COBTWG / ESSA TechnologiesJan 27, 2006 – 1 The Okanagan Fish-Water Management (OKFWM) Tool: Balancing Water Objectives in Real-Time Kim Hyatt, Brian Symonds, Andrew Wilson, Clint Alexander, Colin Daniel, Calvin Peters, David Marmorek, Howard Wright, Deana Machin, Brian Guy, Brent Philips, Harvey Andrusak, Chris Bull, Rick Klinge Status of Central Okanagan Watersheds Jan 27, 2006

COBTWG / ESSA TechnologiesJan 27, 2006 – 2 Conflict Water Use Conflict Flood Control Fish survival Agricultural & domestic consumption Recreation / Navigation

COBTWG / ESSA TechnologiesJan 27, 2006 – 3 Okanagan Basin Net Feb 1st - July 31st inflows ~ 560 million m 3 or roughly 1.6m water surface elevation change Drainage area = 6,090 km 2 Surface area = 351 km 2 Volume ~ 24.6 billion m 3 MonthInflow (m 3.sec -1 ) October-0.29 November4.42 December3.82 January5.97 February6.86 March11.40 April34.33 May87.64 June51.41 July11.10 August-1.84 September-1.52

COBTWG / ESSA TechnologiesJan 27, 2006 – 4 Large variation in total net annual inflow

COBTWG / ESSA TechnologiesJan 27, 2006 – 5 Day to day question is: how should release patterns be managed? Okanagan Lake Dam (Penticton)

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COBTWG / ESSA TechnologiesJan 27, 2006 – 7 More people, demand & near-shore infrastructure

COBTWG / ESSA TechnologiesJan 27, 2006 – 8 Passage index – Wells Dam Columbia River, WA

COBTWG / ESSA TechnologiesJan 27, 2006 – 9 Improved understanding of biophysical relationships affecting survival of Okanagan River Sockeye Salmon

COBTWG / ESSA TechnologiesJan 27, 2006 – 10 Sockeye & Okanagan River Flows Sockeye Spawning Incubation Emergence Scour & entombment Dessication

COBTWG / ESSA TechnologiesJan 27, 2006 – 11 Temperature-Oxygen “Squeeze” and Density-Independent Rearing Limitations in Osoyoos Lake (a) OSOYOOS LAKE > 17 O C < 4 ppm O 2 Depth (m) Useable Volume North BasinCentral BasinSouth Basin

COBTWG / ESSA TechnologiesJan 27, 2006 – 12 COBTWG: Do better through inter-agency, inter-disciplinary collaboration on assessment tools Current understanding of hydrology, SK, KOK, impacts on people Self-correcting forecasts using real-time data multiple objectives & tradeoffs Web-accessible assumptions & results OKFWM Train a new generation of water managers Science foundation Real-time data See trade-offs Share ideas

COBTWG / ESSA TechnologiesJan 27, 2006 – 13 overcome Through collaborative process of objective setting, data gathering & joint tool development overcome : OKFWM Science foundation Real-time data See trade-offs Share ideas Self-orientationSelf-orientation Absence of trustAbsence of trust Perceived lack of accountabilityPerceived lack of accountability create create : Software as lasting reference (not just paper record)Software as lasting reference (not just paper record) Easily engage new water/fish mgrsEasily engage new water/fish mgrs

COBTWG / ESSA TechnologiesJan 27, 2006 – 14 What is OKFWM? Internet-accessible decision support system Incorporates real-time data and biophysical models. Field derived & testable empirical relationships. Value judgements on acceptable ranges for performance measures. Developed collaboratively by working group based on historical data and intensive field work by DFO, ONA, BCMoE, SUMMIT Allows gaming and rapid trade-off analysis for daily to weekly in-season decisions

COBTWG / ESSA TechnologiesJan 27, 2006 – 15 Benefits: Updated water management guidelines + shared appreciation of priorities

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COBTWG / ESSA TechnologiesJan 27, 2006 – 20 What happened last year?

COBTWG / ESSA TechnologiesJan 27, 2006 – 21 Spring 2004 & climate -- ‘nervous’ mgrs.

COBTWG / ESSA TechnologiesJan 27, 2006 – 22 25yr retrospective analysis: “If you had used OKFWM between 1974 & 2003, what releases would have been made & how might this have changed the abundance of sockeye smolts leaving Osoyoos Lake?” Q: Will flow mgmt. ‘make more sockeye smolts’?

COBTWG / ESSA TechnologiesJan 27, 2006 – 23 Lake Level Dam Outflow Down- stream River Flow 1991 Actual1991 w OKFWM Kokanee dewatering avoided Sockeye scour avoided Recreation maintained Small flood ‘premium’

COBTWG / ESSA TechnologiesJan 27, 2006 – 24 Benefits depend on water year, but 55% avg. increase in sockeye smolt production *for details see: Hyatt and Alexander Retrospective analysis.

COBTWG / ESSA TechnologiesJan 27, 2006 – 25 Benefits: Refined year-type specific water management strategies February 1 - July 31 net inflow (millions m 3 ) Recommended Okanagan Lake dam release strategy < 310Drought only management. Approx. 310 ‑ 410 Key is to do best to identify this condition as far ahead as possible so that water is held during winter (i.e., minimum drawdown) to allow enough water for summer pulse release to Osoyoos Lake. Approx. 410 ‑ 550 Special strategies not likely required. OBA Implementation Agreement likely to come close to best balance results, subject to guidelines above. Approx. 550 ‑ 775 (a) Hold and flush or (b) winter pulse hold and flush (more lake drawdown, but reduced flood risk and reduced likelihood for “panic” flows in spring). > 775 ‑ 850+ Flood only management. *for details see: Alexander, Symonds, Hyatt, eds Apprentice Fish/Water Mgmt Guidebook.

COBTWG / ESSA TechnologiesJan 27, 2006 – 26 Benefits: Rapid knowledge transfer -- not “600 pgs. of dust” on a shelf Data collection & paper science are foundation of OKFWM… …But software is the living, tangible product of effort: –Managers enthusiastically adopted tool for operational use (2003, 2004, 2005 to present) –“Apprentice” fish/water managers able to competently balance objectives after simulating 2 to 3 water years. Highly effective training investment of ~ 10 to 14 hours that otherwise would require 3 or 4 years.

COBTWG / ESSA TechnologiesJan 27, 2006 – 27 Additional Information Kim Hyatt Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Nanaimo, BC Clint Alexander ESSA Technologies Ltd., Kelowna BC