\2015_Files\183-15.doc

FISH PASSAGE CENTER 847 NE 19th 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: FPAC FROM: FPC Staff DATE: December 16, 2015 RE: Action Notes from December 15, 2015, FPAC face-to-face meeting

On December 15, 2015, FPAC met for their monthly face-to-face meeting at the Fish Passage Center office in Portland, Oregon. Present for the meeting were: Paul Wagner (FPAC Co-Chair, NOAA), Tom Lorz (FPAC Co-Chair, CRITFC, via phone), Charlie Morrill (WDFW), Sheri Sears (Colville Tribe, via phone), Russ Kiefer (IDFG, via phone), Kyle Dittmer (CRITFC), Joe Skalicky (USFW, via phone), Erin Cooper (FPC), Dave Benner (FPC) and Margaret Filardo (FPC).

Agenda Items Approval of Notes from Previous Meetings

• Action notes from November 10, November 17, and December 1 were approved. Water Supply/Flood Control

• Dave Benner (FPC) provided a summary of the current reservoir operations and water supply forecasts, snowpack estimates, and ESP runoff volumes. See the attached document.

Weather Update • Kyle Dittmer (CRITFC) provided an update of weather conditions of the season to date

(see attached).

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Chum • Conditions have been poor for conducting redd count surveys, so no data are available to

assess the impact of tailwater elevation. • FPAC members agree to recommend a minimum tailwater elevation of 13ʹ with a daily

rewetting elevation minimum of 16ʹ for at least four hours. • Margaret Filardo (FPC) recommended that FPAC keep up to date regarding flows and

tailwater elevations in excess of the minimums that require drafting reservoirs in order to avoid insufficient flows in February and March.

Coordination

• There will be a short FPAC call Tuesday, December 21, to discuss Chum tailwater elevation. There will be no FPAC meeting during the last week of December.

• There will be an FPOM meeting Thursday, followed by a discussion of the condition monitoring subgroup.

FPAC Agenda for Tuesday December 15, 2015 Meeting time: 9:00 AM

1. Approval of notes from November 10, November 17, and December 1 meetings 2. Water supply and reservoir status 3. Weather update and climate forecast 4. Chum operations for spawning and incubation 5. Other 6. Coordination for other schedule meetings

\2015_files\182-15.docx

FISH PASSAGE CENTER 847 NE 19th 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: FPAC FROM: David Benner DATE: December 15, 2015

RE: Reservoir Operations/Water Supply/Snowpack/BON TW Grand Coulee Reservoir is at 1,287.6 feet (12-13-15) and has refilled 3.8 feet over the last week. Outflows at Grand Coulee have ranged between 57.1 and 86.2 Kcfs over the last week. The Libby Reservoir is currently at elevation 2,428.5 feet (12-13-15) and has drafted 3.2 feet over the previous week. Daily average outflows at Libby Dam have been 14.8–19.6 Kcfs over the last week. Hungry Horse is currently at an elevation of 3,524.2 feet (12-13-15) and refilled 0.2 feet over the last week. Outflows at Hungry Horse have been 1.2–2.2 Kcfs over the last week. Dworshak is currently at an elevation of 1,520.8 feet (12-13-15) and has refilled 4.6 feet over the last week. Outflows have been 1.6 Kcfs over the last week; inflows 3.5–11.2 Kcfs. The Brownlee Reservoir was at an elevation of 2,071.7 feet on December 13, 2015, and has refilled 2.6 feet over the last week. Hells Canyon outflows have ranged between 8.6 and 15.8 Kcfs over the last four days with the minimum outflow set at 8.5 Kcfs.

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Location

November 29, 2015 5-day QPF ESP

December 13, 2015 5-day QPF ESP

% Average (1981–2010)

Runoff Volume (Kaf)

% Average (1981–2010)

Runoff Volume (Kaf)

The Dalles (Apr–Aug) 93 81,710 101 88,150 Grand Coulee (Apr–Aug) 98 55,840 103 58,428

Libby Res. Inflow, MT (Apr–Aug) 103 6,087 109

98* 6,388 5,793*

Hungry Horse Res. Inflow, MT (Apr–Aug) 88 1,711 89 1,732

Lower Granite Res. Inflow (Apr–July) 85 16,779 96 18,997

Brownlee Res. Inflow (Apr–July) 74 4,046 81 4,450

Dworshak Res. Inflow (Apr–July) 91 2,199 96

69* 2,316 1,626*

* COE December Forecast

Basin

12-14-15 Snow Water Equivalent

(% Avg.) Columbia above the Snake River Confluence Kootenai River in Montana 91 Flathead River 71 Upper Clark Fork River 89 Bitterroot 101 Lower Clark Fork River 77 Idaho Panhandle Region 80 Columbia above Methow 139 Chelan, Entiat, Wenatchee 123 Yakima, Ahtanum 109

Average* 98

Snake River Snake above Palisades 90 Henry Fork, Teton, Willow, Blackfoot, Portneuf 85 Big and Little Wood 129 Big and Little Lost 117 Raft, Goose, Salmon Falls, Bruneau 136 Weiser, Payette, Boise 141 Owyhee Malheur 161 Grande Ronde, Powder, Burnt, Imnaha 123 Clearwater and Salmon 105

Average* 121 Lower Columbia between Bonneville and McNary Umatilla, Walla Walla, Willow 93 Deschutes, Crooked, John Day 115 Lower Columbia, Hood River 66

Average* 91

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Bonneville TW

Date Average Minimum Maximum 30-Nov 13.4 11.8 14.9

1-Dec 12.2 11.5 15.0 2-Dec 11.7 11.5 12.1 3-Dec 11.7 11.5 12.0 4-Dec 11.8 11.6 12.1 5-Dec 11.8 11.5 12.1 6-Dec 12.0 11.5 13.1 7-Dec 14.4 12.5 18.5 8-Dec 17.4 16.0 20.5 9-Dec 17.9 16.0 21.7

10-Dec 18.5 16.4 20.9 11-Dec 18.9 17.6 20.1 12-Dec 19.2 18.2 20.1 13-Dec 17.6 16.9 19.5

Figure 1. Grand Coulee

1215.0

1225.0

1235.0

1245.0

1255.0

1265.0

1275.0

1285.0

Res

ervo

ir El

evat

ion

Time

Actual Reservoir Elevation

Full Pool Reservoir Elevation

April FC Elevations

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Figure 2. Libby

Figure 3. Dworshak

2330.0

2350.0

2370.0

2390.0

2410.0

2430.0

2450.0R

eser

voir

Elev

atio

n

Time

Actual Reservoir Elevation

Full Pool Reservoir Elevation

April FC Elevations

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Figure 4. Hungry Horse

Figure 5. Brownlee

3460.0

3480.0

3500.0

3520.0

3540.0

3560.0

Res

ervo

ir El

evat

ion

Time

Actual Reservoir Elevation

Full Pool Reservoir Elevation

April FC Elevations

2010.0

2020.0

2030.0

2040.0

2050.0

2060.0

2070.0

2080.0

Res

ervo

ir El

evat

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Time

Actual Reservoir Elevation

Full Pool Reservoir Elevation

April FC Elevations

Water Year 2016 Precipitation

Monthly

Clim Norm 1981-2010 Monthly Seasonal Temp. (degF)

Dec. 1 - 14 (Oct. 1 - now) (pro-rated)

Portland 390% 164% 5.5

UPPER-COLUMBIA: Kamloops 39% 78% 10.1

Revelstoke 83% 100% 8.3 Cranbrook 108% 128% 10.4

Creston 268% 87% 7.7 average: 124% 98% 9.1 Normal: 0.86 6.18 24.9

MIDDLE-COLUMBIA: Pendleton 236% 112% 8.3

Redmond 211% 133% 3.4 Yakima 343% 154% 8.1

Wenatchee AP 291% 132% 6.4 Omak 330% 127% 7

Spokane 225% 96% 8.9 average: 273% 126% 7.0 Normal: 0.76 3.00 29.3

LOWER SNAKE: Lewiston 258% 109% 7.5 Pullman 400% 151% 7.1 Stanley 628% 145% 9.5 Challis 151% 132% 5.4

average: 359% 134% 7.4 Normal: 0.53 3.16 24.0

UPPER and MIDDLE SNAKE: McCall 575% 171% 9.3

Ontario 224% 143% 8.9 Boise 172% 137% 6.3

Twin Falls 127% 135% 6.6 Burley 98% 111% 4.2

Pocatello 83% 121% 6.5 Idaho Falls 43% 100% 7

average: 189% 131% 7.0 Normal: 0.61 2.80 25.6

Forecasted Daily Rain (in inches), BON dam area:

15-Dec 0.22 16-Dec 0.84 17-Dec 2.52 18-Dec 0.75 19-Dec 0.15 20-Dec 0.35 21-Dec 0.45