The Columbia River

1. The Columbia River The Effect of Hydropower Systems on America’s Mightiest River By Henry Schober

2. Basic Facts About the Columbia • America’s 4th largest watershed • Spans over 1,200 miles until dumping into the Pacific Ocean • Drains a 259,000 square mile basin • Receives waters from 7 states • Over 175 species of birds live in and along the river and basin • Home to over 20 endangered species • Begins at 2,650 feet above sea level, dropping an average of 2 feet per mile • 400 dams block the river, only 11 of which are run-of-the-river

3. The Columbia’s Tributaries • 10 Major tributaries on the Columbia • Kootenay, Okanagan, Wenatchee, Spokane, Yakima, Deschutes, Willamette, Cowlitz, Lewis, and Snake River (see map) • Snake River is it’s largest tributary, 1,100 miles long • Snake River flows through Hell’s Canyon, the deepest gorge in North America (7,900 ft).

4. History of the Columbia • The Columbia River has been used for over 10,000 years for its abundant salmon runs • Millions of salmon were harvested every year between 1860 and 1960 • Dams and over-harvesting have greatly contributed to the decline of salmon • Since 1970, fish catch has declined so much that hatchery born fish make up 80% of fish harvested

5. Hydropower Systems • The Columbia is home to 11 major hydropower systems • Construction began in 1932 • Rock Island Dam was first to be completed • Largest dams include the Bonneville and Grand Coulee (pictured) • Grand Coulee Dam produces 6,500 MW of electricity, accounting for 1/3 of the electricity produced by all of the dams on the river

6. Effects of Dams on the Columbia and It’s Surroundings

7. Negative Effects • Causes high temperature slack water which can be deadly to migrating fish • Fish can many times die after their hydrosystem experience • Thick silt build up from the now slow moving rivers destroys spawning grounds • Recent hydrosystem operations have resulted in extreme shallows in breeding grounds • Dams raise water levels upstream of the dam, but lower levels downstream.

8. Fish Decline Along the Columbia River • Fish population in the Columbia is now down to 10% of its original size • Over 90% of spawning habitat for salmon has been destroyed • Loss of nursery habitat has been main reason for salmon decline • Currently 12 species of salmon and steelhead in the Columbia are endangered

9. Spring and Summer Salmon Return

10. Endangered Fish in the Columbia • Endangered species of salmon include the Steelhead, Chum, Coho, Chinook, and Sockeye • Hatcheries now account for over 70% of returning fish populations • Some species of salmon have been reduced to less than 1% of their historic population • To counteract this problem, many efforts have been made to assist fish and keep them safe through hydro-systems on the river

11. Fish Passage Through Hydroelectric Structures Adult Fish Passage Juvenile Fish Passage

12. Juvenile Fish Transportation • 3 of the 4 main dams on the Lower Snake River have juvenile transportation systems, as well as the McNary Dam on the Columbia • If fish survive the dam’s bypass system, they are either placed back in the river or shipped upstream past the remaining dams • River water circulates through the fish to allow them to imprint chemicals and smells of the river

13. Dam Removal • There are currently 4 dams proposed for removal along the Lower Snake River • Many believe that the removal of these dams, along with continued efforts, could help restore salmon in this river to their original numbers