

  8. Duncan Creek Diversion Intake

  9. Duncan Creek DiversionExisting Intake

  10. Duncan Creek DiversionProposed Trashrack Improvement

  11. Add/Upgrade Small Hydro • Proposed • Upgrade Hell Hole powerhouse capacity • Add small hydro plants on flow outlets at Interbay and Ralston Afterbay Dams • French Meadows discarded - too remote, no power line • Analysis • Adjacent to existing MF Project facilities = easy access, construction, and operations. • Rough economic analysis based on $/KWhr costs

  12. Interbay Small Hydro

  13. Add/Upgrade Small Hydro • Next Step • Include provision for fish release hydro facilities in Project Description for Relicensing. • Relicensing Instream flow studies • Finalize when flow release patterns established.

  14. Ralston Capacity Increase • Hydraulic capacity of Middle Fork Powerhouse (1000 cfs) is higher than Ralston (925 cfs). • Ralston should have higher hydraulic capacity than Middle Fork otherwise spills at Interbay • Ralston Powerhouse is hydraulically limited – turbine limits output

  15. Options at Ralston • Turbine- generator upgrade (if feasible) • Add second 11-MW unit

  16. Ralston Capacity IncreasePotential Footprint (if Additional Unit option) Footprint

  17. Ralston Capacity IncreaseOperations Impacts • Daily average water volume will be the same after upgrade • However, can move the daily volume through in fewer hours • More flexibility in generation • More flexibility in ancillary services • Additional 100 cfs (10% of flow capacity) allows concentration of generation in high value hours • Generally the same daily average project throughput • Generally the same daily average Ralston reservoir elevations

  18. Ralston Next Steps • Evaluate upgrade potential of existing turbine/generator electrical equipment • Refine second unit option. • Evaluate electrical output constraints • Additional economic analysis & tracking of power market trends

  19. French Meadows Storage Increase Additional storage of 5,000 AF potentially available as a result of safety repair Safety Repair = Spillway modification required by FERC to handle Probable Maximum Flood

  20. French Meadows Spillway Spillway modification in preliminary design Implementation schedule not yet developed with FERC Project will require separate License Amendment (not in relicensing)

  21. French Meadows Storage IncreasePotential Footprint

  22. Potential Storage change, French Meadows Reservoir, with 5,000 AF Additional Storage Sample change to reservoir storage curve

  23. French Meadows & Hell Hole ReservoirsProposed Operational Changes

  24. Hell Hole Storage Increase 10 foot seasonal increase in operating level May–September would add 12 TAF

  25. Hell Hole ReservoirPotential Footprint

  26. Add Crest Gates for Storage Increase

  27. Typical Spillway Crest GatesGranite Reef Diversion - Arizona

  28. Next Steps • Hydrology and Flood Routing • Optimization of seasonal operating elevations • Field Investigations • Environmental Studies • Refine layouts • Cost estimates and construction schedule • Incorporate in License Application

  29. French Meadows - Hell Hole Pumped-Storage • Opportunity for pumped-storage between the reservoirs • 52 MW project maximizes use of hydraulic capacity in French Meadows Tunnel • Recovers lost head below French Meadows Powerhouse • 14 mile transmission line upgrade to Middle Fork

  30. French Meadows/Hell Hole Pumped StorageOverview • Use of existing reservoir and tunnel facilities • Relatively large reservoirs = minimal water level fluctuations • Potential additional flexibility for peaking generation & ancillary services operations

  31. French Meadows/Hell Hole Pumped StorageFootprint

  32. French Meadows - Hell Hole Pumped Storage

  33. French Meadows - Hell Hole Pumped StorageOperational Aspects • Net flow of water ‘downhill’ from FM to HH (thence through tunnels to rest of MFP) • Average net flows around 550 AF/day (wet yrs, Jul – Dec time period) • Surface change 4” to 6” per day (average) • Average net flows around 250 AF/day (dry yrs, Apr – Dec time period) • Surface change 2” to 4” per day

  34. French Meadows - Hell Hole Pumped StorageOperational Aspects • Pump-back operations most likely on daily basis (pump/release cycle every day), more likely in summer/fall months • Maximum available for pumping: 6 – 10 hrs/day, moves 420 – 700 AF • Pumped volume < 0.5% of reservoir volume

  35. French Meadows - Hell Hole Pumped StorageNext Steps • Preliminary design of selected betterments • Refined cost estimates • Refined operations analysis

  36. Middle Fork Project Potential Betterments –Preliminary EnvironmentalEffects Analysis July 18, 2006

  37. Potential BettermentsEnvironmental Analysis Approach Potential Betterment Effects Key Technical Resource Studies Potential Environmental Issues Environmental Analysis Avoidance, Protection, and Mitigation Measures

  38. Potential Project Betterments Potential Effects • Short-Term Temporary Construction Effects • Long-Term Operational Effects • Long-Term Maintenance Effects

  39. Potential Environmental Issues Short-Term Temporary Construction Effects • Traffic • Noise • Air Quality (dust, emissions) • Ground-Disturbance • Water Quality • Erosion • Operational Modifications (local and system) • Recreation

  40. Potential Environmental Issues Long-Term Operational Effects • Reservoir Levels • Instream Flows • Generation • Water Supply • Water Quality - Temperature • Entrainment Long-Term Maintenance Effects • Increased Maintenance Area

  41. Key Technical Studies (Existing Project) Terrestrial Resources • Special-Status Species (botanical and wildlife) • Invasive/Noxious Weeds • Tribal Plant and Wildlife

  42. Key Technical Studies(Existing Project) Aquatic Resources • Physical Habitat • Water Quality • Fish Populations • Special-Status Amphibians and Reptiles • Hydrology • Fish Passage • Entrainment • Geomorphology • Riparian

  43. Key Technical Relicensing Studies(Existing Project) Recreation Resources • Recreation Opportunities • Recreation Use and Future Demand • Facility Assessment and Needs Analysis Land Use • Aesthetics • Fire Protection/Prevention • Transportation and Circulation

  44. Key Analytical Tool(Existing Project) Operations Model Characterize Effects on: • Generation • Water Supply • Reservoir Levels • Instream Flows

  45. Project BettermentsAdditional Technical Study Requirements • Increased Survey Area • Additional Operational Modeling • Additional Environmental Analysis • Additional Technical Studies

  46. Additional Study Requirements Short-Term Temporary Construction Effects • Increased Survey Area • Traffic • Ground Disturbance • Additional Operational Analyses • Additional Environmental Analyses • Noise • Air Quality (dust, emissions) • Water Quality • Erosion • Recreation

  47. Additional Study Requirements Long-Term Operational Effects • Additional Operational Modeling • Reservoir Levels • Instream Flows • Generation • Water Quality – Temperature

  48. Potential Additional Technical Studies Pump Storage • Entrainment • Reservoir Water Quality Modeling - Temperature

  49. Next Steps • Additional Study Plan Discussions in Technical Working Groups

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