July Middle Fork Project Additional Information Potential Project Betterments to be evaluated during Relicensing July 2006
2Outline Inventory of Betterments Inventory of Betterments Duncan Diversion trash rack Small hydro projects (Interbay & Ralston) Ralston turbine upgrade French Meadows & Hell Hole raises French Meadows Pumped Storage Sediment management Preliminary Environmental Review Preliminary Environmental Review
July Betterments are “Developmental Values” FEDERAL POWER ACT Section 4(e) In deciding whether to issue a license, the Commission must give equal consideration to developmental and environmental values. Environmental values include: fish and wildlife resources, including their spawning grounds and habitat, visual resources, cultural resources, recreational opportunities, and other aspects of environmental quality. Developmental values include power generation, irrigation, flood control, and water supply.
July Purpose of Betterments Improvements to water supply or supply reliability Improvements to water supply or supply reliability Improvements to electric power generation Improvements to electric power generation Improvements to project operations Improvements to project operations
July Betterments Analysis for Relicensing Flow Chart Betterments to carry forward in relicensing Project Description, June 2006 Engineering/environmental studies and agency/public consultation Include viable projects in License Application Initial data collection & screening - Conceptual design work PCWA inventory of potential betterments We are Here
July Proposed Relicensing Upgrades
July Duncan Creek Diversion More water is available at the Duncan diversion More water is available at the Duncan diversion Main problem is blockage of the intake with trash during storms Main problem is blockage of the intake with trash during storms Upgrade trash rack structure to alleviate trash blockages May be constructed prior to 2013 as a maintenance item
July Duncan Creek Diversion Intake
July Duncan Creek Diversion Existing Intake
July Duncan Creek Diversion Proposed Trashrack Improvement
July Add/Upgrade Small Hydro Proposed Proposed Upgrade Hell Hole powerhouse capacity Add small hydro plants on flow outlets at Interbay and Ralston Afterbay Dams French Meadows discarded - too remote, no power line Analysis Analysis Adjacent to existing MF Project facilities = easy access, construction, and operations. Rough economic analysis based on $/KWhr costs
July Interbay Small Hydro
July Add/Upgrade Small Hydro Next Step Next Step Include provision for fish release hydro facilities in Project Description for Relicensing. Relicensing Instream flow studies Finalize when flow release patterns established.
July Ralston Capacity Increase Hydraulic capacity of Middle Fork Powerhouse (1000 cfs) is higher than Ralston (925 cfs). Hydraulic capacity of Middle Fork Powerhouse (1000 cfs) is higher than Ralston (925 cfs). Ralston should have higher hydraulic capacity than Middle Fork otherwise spills at Interbay Ralston should have higher hydraulic capacity than Middle Fork otherwise spills at Interbay Ralston Powerhouse is hydraulically limited – turbine limits output Ralston Powerhouse is hydraulically limited – turbine limits output
July Options at Ralston Turbine- generator upgrade (if feasible) Turbine- generator upgrade (if feasible) Add second 11-MW unit Add second 11-MW unit
July Ralston Capacity Increase Potential Footprint (if Additional Unit option) Footprint
July Ralston Capacity Increase Operations Impacts Daily average water volume will be the same after upgrade Daily average water volume will be the same after upgrade However, can move the daily volume through in fewer hours However, can move the daily volume through in fewer hours More flexibility in generation More flexibility in ancillary services Additional 100 cfs (10% of flow capacity) allows concentration of generation in high value hours Generally the same daily average project throughput Generally the same daily average project throughput Generally the same daily average Ralston reservoir elevations Generally the same daily average Ralston reservoir elevations
July Ralston Next Steps Evaluate upgrade potential of existing turbine/generator electrical equipment Evaluate upgrade potential of existing turbine/generator electrical equipment Refine second unit option. Refine second unit option. Evaluate electrical output constraints Evaluate electrical output constraints Additional economic analysis & tracking of power market trends Additional economic analysis & tracking of power market trends
July French Meadows Storage Increase Additional storage of 5,000 AF potentially available as a result of safety repair Safety Repair = Spillway modification required by FERC to handle Probable Maximum Flood
July French Meadows Spillway Spillway modification in preliminary design Implementation schedule not yet developed with FERC Project will require separate License Amendment (not in relicensing)
July French Meadows Storage Increase Potential Footprint
July Potential Storage change, French Meadows Reservoir, with 5,000 AF Additional Storage Sample change to reservoir storage curve
July French Meadows & Hell Hole Reservoirs Proposed Operational Changes French Meadows Hell Hole Flood Level (All season PMF) (ft)00 Normal Maximum Operating Level (ft) % Range %+103.4% Max Operating Storage Volume (ac-ft) % +5, % +12,0005.8% Max Operating Surface Area (acres)% +20+/- 1.5% +383%
July Hell Hole Storage Increase 10 foot seasonal increase in operating level May–September would add 12 TAF
July Hell Hole Reservoir Potential Footprint
July Add Crest Gates for Storage Increase
July Typical Spillway Crest Gates Granite Reef Diversion - Arizona
July Next Steps Hydrology and Flood Routing Hydrology and Flood Routing Optimization of seasonal operating elevations Optimization of seasonal operating elevations Field Investigations Field Investigations Environmental Studies Environmental Studies Refine layouts Refine layouts Cost estimates and construction schedule Cost estimates and construction schedule Incorporate in License Application Incorporate in License Application
July French Meadows - Hell Hole Pumped-Storage Opportunity for pumped-storage between the reservoirs Opportunity for pumped-storage between the reservoirs 52 MW project maximizes use of hydraulic capacity in French Meadows Tunnel 52 MW project maximizes use of hydraulic capacity in French Meadows Tunnel Recovers lost head below French Meadows Powerhouse Recovers lost head below French Meadows Powerhouse 14 mile transmission line upgrade to Middle Fork 14 mile transmission line upgrade to Middle Fork
July French Meadows/Hell Hole Pumped Storage Overview Use of existing reservoir and tunnel facilities Use of existing reservoir and tunnel facilities Relatively large reservoirs = minimal water level fluctuations Relatively large reservoirs = minimal water level fluctuations Potential additional flexibility for peaking generation & ancillary services operations Potential additional flexibility for peaking generation & ancillary services operations
July French Meadows/Hell Hole Pumped Storage Footprint
July French Meadows - Hell Hole Pumped Storage
July
July French Meadows - Hell Hole Pumped Storage Operational Aspects Net flow of water ‘downhill’ from FM to HH (thence through tunnels to rest of MFP) Net flow of water ‘downhill’ from FM to HH (thence through tunnels to rest of MFP) Average net flows around 550 AF/day (wet yrs, Jul – Dec time period) Surface change 4” to 6” per day (average) Average net flows around 250 AF/day (dry yrs, Apr – Dec time period) Surface change 2” to 4” per day
July French Meadows - Hell Hole Pumped Storage Operational Aspects Pump-back operations most likely on daily basis (pump/release cycle every day), more likely in summer/fall months Pump-back operations most likely on daily basis (pump/release cycle every day), more likely in summer/fall months Maximum available for pumping: 6 – 10 hrs/day, moves 420 – 700 AF Maximum available for pumping: 6 – 10 hrs/day, moves 420 – 700 AF Pumped volume < 0.5% of reservoir volume Pumped volume < 0.5% of reservoir volume
July French Meadows - Hell Hole Pumped Storage Next Steps Preliminary design of selected betterments Preliminary design of selected betterments Refined cost estimates Refined cost estimates Refined operations analysis Refined operations analysis
July Middle Fork Project Potential Betterments – Preliminary Environmental Effects Analysis July 18, 2006
July Potential Betterments Environmental Analysis Approach Potential Betterment Effects Potential Environmental Issues Key Technical Resource Studies Environmental Analysis Avoidance, Protection, and Mitigation Measures
July Potential Effects Short-Term Temporary Construction Effects Long-Term Operational Effects Long-Term Maintenance Effects Potential Project Betterments
July Short-Term Temporary Construction Effects Traffic Noise Air Quality (dust, emissions) Ground-Disturbance Water Quality Erosion Operational Modifications (local and system) Recreation Potential Environmental Issues
July Long-Term Operational Effects Reservoir Levels Instream Flows Generation Water Supply Water Quality - Temperature Entrainment Long-Term Maintenance Effects Increased Maintenance Area Potential Environmental Issues
July Terrestrial Resources Special-Status Species (botanical and wildlife) Invasive/Noxious Weeds Tribal Plant and Wildlife Key Technical Studies (Existing Project)
July Aquatic Resources Physical Habitat Water Quality Fish Populations Special-Status Amphibians and Reptiles Hydrology Fish Passage Entrainment Geomorphology Riparian Key Technical Studies (Existing Project)
July Recreation Resources Recreation Opportunities Recreation Use and Future Demand Facility Assessment and Needs Analysis Land Use Aesthetics Fire Protection/Prevention Transportation and Circulation Key Technical Relicensing Studies (Existing Project)
July Operations Model Characterize Effects on: Generation Water Supply Reservoir Levels Instream Flows Key Analytical Tool (Existing Project)
July Increased Survey Area Additional Operational Modeling Additional Environmental Analysis Additional Technical Studies Project Betterments Additional Technical Study Requirements
July Short-Term Temporary Construction Effects Increased Survey Area Traffic Ground Disturbance Additional Operational Analyses Additional Environmental Analyses Noise Air Quality (dust, emissions) Water Quality Erosion Recreation Additional Study Requirements
July Long-Term Operational Effects Additional Operational Modeling Reservoir Levels Instream Flows Generation Water Quality – Temperature Additional Study Requirements
July Pump Storage Entrainment Reservoir Water Quality Modeling - Temperature Potential Additional Technical Studies
July Additional Study Plan Discussions in Technical Working Groups Next Steps
July Middle Fork Project Potential Betterments – Preliminary Environmental Effects Analysis July 18, 2006
July Potential Betterments Environmental Analysis Approach Potential Betterment Effects Potential Environmental Issues Key Technical Resource Studies Environmental Analysis Avoidance, Protection, and Mitigation Measures
July Potential Effects Short-Term Temporary Construction Effects Long-Term Operational Effects Long-Term Maintenance Effects Potential Project Betterments
July Short-Term Temporary Construction Effects Traffic Noise Air Quality (dust, emissions) Ground-Disturbance Water Quality Erosion Operational Modifications (local and system) Recreation Potential Environmental Issues
July Long-Term Operational Effects Reservoir Levels Instream Flows Generation Water Supply Water Quality - Temperature Entrainment Long-Term Maintenance Effects Increased Maintenance Area Potential Environmental Issues
July Terrestrial Resources Special-Status Species (botanical and wildlife) Invasive/Noxious Weeds Tribal Plant and Wildlife Key Technical Studies (Existing Project)
July Aquatic Resources Physical Habitat Water Quality Fish Populations Special-Status Amphibians and Reptiles Hydrology Fish Passage Entrainment Geomorphology Riparian Key Technical Studies (Existing Project)
July Recreation Resources Recreation Opportunities Recreation Use and Future Demand Facility Assessment and Needs Analysis Land Use Aesthetics Fire Protection/Prevention Transportation and Circulation Key Technical Relicensing Studies (Existing Project)
July Operations Model Characterize Effects on: Generation Water Supply Reservoir Levels Instream Flows Key Analytical Tool (Existing Project)
July Increased Survey Area Additional Operational Modeling Additional Environmental Analysis Additional Technical Studies Project Betterments Additional Technical Study Requirements
July Short-Term Temporary Construction Effects Increased Survey Area Traffic Ground Disturbance Additional Operational Analyses Additional Environmental Analyses Noise Air Quality (dust, emissions) Water Quality Erosion Recreation Additional Study Requirements
July Long-Term Operational Effects Additional Operational Modeling Reservoir Levels Instream Flows Generation Water Quality – Temperature Additional Study Requirements
July Pump Storage Entrainment Reservoir Water Quality Modeling - Temperature Potential Additional Technical Studies
July Additional Study Plan Discussions in Technical Working Groups Next Steps