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Hungry Horse

Changing flood control operations to improve refill and provide higher instream flows. The VARQ experience. Patrick McGrane River and Reservoir Operations Group Manager USBR Pacific Northwest Region. Libby. Hungry Horse. The timeline :. 1990; ESA Salmon listings on horizon

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Hungry Horse

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  1. Changing flood control operations to improve refill and provide higher instream flows.The VARQ experience.Patrick McGrane River and Reservoir Operations Group ManagerUSBR Pacific Northwest Region

  2. Libby Hungry Horse

  3. The timeline: • 1990; ESA Salmon listings on horizon VARQ invented • 1991 First ESA Salmon Listing • 1995 SOR, Sturgeon and Bull Trout Listings • 2000 BiOp incl. 12 ESA Salmon Listings • 2001 VARQ implemented on interim basis at Hungry Horse • 2003 VARQ implemented on interim basis at Libby • 2008 Upper Columbia EIS. RODs

  4. VARQ Basics: • Higher Lake Levels coming into runoff season will allow better refill and higher streamflows. • It’s OK to increase spring flows from Historic, but not OK to increase flooding

  5. The parties • Oregon, Washington, NOAA, USFWS – wanted higher streamflows for Salmon • Montana – desired higher lake level • Idaho- wanted higher streamflows for local sturgeon but no increase in flooding. • Canada and BPA wanted to preserve power production • Portland and Canada wanted no increase in system flooding.

  6. Flood ControlThe only way to get more water was to not draft reservoirs so deeply for flood control.Revisited original flood studies. • Power drafts were disguised as flood control drafts. • Refill at very low reservoir discharges was not necessary. • Forecasting errors were exaggerated in modeling. • Minor bank stabilization projects increased flood stage. .

  7. Lessons Learned • Keep it simple • Be suspicious of absolute statements “This can’t be done. This is not allowed. This is sacred.” • Lower expectations. • Interim actions were a good idea

  8. More Lessons Learned • Involve the right people • Choose technical staff who are “Problem Solvers” • Empower representatives • Don’t make unnecessary work for yourselves

  9. Good Luck!

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