1 / 14

Findings of Congress

Findings of Congress. “ Various species of fish, wildlife, and plants have been rendered extinct as a consequence of growth untempered by adequate conservation.”

norm
Download Presentation

Findings of Congress

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Findings of Congress • “Various species of fish, wildlife, and plants have been rendered extinct as a consequence of growth untempered by adequate conservation.” • “These species are of esthetic, ecological, educational, historical, recreational, and scientific value to the nation and its people.” ESA Sec. 2 • The Endangered Species Act is the last resort for species at risk of extinction. • Under the ESA, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) is accountable to ensure that salmon and marine species are preserved for future generations.

  2. Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS) • Dams and reservoirs on the mainstem Columbia and Snake rivers and their tributaries comprise the FCRPS. • Operation of this dam and reservoir system is a federal action and subject to ESA consultation.

  3. Effects of Dams on Salmonids • Restrict access to habitat • Alter habitat • Alter hydrology • Alter gradient • Passage hazard • Creates recreational opportunities and expectations. • Creates opportunities for further water development within the basin.

  4. Actions called for in biological opinions • Dam Operations • Dam Modifications • Spill at Dams • Flow Measures • Research Monitoring & Evaluation • Transportation • Hatcheries • Habitat

  5. Flow Management Program • Spring Season • Yearling migrants • Summer Season • Subyearling migrants

  6. Spring Flow Management • Largely achieved by having reservoirs operate no lower than their flood control rule curves by April 10. • Rationale is it passes the freshet into the river as opposed to refilling reservoir space.

  7. Summer Flow Management • Goal is to refill all storage project to full pool by June 30. • Draft reservoirs within draft limits to increase river flow during the summer months.

  8. Summer Flow Management Volumes

  9. Chief Joseph Wells GrandCoulee Rocky Reach Rock Island Wanapum Ice Harbor Priest Rapids Lower Granite Little Goose Lower Monumental McNary John Day Bonneville Hells Canyon The Dalles Oxbow Brownlee

  10. Fall Chinook Adult Returns to Bonneville Dam 500000 450000 400000 350000 300000 # of Adults 250000 adult returns 200000 150000 100000 50000 0 1955 1957 1959 1961 1963 1965 1967 1969 1971 1973 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 Year

  11. Wild Steelhead Adult Returns to Bonneville Dam 160,000 140,000 120,000 100,000 # of adults 80,000 adult returns 60,000 40,000 20,000 0 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Year

  12. Spring Chinook Adult Returns to Bonneville Dam 450,000 400,000 350,000 300,000 250,000 # of adults adult returns 200,000 150,000 100,000 50,000 0 1960 1962 1964 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 Year

More Related