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2014 NWHA Conference February 19, 2014. Protecting Fish Protecting Our Future. Results of the nation’s first hydropower Habitat Conservation Plans to protect salmon and steelhead. Lance Keller, Fisheries Biologist Chelan County Public Utility District Wenatchee, Washington.
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2014 NWHA Conference February 19, 2014 Protecting FishProtecting Our Future Results of the nation’s first hydropower Habitat Conservation Plans to protect salmon and steelhead Lance Keller, Fisheries Biologist Chelan County Public Utility District Wenatchee, Washington
Rocky Reach Hydroelectric Project (1300 MW) FERC #2145 2009-2052 • The Projects Rock Island Hydroelectric Project (624 MW) FERC #943 1989-2028
The Projects Chelan County Public Utility District Acclimation and Hatchery Facilities
Responsibly operate toprovide protection for salmon and steelhead while ensuring a reliable supply of clean, renewable, affordable hydropower • The Goal
Habitat Conservation PlansCollaborative Approach to ESA Protection • The Approach • 50-year Agreements (signed 2002, approved 2004) • Nosurprises clause • Unanimous decision making • Adaptive approach to achieving no-net impact for salmon and steelhead
HCP Framework • adaptive and collaborative • outcome based goals and objectives to achieve no-net impact • use best available science and unique site specific set of tools rather than one size fits all prescriptive methods • The Approach
A Three-Pronged Approach to Reaching No-Net Impact • The Approach 7% Hatchery Production 2% Tributary Projects 91% Combined Adult/Juvenile Survival 93% Juvenile Survival
Site Specific Tools to Reach NNI • The Approach • Rocky Reach Juvenile Bypass System • Installed in 2002/2003 • Rock Island surface spill • Over/under & notched spill gates • Both Projects - Predator Control • Removed an average of 60,272 northern pikeminnowannually • Avian Programs
Using Best Available Sciencefor Evaluating Juvenile Survival • Conducted annual survival studies from 2003-2011 • Utilized and helped develop best available science tools and methodology over time to refine future studies and project operations • The Approach
10-year Project Survival Achievement Rocky Reach • The Results Rock Island
Return Success • The Results
Return Success • The Results
Less Reliance on Hatchery Production • The Results
Tributary Protection and Enhancement • The Results
Success for fishSuccess for our future • The Benefits • Long-term ESA protection • Reduced spill, less reliance on hatcheries • Environmental stewardship • Predictable, efficient operations • Collaborative achievement
2014 NWHA Conference February 19, 2014 Lance Keller, Fisheries Biologist Chelan County Public Utility District lance.keller@chelanpud.org (509) 661-4299