FISH PASSAGE CENTER. On December 4, 2018, FPAC met for its weekly conference call. The following people participated in the call:

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FISH PASSAGE CENTER 847 NE 19 th Avenue, #250, Portland, OR 97232 Phone: (503) 833-3900 Fax: (503) 232-1259 www.fpc.org/ e-mail us at fpcstaff@fpc.

1 FISH PASSAGE CENTER 847 NE 19 th Avenue, #250, Portland, OR Phone: (503) Fax: (503) us at MEMORANDUM To: From: Fish Passage Advisory Committee (FPAC) FPC Staff Date: December 20, 2018 Subject: Action Notes from December 4, 2018, FPAC meeting On December 4, 2018, FPAC met for its weekly conference call. The following people participated in the call: Paul Wagner (NOAA, co-chair) Tom Lorz (CRITFC, co-chair) Erin Cooper (FPC) Brandon Chockley (FPC) Russ Kiefer (IDFG) Dave Benner (FPC) Erick Van Dyke (ODFW) Dave Swank (USFWS) Kyle Dittmer (CRITFC) Charles Morrill (WDFW) Gabe Scheer (FPC) Tom Iverson (Yakama Nation) AGENDA ITEMS Review and Approval of Notes from November 20 Meeting (00:00:24 00:02:15) Paul Wagner (NOAA) provided one edit to the notes. NOAA s probability of El Niño was 80%, not 85%. With this edit, notes for November 20 were approved and will be finalized. Water Supply and Reservoir Status (00:02:15 00:06:19) Dave Benner (FPC) provided an overview of reservoir operations, snow pack, and Chum operations over last week. See attached document. \\Mobydick\staff\DOCUMENT\2018_Documents\2018_Files\FPAC\1204\DRAFT FPAC Notes_ docx

2 STP has GCL at 1,270 at the end of December. Paul Wagner (NOAA) noted that the STP doesn t have GCL going below 1,270 because it s not supposed to happen. Can revisit this later. BON tailrace has been in range. Paul noted that the instances of ~12.0 are because Canada is releasing water and, per the agreement, that water needs to pass through GCL for generation and cannot be stored in GCL. This water has been helping with reducing the draft at GCL in recent days. It is unclear when this water from Canada will stop. When/if it stops, GCL will need to draft more. Weather Update and Climate Forecast (00:06:19 00:15:30) Kyle Dittmer (CRITFC) provided an overview of the precipitation for the water year and the month of November (see handout). Conditions are expected to stay sunny and try through Friday. Some rain is expected on Friday and Saturday and then large amounts of rain are expected to arrive on Sunday or Monday and continue through Thursday of next week. Precipitation is expected to fall as snow at elevation. NOAA predicting 80-85% chance of El Niño. Still waiting for MEI index but index was going opposite way in November. Steelhead Passage (00:15:30 00:26:20) Brandon Chockley (FPC) provided an update on steelhead counts at LGR and whether the criteria of few fish for zero night-time flows has been met. Current criteria for few fish are 20 total or 10 wild fish. Current 3-day averages (Nov. 30-Dec. 2) are 19.7 total and 6.7 wild steelhead. FPC had a question about these criteria. Once the criteria have been met are you done evaluating the 3-day averages or does it switch on and off based on 3-day average counts. Paul Wagner (NOAA) and Russ Kiefer (IDFG) noted that their interpretation is that once it s met, it s met, and you don t toggle back and forth. Russ Kiefer stated they he is reviewing temperatures and appears temperatures will remain low so will be ok with implementing zero night-time flow. Charlie Morrill (WDFW) proposes to wait one more day in order to have counts for Dec. 1-3, given Nov 29 th and 30 th were so low but counts for Dec. 1 st and 2 nd were above criteria. FPAC discussed whether the SOR needs to be updated to specify whether November counts can/should be used to meet this criteria and possibly adding a temperature criteria. Current SOR does not specify if November counts can be used but example provided in SOR does include one day of November. Tom Lorz (CRITFC) warned against adding a temperature criteria since we don t really know what the magic number should be. FPAC will revisit the idea of updating the SOR at a later meeting. Paul Wagner (NOAA) will let BPA know that FPAC could like to wait a day or two to see if more recent counts remain above criteria. Page 2 of 4

3 Chum Operations (00:26:20 00:36:35) Charlie Morrill (WDFW) provided an update on chum surveys. Survey crew will be out today. Last update indicates at least some redds have been observed. Erick Van Dyke (ODFW) noted that coastal chum spawning is seeing evidence of later than normal spawning activity so should consider this when looking at Columbia River surveys. Paul Wagner (NOAA) noted that the Chinook number have likely peaked and are on the way down now. Paul noted that the current operation is causing stress for the COE. COE would like to know if managers are talking about stopping operation, dewatering, etc. GCL elevation is well below where we should be based on their criteria. BOR is aware and acknowledges that this is now as planned, same for COE. BPA is liking this, generation is worth a lot at the moment but would like to know ahead of time of managers decide a different operation is warranted. Different operations may include reducing TR elevation to protect eggs, etc. Flood control elevation at GCL on dry year is 1,283. Tom Lorz (CRITFC) noted that the 1,283 is the minimum. Suggested having FPC look at flood control elevation would be, assuming 63% of snowpack. Erick Van Dyke (ODFW) asked about Canada operations. Canada has released water over the last couple of weeks but it s not certain if will continue. Paul noted that January is draft time for Canada. It s hard to say what will come across the border. What doesn t come across the border, GCL will have to make up for. At what point can managers say to back off? BPA would like notice for this of it were to happen. So far, NOAA is willing to keep things where they are and take risk. Precipitation in forecast will hopefully help but we ve never been this low at GCL for this time of year. Year-end Review (00:36:35 00:44:05) TMT Year-end review has been rescheduled for Wednesday, December 19 th. Meeting will still be at CRITFC, Celilo room. Doug Baus (COE), Paul Wagner (NOAA), and Erick Van Dyke (ODFW) will get together this week to discuss Little Goose passage agenda item. o PNNL will give presentation. Presentation will be similar to what was given at AFEP but will be a different presenter. o Paul discussed what request to PNNL was: 1) depth of fish holding in north shore and 2) behavior of fish that fell back (hours, days, what was operation, etc.). No guarantee that this is what they will deliver but this is what was requested. o If others have requests for things PNNL should include, let Paul know. o Charlie Morrill (WDFW) noted that he is curious about whether they saw a difference in PIT-tag detections at LGR based on where fish entered at LGS (North vs. South shore). Paul suggested that Charlie should write this request up and Paul will pass it on. o Erick Van Dyke (ODFW) noted that there needs to be a focus on lessons learned for the LGS passage agenda item. Page 3 of 4

4 o Dave Swank (USFWS) would also like to see additional analyses. Will send his questions to Paul to be forwarded to PNNL. o Charlie Morrill (WDFW) also asked whether we can look at PIT-tagged fish passing during period of delay (mid- to late May) to see if their success to spawning ground was different than those passing outside this period (April-early May, June). Charlie noted that Gabe Scheer (FPC) was looking at that. Gabe noted that we are pursuing this. Comments on Fish Passage Plan (00:44:05 00:26:50) Paul Wagner (NOAA) noted that he has one comment he is working on and that has to do with transport at LGS when see increased mortality and disease and when do we restart with transport. Paul will review his notes from earlier this year and draft something. Comments due in late December. Meeting to discuss change forms in January. Other: FPAC Chair (00:46:50 00:55:20) Brandon Chockley (FPC) noted that Paul Wagner is retiring at the end of December and, therefore, FPAC will not have a chair. Should FPAC have a conversation about transition in FPAC chair? Paul noted that he will be transitioning to half-time in early January and expects he will still be involved with FPAC while he works with his replacement. Brandon suggested FPAC should add it to a future agenda to discuss FPAC chair position. The FPAC charter does indicate that the chair position is supposed to rotate annually. Brandon clarified that he brought this up because our current chair will be retiring (or semi-retired) and FPAC should talk about a transition in chair. Russ Kiefer (IDFG) suggested that FPAC members should think about this and talk amongst themselves and then have a discussion at a future meeting. Rotating chair is a good idea. Other FPAC members agree that a rotating chair would be good. Paul will add to agenda for December 18 FPAC meeting. Coordination (00:55:20 01:04:25) TMT Year-end Review (Dec. 19) at CRITFC Celilo Room. Next FPAC will be December 18 th (face-to-face), likely in afternoon. FPOM on December 13 th. Columbia River Forecast Group (Dec. 6 at NOAA). TDG Annual Review (December 4 th, 1-4 pm at COE office). These minutes have been reviewed and approved by the Fish Passage Advisory Committee. Page 4 of 4

5 FPAC Agenda for Tuesday December 4, 2018 Meeting time: 10:00 PM 1. Approval of notes from November 20, meeting 2. Water supply and reservoir status 3. Weather update and climate forecast 4. Steelhead Passage 5. Chum operations 6. Year-end review 7. Comments on Fish Passage Plan 8. Other 9. Coordination for other schedule meetings

6 FISH PASSAGE CENTER 847 NE 19 th Avenue, #250, Portland, OR Phone: (503) Fax: (503) us at MEMORANDUM TO: FROM: FPAC David Benner, FPC DATE: December 4 th, 2018 RE: Reservoir Operations/Snowpack/Bonneville TW Grand Coulee Reservoir is at 1,275.4feet ( ) and has drafted 0.8 feet over the last week. Outflows at Grand Coulee have ranged between 79.9 Kcfs and 96.0 Kcfs over the last week. The most recent STP has Grand Coulee drafting to 1,270.0 feet by December 31 st, The Libby Reservoir is currently at elevation 2,433.5 feet ( ) and has drafted 2.3 feet over the past week. Daily average outflows at Libby Dam have been Kcfs for the last week. The most recent STP has Libby drafting to 2,415.5 feet by December 31 st, Hungry Horse is currently at an elevation of 3,543.6 feet ( ) and has drafted 0.6 feet last week. Outflows at Hungry Horse have been Kcfs over the last week. Dworshak is currently at an elevation of 1,520.2 feet ( ) and has refilled 0.4 feet over last week. Dworshak outflows have been 1.7 Kcfs. The Brownlee Reservoir was at an elevation of 2,067.0 feet on December 3, Outflows at Hells Canyon have ranged between 8.4 and 8.7 Kcfs over the last four days. \\mobydick\staff\document\2018_documents\2018_files\fpac\1204\fpac summary docx

7 Snow Water Equivalent Basin (% Med.) Columbia above the Snake River Confluence Kootenai River in Montana 65 Flathead River 80 Upper Clark Fork River 102 Bitterroot 85 Lower Clark Fork River 74 Idaho Panhandle Region 67 Columbia above Methow 49 Chelan, Entiat, Wenatchee 52 Yakima, Ahtanum 35 Average * 68 Snake River Snake above Palisades 97 Henry Fork, Teton, Willow, Blackfoot, Portneuf 92 Big and Little Wood 60 Big and Little Lost 55 Raft, Goose, Salmon Falls, Bruneau 109 Weiser, Payette, Boise 74 Owyhee Malheur 129 Grande Ronde, Powder, Burnt, Imnaha 73 Clearwater and Salmon 80 Average * 84 Lower Columbia between Bonneville and McNary Umatilla, Walla Walla, Willow 64 Deschutes, Crooked, John Day 68 Lower Columbia, Hood River 30 Average * 54 Page 2 of 6

8 Bonneville Chum Flows and Elevations: Day/Date Bonneville Tailwater Range (ft) Reservoir Elevation March FC Actual Reservoir Elevation Full Pool Figure 1. Grand Coulee Time Page 3 of 6

9 Reservoir Elevation Actual Reservoir Elevation Full Pool Reservoir Elevation March FC Figure 2. Libby Time Reservoir Elevation Actual Reservoir Elevation Full Pool Reservoir Elevation March System FC March Local FC Time Figure 3. Dworshak Page 4 of 6

10 Reservoir Elevation Actual Reservoir Elevation Full Pool Reservoir Elevation March FC Figure 4. Hungry Horse Time Reservoir Elevation March FC Actual Reservoir Elevation Full Pool Reservoir Elevation Figure 5. Brownlee Time Page 5 of 6

11 Page 6 of 6

12 Water Year 2019 Precipitation Monthly Clim Norm Monthly Seasonal Temp. (degf) Nov 1-30 (Oct. 1 - now) (pro-rated) Portland 51% 73% 1.5 UPPER-COLUMBIA: Kamloops 144% 208% 2.3 Revelstoke 105% 159% 2.3 Cranbrook 41% 96% 1.4 Creston 90% 70% 1.8 average: 95% 133% 2.0 Normal: MIDDLE-COLUMBIA: Pendleton 47% 93% -0.8 Redmond 45% 45% 0.9 Yakima 40% 94% 0.2 Wenatchee AP 35% 103% 0.5 Omak 34% 63% 1.4 Spokane 85% 103% 1.2 average: 48% 84% 0.6 Normal: LOWER SNAKE: Lewiston 120% 113% 1.2 Pullman 93% 75% 2.6 Stanley 60% 73% 1.1 Challis 75% 76% 1.1 average: 87% 84% 1.5 Normal: UPPER and MIDDLE SNAKE: McCall 67% 98% 1.6 Ontario 51% 85% 1.5 Boise 59% 105% -0.7 Twin Falls 109% 133% -1.5 Burley 162% 194% 2.7 Pocatello 83% 107% -1 Idaho Falls 63% 79% -1 average: 85% 114% 0.2 Normal: Forecasted Daily Rain (in inches), BON dam area: 4-Dec 0 5-Dec 0 6-Dec 0 7-Dec 0 8-Dec Dec Dec 0.37

FISH PASSAGE CENTER. On January 8, 2019, FPAC met for its weekly conference call. The following people participated in the call:

FISH PASSAGE CENTER. On January 8, 2019, FPAC met for its weekly conference call. The following people participated in the call: FISH PASSAGE CENTER 847 NE 19 th Avenue, #250, Portland, OR 97232 Phone: (503) 833-3900 Fax: (503) 232-1259 www.fpc.org/ e-mail us at fpcstaff@fpc.org MEMORANDUM To: From: Fish Passage Advisory Committee