1. Kootenai Basin Spring/Summer Operations for 2016
Joel Fenolio, P.E.
Upper Columbia Senior Water Manager
Seattle District
Julie Ammann, P.E.
Chief Reservoir Control Center
Northwest Division
24-27 May 2016

2. LIBBY DAM – THE BASICS Provides local and system flood control
11/10/2018
LIBBY DAM – THE BASICS
Provides local and system flood control
Local Bonners Ferry, ID – 1764 feet
System is at The Dalles
Max. flood control draft = 4.98 MAF (El ft.)
Full pool is El ft.
11/10/2018

3. Libby Dam Apr-Aug May Inflow Forecast
Corps forecast is 5.8 MAF (99% or average)
5.9 MAF is the average Apr-Aug inflow volume

4. Libby Dam WSF and Flood Risk Requirements

5. April 1 snowpack Near to above normal However … Atmospheric river
intense, focused, steady rainfall
with high snow levels
Atmospheric river
intense, focused, steady rainfall
with high snow levels
April 1 snowpack
Near to above normal
However …

6. April record warmth and dry
Atmospheric river
intense, focused, steady rainfall
with high snow levels
Atmospheric river
intense, focused, steady rainfall
with high snow levels
Bonners Ferry: Warmest April on record
Snowpack drops
well below normal in a month
With warmth, rapid snowmelt in April
Now less snowmelt and with dry weather: Runoff decreases

7. Snowpack Story for 2016

8. BiOp Requirements and Habitat Operations
Libby WSF of 5.8 MAF sets the following:
Sturgeon Volume of 0.93 MAF
As measured above 4 kcfs
Bull Trout Minimum after the pulse through August 31st is 7 kcfs
Habitat Operations
6 kcfs minimums in Sept
Target 2449 ft end of August rather than end of Sept

9. Moderate ESP Inflow Scenario
2449 ft end of August
Refill end of July
Will be updated next week
9.2 kcfs flat flow
0.93 MAF Sturgeon Pulse

10. Dry Inflow Scenario Refill end of July Below 2449 ft end of August
7 kcfs flat flow
0.93 MAF Sturgeon Pulse

11. Probable Reservoir Elevations
Full Pool 2,459 feet
May 31 – 2,417 to 2,419 feet
June 30 – 2,436 to 2,444 feet
July 31 – 2,445 to 2,451 feet
Aug 31 – 2,445 to 2,449 feet
Elevations are highly dependent on rainfall for Only refilling to 2,440 ft is likely

12. Summary Timing of Inflows shifted up by 4 to 6 weeks
Flood Risk low – based on the below average snowpack
Libby Dam will likely not refill to 2452 to 2454 feet this summer
Anticipated timing of refill late July to August
Seattle District is currently looking at refilling earlier than late July
June precipitation is the wild card in terms of flood risk and refill

13. Additional Slides

15. Snowpack 1-Feb 2012 and 2016
2012
2016

16. Snowpack 1-Mar 2012 and 2016
2012
2016

17. Snowpack 1-Apr 2012 and 2016
2012
2016

18. Snowpack 1-May 2012 and 2016
2012
2016