COLUMBIA RIVER STUDY TOUR BRAZILIAN DELEGATION COLUMBIA RIVER STUDY TOUR COLUMBIA RIVER SYSTEM OVERVIEW By Jim Barton Chief, Columbia Basin Water Management

BRAZILIAN DELEGATIONCOLUMBIA RIVER STUDY TOURCOLUMBIA RIVER STUDY TOUR

COLUMBIA RIVER SYSTEM COLUMBIA RIVER SYSTEM OVERVIEWOVERVIEW

ByBy

Jim BartonJim Barton

Chief, Columbia Basin Water Management DivisionU.S. Army Corps of Engineers Northwestern Division

Portland, OregonMay 2009

Presentation TopicsPresentation Topics

• Physical Characteristics• Operational Considerations• Coordination

COLUMBIA RIVER SYSTEM HYDRO PLANT ELEVATIONSCOLUMBIA RIVER SYSTEM HYDRO PLANT ELEVATIONS

AVERAGE ANNUAL RUNOFF

AND USABLE RESERVOIR STORAGE MAJOR WESTERN RIVER

BASINS

0102030405060708090

100110120130140150160170180190200210220230240250

Columbia Colorado Missouri RIVER BASINS

MIL

LIO

NS

OF

AC

RE

FE

ET

Average Annual Runoff

Usable Reservoir Storage

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug

Flo

w (

Kcf

s)

NaturalRegulated

Natural & Regulated Natural & Regulated FlowsFlows

CharacteristicsCharacteristics

• 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)

9

Comparison of space availableComparison of space availablefor system flood control storagefor system flood control storage

2

5 3.2

1

4

1.3

3

5

Indicates total flood Indicates total flood control space control space

available, available, in million acre-feetin million acre-feet

Total space available Total space available for flood control:for flood control:

Total active storage:Total active storage:24.5 MAF24.5 MAF45 MAF45 MAF

Operational Operational ConsiderationsConsiderations

• 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

HydropowerHydropower

NavigationNavigation

IrrigationIrrigation

RecreationRecreation

Flood DamageFlood DamageReductionReduction

Multiple PurposesMultiple Purposes

Fish & WildlifeFish & Wildlife

Endangered Species Act Operation

Oregon

Idaho

Riv

erW

illam

ette

Washington

Col umbia River

Pacific

Ocean

John Day

The Dalles

McNary

Chief Joseph

Hungry Horse

Ice Harbor

LowerMonumental

Little Goose

Lower Granite

Dworshak

Montana

LibbyAlbeniFalls

Grand Coulee

Bonneville

Hells Canyon

Oxbow

Brownlee

Chum Salmon

Chinook Salmon

Steelhead

Sockeye Salmon

White Sturgeon

Bull Trout

Priest Rapids

Rock IslandRocky Reach

Wells

13

River Flows for Multi Purpose Operations Scenarios

OPERATIONS TIMELINE

NOVNOVMAYMAY OCTOCT DECDECSEPSEPAUGAUGJULJULJUNJUN APRAPRMARMARFEBFEBJANJAN

Draft To Winter Flood Control Elevation

Draft To Winter Flood Control Elevation

A FL AB L E LN SI

A FL AB L E LN SI

RefillRefillWinter Flood Control ElevationWinter Flood Control Elevation Full for Summer RecreationFull for Summer Recreation Winter Flood

Control Elevation

Winter Flood

Control Elevation

G CR OA UN LD E E

G CR OA UN LD E E

OPERATE TO CHUMFLOW OBJECTIVESOPERATE TO CHUMFLOW OBJECTIVES

OPERATE TO VERNITA BAR FLOW OBJECTIVES




REFILLFOR

KOKANEE

REFILLFOR

KOKANEE

OPERATE TO CHUMFLOW OBJECTIVESOPERATE TO CHUMFLOW OBJECTIVES

OPERATE TO PRIEST RAPIDSFLOW OBJECTIVES

OPERATE TO PRIEST RAPIDSFLOW OBJECTIVES

OPERATE TO MCNARY SPRING

FLOW OBJECTIVES

OPERATE TO MCNARY SPRING

FLOW OBJECTIVES

OPERATE TO MCNARY SUMMER

FLOW OBJECTIVES

OPERATE TO MCNARY SUMMER

FLOW OBJECTIVES

Variable Draft limits(Fish VECC)

Variable Draft limits(Fish VECC)

MINIMUM FLOW OR FLOOD CONTROLMINIMUM FLOW OR FLOOD CONTROL

OPERATE TO LOWER GRANITE SPRING

FLOW OBJECTIVES

OPERATE TO LOWER GRANITE SPRING

FLOW OBJECTIVES

DWORSHAK

DWORSHAK


OPERATE TO LOWER GRANITE SUMMER

FLOW OBJECTIVES

OPERATE TO LOWER GRANITE SUMMER

FLOW OBJECTIVES

MINIMUM FLOW FOR COLUMBIA FALLSMINIMUM FLOW FOR COLUMBIA FALLS

OPERATE TO MCNARYSUMMER FLOW

OBJECTIVES

OPERATE TO MCNARYSUMMER FLOW

OBJECTIVES

H HU ON RG SR EY

H HU ON RG SR EY

OPERATE TO MCNARYSPRING FLOW OBJECTIVES

OPERATE TO MCNARYSPRING FLOW OBJECTIVES


Variable Draft Limits(Fish VECC)

Variable Draft Limits(Fish VECC)

BURBOTFLOW

REQUEST

BURBOTFLOW

REQUEST


BURBOT FLOWREQUEST

BURBOT FLOWREQUEST

OPERATE TO BULL TROUTFLOW OBJECTIVES

OPERATE TO BULL TROUTFLOW OBJECTIVES

OPERATE TO SALMON

FLOW OBJECTIVES

OPERATE TO SALMON

FLOW OBJECTIVESPOWER DRAFTPOWER DRAFT

OPERATE TO STURGEON

FLOW OBJECTIVES

OPERATE TO STURGEON

FLOW OBJECTIVESLIBBY

LIBBY

CoordinationCoordination

• 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 OrganizationCANADIAN GOVERNMENTMinistry of External Affairs

Ministry of Natural Resources

BRITISH COLUMBIAGOVERNMENT

UNITED STATESGOVERNMENT

Department of StateDepartment of EnergyDepartment of Army

TREATY

PERMANENT ENGINEERING BOARD*

CANADIAN UNITED STATES

PEB ENGINEERING COMMITTEE***


CANADIANENTITY

*

CANADIANCOORDINATOR

&SECRETARY

**

United StatesENTITY

*

United StatesCOORDINATOR

&SECRETARY

**OPERATING COMMITTEE

**CANADIAN UNITED STATES

HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL COMMITTEE**


* Established by TREATY ** Established by ENTITY *** Established by PEB

NWPP Membership Agreement

Operating Committee(meets 4 times per year) Transmission Planning

Committee(meets 3 times per year)

Coordinating Group(meets as required)

NW Operational Planning Study Group

System Dispatchers Subcommittee

Interchange Scheduling Subcommittee

NW Transmission Assessment Committee

NW Transmission Adequacy Committee

Operating Procedures Subcommittee

Loads and Resources Subcommittee

Refill Task Force

Other Task Forces, Work Groups, and Subcommittees

System Schedulers Subcommittee

Relay Engineers Subcommittee

Communications Engineers Subcommittee

Substation Maintenance Engineers Subcommittee

Transmission Maintenance Engineers Subcommittee

Hydro Maintenance Engineers Subcommittee

Reserve Sharing Subcommittee

Coordinated Outages Group Subcommittee

Other Task Forces, Work Groups, and Subcommittees

Pacific Northwest Coordination Agreement – Northwest Power Pool

Regional FisheriesImplementation Organization

IMPLEMENTATION TEAM (IT)

TECHNICAL MANAGEMENT TEAM (TMT)

WATER QUALITY TEAM (WQT)SYSTEM CONFIGURATIONTEAM (SCT)

FEDERAL EXECUTIVES

CORPS

TRIBES

USBR

USFWS

NPPC

NMFS(CHAIR)

STATESBPA

IndependentScientific

Advisory BoardEPA

BLM BIA USFS

SummarySummary

• 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

Documents

COLUMBIA RIVER STUDY TOUR BRAZILIAN DELEGATION COLUMBIA RIVER STUDY TOUR COLUMBIA RIVER SYSTEM OVERVIEW By Jim Barton Chief, Columbia Basin Water Management