COLUMBIA RIVER SYSTEM OVERVIEW BRAZILIAN DELEGATION COLUMBIA RIVER STUDY TOUR COLUMBIA RIVER SYSTEM OVERVIEW By Jim Barton Chief, Columbia Basin Water Management Division U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Northwestern Division Portland, Oregon May 2009

Presentation Topics Physical Characteristics Operational Considerations Coordination

COLUMBIA RIVER SYSTEM HYDRO PLANT ELEVATIONS

AND USABLE RESERVOIR STORAGE AVERAGE ANNUAL RUNOFF AND USABLE RESERVOIR STORAGE MAJOR WESTERN RIVER BASINS 250 240 230 220 210 200 190 180 170 Average Annual Runoff 160 150 Usable Reservoir Storage MILLIONS OF ACRE FEET 140 130 120 110 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 Columbia Colorado Missouri RIVER BASINS

Natural & Regulated Flows

Characteristics 4th Largest river in North America Most powerful (35,000 MW total capacity) Drainage area = 259,000 mi2 (669,500 km2) 219,000 (84% in 7 US states) + 39,500 (Canada) Source in British Columbia, Canada; L= 1,214 mi. (1,950 km) Major Sub-basins: Kootenay, Pend d’Oreille; Snake; Willamette Climate: winter (wet, mild); summer (dry, warm) Precip: 6 – 180” (1500 – 4600 mm); max. in winter Snow: 400” (10,000 mm) in fall - early spring Evaporation: 35 – 55” (900-1,400mm) Runoff and Streamflow: Eastern Basin = snow; Western = rain) Discharge: Avg 275 kcfs (7,787 m3/s); Vol.: 198 maf (244 km3) Highest recorded flow: (1894): 1,240 kfs (35,113 m3/s)

Indicates total flood control space available, Minimum Elevation, same as draft for flood control in wet year (1997) http://www.columbiabirdresearch.org. 4 Indicates total flood control space available, in million acre-feet Comparison of space available for system flood control storage 1.3 3 5 3.2 5 2 1 Total space available for flood control: Total active storage: 24.5 MAF 45 MAF 9

Operational Considerations Projects within basin are operated as a system to meet regional needs for hydropower, flood risk management, etc. System is operated for multiple purposes that can conflict with each other Ex. Flood risk management requires lower reservoirs in winter and spring to store flood waters; fisheries requires reservoirs to be higher Environmental and fisheries requirements have increased significantly in recent years due to Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, and other factors. Infrastructure within the system is aging (average age is about 35 years), budget for improvements is constrained (spillways, gates, powerplants, etc.) Awareness, interest, involvement, and expectations of stakeholders has grown significantly Given all of these factors, operational flexibility is much more limited than in past

Multiple Purposes Hydropower Fish & Wildlife Irrigation Recreation Mission Statement – The Civil Works Integration Division develops, defends and manages the Civil Works Program. FY07 program – about $750 million Point to make: Multiple water users, multiple interests; a challenge to keep balance to maximum greatest food for greatest number of people. Recreation Flood Damage Reduction Navigation

Endangered Species Act Operation Oregon Idaho River Willamette Washington Col um bia Pacific Ocean John Day The Dalles McNary Chief Joseph Hungry Horse Ice Harbor Lower Monumental Little Goose Lower Granite Dworshak Montana Libby Albeni Falls Grand Coulee Bonneville Hells Canyon Oxbow Brownlee Chum Salmon Chinook Salmon Steelhead Sockeye Salmon White Sturgeon Bull Trout Priest Rapids Rock Island Rocky Reach Wells

River Flows for Multi Purpose Operations Scenarios 13

OPERATIONS TIMELINE L I B Y H H U O N R G S R E Y A F L A B L E L N S OPERATE TO CHUM FLOW OBJECTIVES OPERATE TO VERNITA BAR FLOW OBJECTIVES OPERATE TO VERNITA BAR FLOW OBJECTIVES REFILL FOR KOKANEE OPERATE TO PRIEST RAPIDS OPERATE TO MCNARY SPRING OPERATE TO MCNARY SUMMER Variable Draft limits (Fish VECC) BURBOT FLOW REQUEST MINIMUM FLOW OR FLOOD CONTROL BURBOT FLOW OPERATE TO BULL TROUT FLOW OBJECTIVES OPERATE TO SALMON POWER DRAFT OPERATE TO STURGEON L I B Y MINIMUM FLOW FOR COLUMBIA FALLS OPERATE TO MCNARY SUMMER FLOW OBJECTIVES H H U O N R G S R E Y SPRING FLOW OBJECTIVES MINIMUM FLOW OR FLOOD CONTROL Variable Draft Limits (Fish VECC) Draft To Winter Flood Control Elevation A F L A B L E L N S I Refill Winter Flood Control Elevation Full for Summer Recreation Winter Flood Control Elevation G C R O A U N L D E E MINIMUM FLOW OR FLOOD CONTROL OPERATE TO LOWER GRANITE SPRING FLOW OBJECTIVES D W O R S H A K MINIMUM FLOW OR FLOOD CONTROL SUMMER NOV MAY OCT DEC SEP AUG JUL JUN APR MAR FEB JAN

Coordination Integrated water resource management approach used in coordinating system planning and operation Extensive coordination required to plan and operate system given multiple purposes, objectives, and interested parties (two countries, multiple states) Examples of coordination groups: Columbia River Treaty Pacific Northwest Coordination Agreement Technical Management Team

Columbia River Treaty Organization CANADIAN GOVERNMENT Ministry of External Affairs Ministry of Natural Resources BRITISH COLUMBIA GOVERNMENT UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT Department of State Department of Energy Department of Army TREATY PERMANENT ENGINEERING BOARD * CANADIAN UNITED STATES CANADIAN ENTITY * United States ENTITY * PEB ENGINEERING COMMITTEE *** CANADIAN UNITED STATES CANADIAN COORDINATOR & SECRETARY ** United States COORDINATOR & SECRETARY ** OPERATING COMMITTEE ** CANADIAN UNITED STATES HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL COMMITTEE ** CANADIAN UNITED STATES * Established by TREATY ** Established by ENTITY *** Established by PEB

Pacific Northwest Coordination Agreement – Northwest Power Pool

Regional Fisheries Implementation Organization BLM USFWS NMFS (CHAIR) BIA CORPS USFS USBR FEDERAL EXECUTIVES NPPC BPA STATES TRIBES Independent Scientific Advisory Board EPA IMPLEMENTATION TEAM (IT) SYSTEM CONFIGURATION TEAM (SCT) WATER QUALITY TEAM (WQT) TECHNICAL MANAGEMENT TEAM (TMT)

Summary Columbia River is a very important resource in the regional in terms of economic development, environmental sustainability, and other areas. Columbia River is operated as a system to meet multiple purposes Operating requirements have become more difficult to implement as increasing demands are being placed on the river Good coordination, communication, and working relations among the various parties involved are one of the major keys to success

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Northwestern Division Portland, Oregon The End U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Northwestern Division Portland, Oregon