Project Operations Table 5 summarizes the major fish-related reservoir and flow operations by project, consistent with the 2010 NMFS Supplemental BiOp RPA Table (see Appendix 7). More detailed descriptions of each of these operations by project follow the table. Table 5. Reservoir and Flow Operations for ESA-listed fish species. Flood Control & Kootenai River Spring Summer Project Bull Trout Chum Project Refill White Sturgeon Anadromous Anadromous Libby Winter: Operate to May July: Provide Year Round: Operate Operate to meet refill September: draft to 10 Fall/winter storage – VARQ flood control USFWS sturgeon to maintain project if possible without ft from full by the end may be used to rule curve and achieve volume to augment minimum flow jeopardizing flood of September (except support chum flows appropriate elevation flows at Bonners requirements. Operate control, meeting in lowest 20th by April 10 if possible. Ferry. using ramping rates to sturgeon volume percentile water years, minimize adverse goalsand not as measured at The Spring: Adhere to affects of flow exceeding TDG limits. Dalles when draft will VARQ Operating fluctuations and increase to 20 ft from Procedures at Libby maintain a steady full by end of Dam, supply the outflow if possible for September). Full is appropriate tiered July September. 2459 ft. – volume for sturgeon, supply appropriate May 15 Sep 30: – minimum bull trout Operate to Bull Trout flow. Minimum Flows and maintain a steady Summer: to provide outflow if possible for summer flow July–September while augmentation, refill, operating to exact date to be experimental draft to determined in-season, 10 ft from full by the dependant on available end of September water supply, shape (except in lowest 20th and spring flow percentile water years, operations, while also as measured at The avoiding involuntary Dalles, when draft will spill and meeting flood increase to 20 ft from control objectives. full by end of September). Full is 2459 ft.
Project Operations Table 5 summarizes the major fish-related reservoir and flow operations by project, consistent with the 2010 NMFS Supplemental BiOp RPA Table (see Appendix 7). More detailed descriptions of each of these operations by project follow the table. Table 5. Reservoir and Flow Operations for ESA-listed fish species. Project Flood Control & Project Refill Kootenai River White Sturgeon Bull Trout Spring Anadromous Summer Anadromous Chum Libby Winter: Operate to VARQ flood control rule curve and achieve appropriate elevation by April 10 if possible. Spring: Adhere to VARQ Operating Procedures at Libby Dam, supply the appropriate tiered volume for sturgeon, supply appropriate minimum bull trout flow. Summer: to provide summer flow augmentation, refill, exact date to be determined in-season, dependant on available water supply, shape and spring flow operations, while also avoiding involuntary spill and meeting flood control objectives. May – July: Provide USFWS sturgeon volume to augment flows at Bonners Ferry. Year Round: Operate to maintain project minimum flow requirements. Operate using ramping rates to minimize adverse affects of flow fluctuations and maintain a steady outflow if possible for July – September. May 15 – Sep 30: Operate to Bull Trout Minimum Flows and maintain a steady outflow if possible for July–September while operating to experimental draft to 10 ft from full by the end of September (except in lowest 20th percentile water years, as measured at The Dalles, when draft will increase to 20 ft from full by end of September). Full is 2459 ft. Operate to meet refill if possible without jeopardizing flood control, meeting sturgeon volume goalsand not exceeding TDG limits. September: draft to 10 ft from full by the end of September (except in lowest 20th percentile water years, as measured at The Dalles when draft will increase to 20 ft from full by end of September). Full is 2459 ft. Fall/winter storage may be used to support chum flows
20130925_2014_WMP_Draft_Oct1_NWD.docx