2002 Progress Report for the Federal Columbia River Power System

i

May 2003

Endangered Species Act

2002 Progress Report for the

Federal Columbia River Power System

US Army Corps

of Engineers R

Northwestern Division
2002 Progress Report for the Federal Columbia River Power System

 i

Contents

I. Introduction................................................................................................................................................................1

Purpose and Scope of the 2002 Progress Report ......................................................................................................... 1

Summary of 2002 Progress and Results....................................................................................................................... 1

II. Fish Survival in 2002 .................................................................................................................................................3

Adult Survival and Returns ......................................................................................................................................... 3

Ten-Year Adult Return Comparisons .................................................................................................................... 3

Juvenile Survival.......................................................................................................................................................... 4

Total System Survival ........................................................................................................................................... 4

In-River Juvenile Fish Survival.............................................................................................................................. 5

Run Timing .......................................................................................................................................................... 6

Water Conditions........................................................................................................................................................ 6

III. Summary of 2002 Progress and Results ...................................................................................................................7

Hydrosystem Actions .................................................................................................................................................. 7

Configuration Improvements to Enhance Fish Passage and Survival .................................................................... 7

Water Management and Fishery Operations ............................................................................................................... 8

Operations and Maintenance of Fish Passage Facilities ............................................................................................... 9

Transmission Reinforcements...................................................................................................................................... 9

Habitat Actions ........................................................................................................................................................... 9

Tributary Habitat ................................................................................................................................................. 9

Mainstem Habitat .............................................................................................................................................. 12

Estuary Habitat .................................................................................................................................................. 13

Hatchery Actions ...................................................................................................................................................... 13

Captive Broodstock Program .............................................................................................................................. 14

Safety-Net Program ............................................................................................................................................ 14

Hatchery Reforms .............................................................................................................................................. 15

Hatchery Production .......................................................................................................................................... 15

Comprehensive Marking Program ...................................................................................................................... 16

Harvest Actions......................................................................................................................................................... 16

Fishing Techniques ............................................................................................................................................. 16

Harvest Management Assessments, Decisions and Evaluations........................................................................... 16

Support Sustainable Fisheries ............................................................................................................................. 16

Resident Fish Actions ................................................................................................................................................ 16

White Sturgeon Aquaculture and Monitoring .................................................................................................... 16

Flows and Ramp Rates ....................................................................................................................................... 16

Water Storage ..................................................................................................................................................... 17

Bull Trout Monitoring ........................................................................................................................................ 17

Research, Monitoring and Evaluation (RM&E) Actions ........................................................................................... 17

Status and Effectiveness Monitoring ................................................................................................................... 18

Critical Uncertainties ......................................................................................................................................... 18

Regional Coordination and Integration .............................................................................................................. 19

Planning and Coordination ...................................................................................................................................... 20

Implementation Planning and Progress Reporting .............................................................................................. 20

NOAA Fisheries Regional Forum ....................................................................................................................... 20

The Council’s Fish and Wildlife Program ........................................................................................................... 20

Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership ........................................................................................................ 20

Federal Caucus and the Basinwide Salmon Recovery Strategy ............................................................................. 20

IV. Summary of Actions ................................................................................................................................................21

Appendix–List of FY 2002 Project Accomplishments by RPA Action
2002 Progress Report for the Federal Columbia River Power System

ii

List of Tables

Table 1. Spring/summer, fall Chinook and Steelhead adult survival to Lower Granite Dam.............................................. 3

Table 2. Estimated 2002 survival of Snake River spring migrants ...................................................................................... 5

Table 3. Number of habitat projects implemented by the Action Agencies in 2002 ......................................................... 10

Table 4. BPA FY 2002 fish flow enhancements................................................................................................................ 11

Table 5. BPA FY 2002 passage improvements ................................................................................................................. 11

Table 6. Amount of productive fish habitat protected by BPA in FY 2002 ...................................................................... 12

Table 7. Summary of Actions ........................................................................................................................................... 21

List of Figures

Figure 1. Adult fish passage at Bonneville Dam in 2001 and 2002.................................................................................... 3

Figure 2. 2001 and 2002 Adult fish passage at Lower Granite Dam ................................................................................... 4

Figure 3. 2001 and 2002 Adult fish passage at Priest Rapids Dam .................................................................................... 4

Figure 4. Smolt Index and inflow spill for Bonneville Dam ............................................................................................... 6

Figure 5. Smolt Index and inflow spill for John Day Dam ................................................................................................. 6

Figure 6. Smolt Index and inflow spill for McNary Dam ................................................................................................... 6

Figure 7. Smolt Index and inflow spill for Lower Granite Dam ......................................................................................... 6

Figure 8. Locations of FCRPS mitigation hatcheries ........................................................................................................ 14
1

2002 Progress Report for the Federal Columbia River Power System

I. Introduction

Purpose and Scope of the 2002 Progress Report

1

 National Marine Fisheries Service is now officially referred to as NOAA Fisheries. In this document, NMFS and NOAA Fisheries are used

interchangeably.

the 2004/2004–08 Implementation Plan, after seeking input

from the states, tribes, and others in the region.

The 2003 Cumulative Progress Report will reflect a

programmatic view of our progress to date. It will include a

comprehensive assessment of our success in establishing

programs and implementing the actions called for in the

NMFS BiOp and the broader in scope Basinwide Salmon

Recovery Strategy. The 2004/2004–08 Implementation Plan will

describe the hundreds of actions that the Action Agencies

will take to benefit ESA-listed fish. It will also propose

resolutions for any identified implementation issues or

deficiencies.

The 2002 Progress Report includes the following sections:

Section 1–Introduction: A general description of the

purpose and scope of the report.

Section 2–2002 Fish Passage and Survival: A summary of

2002 adult returns and juvenile survival through the

FCRPS.

Section 3–Summary of 2002 Progress and Results: A

summary of the most notable measures implemented in

the hydrosystem, habitat, hatcheries, harvest, resident fish,

and research, monitoring and evaluation.

Section 4–Summary of Actions: A summary of overall

Action Agency progress for each of the 199 actions listed

in the NMFS BiOp.

Appendix–A list of projects and associated 2002

accomplishments for each of the 199 actions listed in the

NMFS BiOp.

Summary of 2002 Progress and

Results

Hydrosystem progress in 2002 was noteworthy for several

reasons. In the hydrosystem, configuration improvements to

enhance fish passage often require research, prototype

development and testing and the final design and construction.

Thus it often takes five or more years to implement

configuration improvements. Our planning, research, design

and construction activities continued to yield results in 2002.

We are pleased to report that ten major configuration projects

were completed in 2002. These projects should incrementally

improve adult passage at Bonneville, Ice Harbor and Lower

Granite dams, and enable continued drafting of cold water

from Dworshak to aid adult migration in the Lower Snake

River. Juvenile passage improvements were enhanced at Lower

Monumental (Stilling Basin Repair) and Lower Granite

For over two decades, the Action Agencies—Bonneville

Power Administration (BPA), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

(Corps), and Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation)—have

been implementing measures to protect, mitigate and enhance

Columbia Basin salmon and steelhead. Our efforts recently

intensified with the implementation of recommended actions

in the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)1

 2000

Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS) Biological

Opinion. This 2002 Progress Report is the second annual report

developed by the Action Agencies to document the steps we

have taken under the Biological Opinion. The 2002 report

also includes our progress implementing the actions

recommended in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s

(USFWS) 2000 FCRPS Biological Opinion.

In 2002, the Action Agencies implemented hundreds of

actions and spent hundreds of millions of dollars to benefit

endangered salmon, steelhead, bull trout, and sturgeon in the

Columbia River Basin. While numerous and basin wide, the

actions were part of an organized, scientifically based

implementation plan. These efforts represent the continuation

of our commitment to achieve biological objectives and

performance standards for the FCRPS.

Overall, implementation of the 2000 NMFS and USFWS

Biological Opinions (BiOp) is on track. In 2002, the

combination of near average natural flows, agency flow

augmentation and spill actions, and transportation resulted

in hydrosystem conditions for fish that were much improved

over conditions experienced in 2001. The Corps and

Reclamation appropriated funds from Congress are becoming

more aligned with the new BiOp implementation, while

habitat improvement activities continue to ramp up. In 2002,

record numbers of adult fish returned to the basin, and inriver survival of Snake River juvenile salmon was comparable

to levels observed in the late 1960s—when only four of the

eight mainstem dams were in place.

NOAA Fisheries has concluded in their 2002 Findings

Letter that implementation by the Action Agencies is generally

consistent with the NMFS BiOp. The vast majority of actions

are being implemented as anticipated, although some

schedules have slipped from those in the NMFS BiOp.

Later this year the Action Agencies will release the first

cumulative evaluation of BiOp implementation and

performance, referred to in NMFS BiOp as the 2003 Annual

Progress Report. This report is sometimes referred to as the 3-

Year Check Report. The Action Agencies also plan to release
2002 Progress Report for the Federal Columbia River Power System

2

(Removable Spillway Weir).

In 2002, water management and fishery operations

generally followed the expectations in the BiOp. The year

2002 was crisis free when compared to the drought and power

emergencies encountered in 2001. Over 21 million juvenile

salmonids were collected in 2002—approximately 14 million

of those were transported by truck or barge and released below

Bonneville Dam. The remaining 7 million went through a

bypass system to the tailrace.

During 2002, the Action Agencies used available storage

at Libby, Hungry Horse, Grand Coulee and Dworshak dams

and the upper Snake to supplement natural stream flows and

to improve juvenile fish migration throughout the spring and

summer seasons. Another noteworthy accomplishment was

preparation of an Environmental Assessment to allow the

interim implementation of variable quantity discharge

(VARQ) flood control operations at Libby and Hungry Horse

dams to begin in 2003 (two years earlier than planned). This

will enhance the likelihood of meeting the BiOp flow targets

and provide resident fish benefits. BPA also completed

Environmental Impact Statements and issued Records of

Decision for two transmission expansion projects that when

constructed, will increase operational flexibility to benefit fish.

Habitat projects were implemented throughout the

Columbia River Basin, based on biological criteria linked to

likely fish benefits. Hundreds of new and continuing projects

were implemented to protect and enhance habitats important

to fish. In 2002, over 260 habitat projects were implemented

in 25 subbasins. Projects implemented by BPA were reviewed

through the Northwest Power and Conservation Council’s

(Council) Provincial Review process, which included the use

of basin-wide criteria, independent science assessment, and

additional review to provide focus on Endangered Species

Act (ESA) priorities. Provincial Reviews are on track with 5

completed and the remaining 5 scheduled for completion in

mid-2003.

Based on preliminary estimates of FY 2002 project

accomplishments, BPA, through the Council’s Fish and

Wildlife Program, acquired at least 164 cubic feet per second

(cfs) of instream flow enhancements, removed or improved

more than 70 fish passage barriers to open nearly 700 miles

of habitat, and protected or enhanced over 198 river miles

and 19,600 acres of riparian buffers and habitat.

Reclamation continued its efforts to lease or acquire

stream flows. Reclamation also provided technical assistance

to improve screened diversions and passage barriers in the

Upper Salmon, Wenatchee, and Entiat subbasins and

continued related efforts in the Upper John Day, Middle Fork

John Day, Methow, and Lemhi subbasins.

The Corps continued to gather baseline data in the Walla

Walla River that will eventually help develop potential

alternatives to improve fish habitat. The Corps also conducted

planning efforts for several estuary habitat restoration projects.

The planning efforts should eventually lead to the restoration

or protection of over 2500 acres of estuary habitat in the near

future.

Hatchery activities were supported and funded as a tool

to meet fish recovery objectives and support tribal and other

fisheries. Construction of the new Nez Perce Tribal Hatchery

was completed, and operation began in 2002. The Action

Agencies also continued funding the operations and

maintenance of over 30 major anadromous fish hatcheries.

In order to protect the basin’s most endangered populations,

we funded 4 captive broodstock programs: three for spring/

summer Chinook and one for sockeye. The Action Agencies

also continued to produce and release juvenile resident fish

through the Kootenai River White Sturgeon aquaculture

program.

Looking ahead to future hatchery reforms, BPA funded

development of hatchery genetic management plans for the

Grande Ronde and Tucannon spring/summer Chinook safetynet programs. We expect these to be completed by fall 2003

and to provide the technical basis for future program reforms

that will protect and benefit endangered fish. The Action

Agencies continued to fund the marking of key populations

of hatchery fish, which also protects listed fish by allowing

more selective fisheries..

Harvest progress made in 2002 included the continuation

of programs that have the potential the reduce harvest related

mortality of ESA listed fish. The Action Agencies tested

alternative fishing gears and provided improved gill nets to

tribal commercial fishers. The Action Agencies used sonar to

locate and remove eight submerged fishing nets that could

have continued to take ESA listed fish in the Columbia River.
3

2002 Progress Report for the Federal Columbia River Power System

II. Fish Survival in 2002

Adult Survival and Returns

In 2001, adult fish returns between Bonneville and Lower

Granite dams were among the highest on record, exceeding

the BiOp goals for spring/summer Chinook, steelhead, and

likely, fall Chinook (Table 1). Preliminary estimates of survival

to Lower Granite in 2002 indicate another year of good

survival, likely exceeding BiOp goals for spring/summer

Chinook and Steelhead.2 Reductions in fallback rates at

Bonneville Dam and better assessment of unaccounted losses

have contributed to these results.

of hatchery reared fish. Because the Columbia Basin hatchery

program is a large part of the FCRPS mitigation, including

ESA recovery, research into these issues will be closely

monitored.

Ten-Year Adult Return Comparisons

The 2002 fish returns based on all Chinook salmon counts

substantially exceeded the previous 10-year average (Figures

1, 2 and 3). Adult fish counts at Bonneville were 300 percent

larger, at Lower Granite Dam, the run was 550 percent larger

Spring

Chinook

Summer

Chinook

Fall Chinook Steelhead Sockeye Coho

0

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

600,000

700,000

10-Year Average 2001 2002

Figure 1. Adult fish passage at Bonneville Dam in 2001 and 2002

compared to the prior ten-year average.

Table 1. Spring/Summer, Fall Chinook and Steelhead Adult Survival to Lower Granite Dam.

BiOp Goal Actual 2001 survival to LGR* 

Spring/Summer Chinook 85.5% 92.8% 

Fall Chinook 74% >85.5% 

Steelhead 80.3% 92.7% 

*Using the Hydro RM&E methodology

2

 Survival rates for 2002 are not all in to make numerical estimates, but based on relative harvest, basic conversion values, and probable straying

rates it is expected to be slightly less than 2001 but still above the NMFS BiOp goals.

Many factors contributed to these impressive fish returns,

including favorable environmental conditions in both

freshwater and the ocean and benefits of recovery actions

throughout the basin, such as actions implemented under the

Council’s Fish and Wildlife Program and the 1995, 1998 and

2000 FCRPS BiOp. The Action Agencies will report how

these factors contribute to subsequent adult returns as

improved information and understanding becomes available.

There are many uncertainties about these contributing factors

and how they will affect subsequent years’ returns.

Nevertheless, the Action Agencies remain cautiously optimistic

that 2001 and 2002 returns reflect the improved future

prospects for listed fish.

Specific adult numbers are summarized below. The returns

are reported at three locations: Bonneville Dam, Lower

Granite Dam, and Priest Rapids Dam. Adult returns to

Bonneville Dam are representative of returns system wide and

to lower Columbia River tributaries. Lower Granite adult

returns explain returns to the Snake River, and Priest Rapids

returns are representative of mid-Columbia River adult

returns.

Despite the substantial fish returns in 2002, the

composition of the Columbia River fish stocks has changed

greatly since 1938. In the earlier decades, many of the stocks

were comprised largely of wild fish, whereas today, hatchery

fish dominate most runs. The scientific community has

considerable interest in potential differences between wild fish

and hatchery fish, focusing primarily on genetics and fitness

of wild-reared hatchery fish and how to improve the quality

and at Priest Rapids the counts were 400 percent larger (Corps,

Data Reports, 2001 and 2002; UW DART, 2002). Taking

into account wild spring Chinook runs destined for passing

Lower Granite Dam, recent data indicates about 3–13 percent

of the total adult run crossing over Bonneville Dam are wild

Chinook that will ultimately pass over Lower Granite Dam

as well. Given the recent sharp increase in total Chinook runs

passing Lower Granite Dam, significant increases in wild fish

numbers are expected.

Bonneville Adult Returns

Adult returns in 2002 to Bonneville Dam continue the

high rate observed in 2001, and were the second largest

numbers in recent history and among the largest since fish

counts began in 1938. That year, about 272,000 Chinook

passed Bonneville Dam, with the total upriver Chinook run—
2002 Progress Report for the Federal Columbia River Power System

4

Figure 3. 2001 and 2002 Adult fish passage at Priest Rapids Dam

compared to the prior ten-year average adult fish passage.

Chinook Sockeye Steelhead

0

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

120,000

140,000

160,000

Fig. 2.3. 2001 and 2002 Adult fish passage at Priest Rapids Dam

 compared to the prior ten-year average adult fish passage.

10-Year Average 2001 2002

including fish harvested below Bonneville Dam—estimated

to be about 756,000 fish (Columbia River Fish Runs, Status

Report, 2000). This total includes smaller male “jacks.” In

comparison, the 2002 total above Bonneville Dam is estimated

to be about 870,800 Chinook adults (Corps, Adult Fish

Counts, 2002 Data Reports, as reported by Walla Walla

District, electronic files and the UW DART Data Files).

At Bonneville Dam, the total adult fish passage was about

1,635,909 salmon and steelhead, as counted by Nov. 30, 2002

(Figure 1). By comparison, the pre-BiOp 10-year average

(1991–2000) was about 576,000 salmon and steelhead,

indicating that the 2002 total adult fish runs were very similar

to the 2001 adult returns and almost three times greater than

the pre-BiOp 10-year average (Corps, Data Reports, 2001).

Lower Granite Adult Returns

To date, fish runs at Lower Granite Dam have reached

levels far exceeding the previous 10-year average run sizes. By

November 30, 2002, Chinook counts were about 109,535

and steelhead counts were above 256,000 (Figure 2) (Corps,

Data Reports, 2001, 2002; UW DART, 2002). The Chinook

runs in 2002 were composed of about 75,000 spring Chinook,

22,000 summer Chinook, and over 12,300 fall Chinook.

High levels of adult steelhead returns continued through

2002. Over 20 percent wild steelhead were represented within

the 256,000 total steelhead count at Lower Granite. The high

adult steelhead returns of 2001 were translated into a high

kelt (adult steelhead) outmigration in 2002. As a result, of

the record return the 2002 kelt emigration increased over the

2001 outmigration with an estimated run of over 117,000

kelt passing down stream over Lower Granite.

While hatchery fish continue to comprise the majority

of the run-at-large, there are indications that wild fish have

also benefited from improved migration conditions. This

benefit was more apparent in the kelt outmigration. The wild

portion of the kelt emigration in 2002 was larger than the

wild portion of the returning spawning migration in 2001

and 2002 (42 percent wild kelt compared to 7 percent and

20 percent wild adult returns, respective to year). Because of

the continued high level of steelhead returns through 2002,

the trend of high kelt passage through the Snake River is

expected to continue in 2003, with a high wild component

to the run.

Priest Rapids Adult Returns

Like the Snake River fish runs, the 2002 salmon and

steelhead runs continue to be high through the Mid Columbia

region (Figure 3). To date, salmon runs passing Priest Rapids

Dam were above 157,000 Chinook, and 15,800 steelhead.

The sockeye counts in 2002 were lower than the 2001 high

returns but equivalent to the prior 10-year average counts at

Priest Rapids Dam. (Corps, Data Reports, 2001 and 2002;

UW DART, 2002). High adult fish counts at Priest Rapids

Dam indicate the year’s improved adult counts are a basinwide phenomenon.

Juvenile Survival

Total System Survival

Total juvenile system survival, which includes both inriver and transported migrants, is essential for evaluating

performance because of the proportion of transported fish.

Under the NMFS BiOp, a spread-the-risk transportation

strategy is employed during the spring in the Snake River

when flows are greater than 85,000 cubic feet per second (kcfs).

This included BiOp-level spills at Lower Granite and Little

Goose projects in 2002 along with transportation of collected

fish at those projects. However, stilling basin repairs precluded

spill at Lower Monumental in 2002, and transportation was

consequently maximized.

Approximately 73 percent of Snake River Chinook and

78 percent of Snake River steelhead were transported below

Bonneville Dam (NOAA Fisheries Memorandum May 9,

2003). Transportation was maximized at all four transport

projects (Lower Granite, Little Goose, Lower Monumental,

and McNary dams) during the summer consistent with the

BiOp.

Figure 2. 2001 and 2002 Adult fish passage at Lower Granite

Dam compared to the prior ten-year average returns.

Spr. Chinook Sum. Chinook Fall Chinook Steelhead

0

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

300,000

10 Year Average 2001 2002
5

2002 Progress Report for the Federal Columbia River Power System

As a continuing response to regional interests and the

NMFS BiOp (RPA Action 44), the Corps increased the

seasonal use of barges to reduce the number of juvenile fish

transported by trucks. In 2002, about three percent of all

transported fish were carried in trucks versus about 2.5 percent

and 5 percent in 2001 and 2000, respectively, and higher

percentages in some previous years.

Assessments of total system survival are dependent on

assumptions about delayed mortality due to transport, or Dvalue. NOAA Fisheries estimates that the direct survival rate

of transported juveniles is approximately 98 percent. From

adult returns in past years, NOAA Fisheries estimated D-values

for Snake River stocks are 0.63–0.73 for spring/summer

Chinook and 0.52–0.58 for steelhead and 0.24 for fall

Chinook (2000 NMFS BiOp). In the case of Columbia River

stocks transported at McNary Dam, NOAA Fisheries assumed

a range of D-values, from those used for Snake River stocks

to values of from 0.8 to 1.0, based on historical estimates.

Assumptions about D-values could have an impact on

the net survival benefit anticipated by transporting juveniles

around the hydrosystem. For example, if the assumed or

expected D-value and in-river juvenile survival through the

system are similar, then the benefit of transportation compared

to in-river survival vs. conditions when the D-value and inriver survival differ more substantially. In 2002, in-river

survival of Snake River spring Chinook was the highest

observed in recent years. As a result, the benefit of

transportation, while still positive, was less than what was

observed in 2001 when in-river survival was substantially

lower. In the case of Snake River steelhead, transportation

provided a much larger relative benefit compared to in-river

migration because in-river survival was considerably lower

than the expected D-value. This demonstrates the value of

spread-the-risk as a balance in passage strategies for multiple

species.

Snake River Chinook

Preliminary estimates of total system survival for Snake

River yearling spring and summer Chinook from the head of

Lower Granite to below Bonneville Dam ranged between 56.8

and 64 percent, for low and high D, respectively (Table 2).

Snake River Steelhead

Preliminary estimates of total system survival for Snake

River steelhead ranged between approximately 41.6 and 46.2

percent, for low and high D, respectively (Table 2, NMFS

2003).

In-River Juvenile Fish Survival

Under the spread-the-risk transportation policy,

approximately 27 percent and 22 percent of Snake River

yearling Chinook and steelhead migrated in-river during 2002,

respectively. The proportion of fish left to migrate in-river

was greater in 2002 than 2001, as were the survival rates for

both yearling Chinook salmon and steelhead.

Snake River Chinook Migrants

In-river survival for yearling Chinook migrants from the

Lower Granite tailrace to the Bonneville Dam tailrace was

57.8 percent in 2002, which is similar or greater than observed

in past years (except 2001). This compares to 27.9 percent

observed in 2001.

Snake River Steelhead Migrants

Survival for in-river Snake River steelhead migrants from

the Lower Granite tailrace to the Bonneville Dam tailrace

was 26.2 percent in 2002, which is lower than observed in

recent years, though much higher than the 4.2 percent

observed in 2001.

Difference in in-river survival across recent years for Snake

River steelhead continues to be of considerable interest. While

overall in-river steelhead survival was considerably higher in

2002 than 2001, their survival in the reach from Lower

Monumental to McNary is lower than observed in recent years

prior to 2001. Further, it is worthy to note that for the reach

from John Day to Bonneville, in-river survival of steelhead

was lower in 2002 than 2001. Explanations for why this is

the case are unknown, particularly given that both flow and

spill in 2001 were substantially lower than in 2002 and

Chinook survival in this reach was higher in 2002 than 2001.

Losses of in-river steelhead migrants to avian predation

were again high in the reach below Lower Monumental Dam.

In 2001, analysis of PIT-tags recovered on Crescent Island

(located in the McNary reservoir) suggested a minimum

estimate of tern related mortality downstream of Lower

Monumental Dam of 14 percent. In 2002, similar analysis

indicates a minimum estimate of avian predation losses of

nearly 10 percent.

Table 2. Estimated 2002 survival of Snake River spring migrants.

Snake River 

Population 

In-River 

Survival 

% 

Transported Total System Survival BiOp Performance Standard 

 Low D High D 

spring/summer 

Chinook 57.8 73.2 56.8 64 54.8–60.4 

Steelhead 24.5 78.3 41.6 46.2 49.0–52.5 
2002 Progress Report for the Federal Columbia River Power System

6

Figure 4. Smolt Index and inflow spill for Bonneville Dam.

Figure 5. Smolt Index and inflow spill for John Day Dam.

Figure 6. Smolt Index and inflow spill for McNary Dam.

Figure 7. Smolt Index and inflow spill for Lower Granite Dam.

Run Timing

The 2002 water year was near average in total runoff

volume. The shape of the runoff was delayed from what

normally occurs, with peak spring flows occurring primarily

during late spring and early summer (June in the Columbia

and late May and June in the Snake). The fish run timing

varied by dam and season, in some cases being similar to

historic averages, in other cases differing from historic averages.

The following graphs show inflow, spill, and smolt passage

indices for the selected dams (Figures 4–7).

Water Conditions

Natural runoff in 2002 was very near normal. At The

Dalles Dam the January–July 2002 runoff volume was 104

million acre-feet (MAF); normal is 107 MAF. This was much

higher than the 58 MAF runoff, during the same period in

2001. This “normal” amount of runoff and Action Agencies

water management actions provided much improved

conditions for migrating fish when compared to the 2001

drought.
7

2002 Progress Report for the Federal Columbia River Power System

III. Summary of 2002 Progress and Results

Hydrosystem Actions

In 2002, the Action Agencies

continued to implement recovery

measures for the hydrosystem through

strategies to configure dams, manage

water, and operate/maintain fish passage facilities to enhance

fish passage and survival.

Configuration Improvements to Enhance

Fish Passage and Survival

Fish passage improvements at Columbia and Snake River

dams are funded through the annual Corps’ Congressional

appropriation to the Columbia River Fish Mitigation Project

(CRFM). BPA reimburses the U.S. Treasury for that portion

of the appropriations used for mitigation of the power

production purposes of the FCRPS. Configuration projects

are prioritized and coordinated through the NOAA Fisheries

Regional Implementation Forum System Configuration Team

(SCT). Significant fish passage improvements at the FCRPS

dams are summarized below.

Bonneville Dam

• Initiated construction of a surface bypass system for the

second powerhouse at Bonneville (the corner collector).

• Initiated construction contracts for improvements in

function and reliability of fish-ladder auxiliary water-supply

systems and ongoing investigation of fallback problems at

Bonneville and Snake River dams, and preparation of

designs.

• Built six additional spillway deflectors.

• Set new spill patterns and evaluated the effectiveness of

the spill patterns on adult and juvenile fish.

• Evaluated two daytime spill levels to determine adult

fallback rates.

• Evaluated the survival of fish passing the Bonneville first

powerhouse downstream migrant system and through the

new minimum gap runners.

• Continued evaluation of fish passage screen intake

improvements at the Bonneville second powerhouse.

The Dalles Dam

• Investigated spill survival issues.

• Continued ongoing investigations and testing of

improvements to existing juvenile bypass and collection

facilities at several projects and testing of prototype surface

bypass systems.

John Day Dam

• Continued investigations for extended length bypass

screens.

• Continued investigations of ladder temperature effects on

adult passage.

• Action initiated to reduce adult fall Chinook delay.

McNary Dam

• Built additional spillway deflectors and terminated splitleaf spill, and monitored spill survival following

modification.

• Initiated a new study to investigate McNary forebay

temperature effects on juvenile passage facilities.

• Installed Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) detection

in fish ladders.

• Installed PIT detection on juvenile bypass system, to allow

bypass of fish around the Juvenile Fish Facility and sampling

facilities while allowing for non-intrusive monitoring of

the PIT-tagged outmigration and detection of research fish.

• Installed new, 10-inch juvenile transport, facility bypass

pipes to eliminate problem debris plugging areas.

• Estimated juvenile salmon survival rates through a turbine

at a range of discharges.

• Modified juvenile fish facility to provide PIT-tag diversion

to the raceways to reduce impact of future transport studies

on the general juvenile out migration.

• Tested new juvenile salmon separator design.

• Tested prototype cylindrical dewatering system.

Ice Harbor Dam

• Upgraded electrical supply system for the south shore fish

ladder fish pumps to increase reliability.

• Conducted a survival study of yearling and subyearling

Chinook passing through the spillway.

• Designed a PIT-tag detection system on the adult fishway;

construction completed in the winter of 2003.

• Continued investigations of water temperature effects on

adult passage through ladders.

Lower Monumental Dam

• Completed spillway repairs.

• Modified barge loading techniques, and redesigned loading

system. New loading system was completed in the spring

of 2003.

• Continued investigations of water temperature effects on

adult passage.

Little Goose Dam

• Modified the PIT-tag detection/diversion system at the

juvenile fish facility to improve the quality of operation,

diversion and handling operations on fish.

• Continued investigations of water temperature effects on

adult passage through ladders.

Lower Granite Dam

• Continued ongoing investigations and testing of

improvements to existing juvenile bypass and collection

facilities at several projects and testing of prototype surface

bypass systems.
2002 Progress Report for the Federal Columbia River Power System

8

• Installed and conducted passage tests of the removable

spillway weir.

• Conducted final year of testing prototype fish ladder

transition pool modification.

• Initiated upgrades to adult fishway auxiliary water supply

(AWS) system to increase reliability.

• Designed a PIT-tag detection system on the adult fishway;

construction completed in the winter of 2003.

• Continued investigations of water temperature effects on

adult passage through ladders.

Dworshak Dam

Improvements to the Dworshak National Fish Hatchery

water supply system were completed in early 2003. BPA

funded the acceleration of these improvements as an offset to

the effects of reduced spill in 2001. The improved water

heating and filtration capabilities enable the hatchery to

provide enhanced fish growth conditions than is currently

possible due to the cold water temperatures in the Clearwater

River. These improvements thus enable the continuation of

cold water releases from Dworshak in the summer to reduce

water temperatures in the lower Snake River.

Chief Joseph Dam

• Requested funding in the President’s budget for spillway

deflectors, and received funding for FY 2003 initiation of

design effort.

• Performed additional analyses and modeling studies to

facilitate design and construction of spillway deflectors.

Water Management and Fishery Operations

Flow and Reservoir Operations

The Action Agencies managed the storage projects (Libby,

Hungry Horse, Grand Coulee, and Dworshak dams) to

improve flow conditions for both resident and anadromous

fish. The Action Agencies balanced fish and wildlife operations

with other system uses, including power production, flood

control, irrigation, navigation, and recreation, through the

NOAA Fisheries Regional Implementation Forum Technical

Management Team (TMT).

Seasonal highlights of operations that benefited migrating

fish include:

• Provided flows to protect Chum salmon below Bonneville

Dam from November 11, 2001, until May 12, 2002.

• Operated the storage projects to be near the April 10th flood

control elevation.

• Refilled storage projects close to the June 30th target date.

• Drafted storage projects to be near August 31 draft limits

to provide summer flow augmentation.

• Reclamation provided 286,534 acre-feet in 2002 from

storage and natural flow rentals. Water supplies for rentals

were limited due to the lingering effects of the 2001

drought.

The Action Agencies operated storage projects to augment

flows for migrating fish. The BiOp anticipates that flow

objectives will not be achieved at all times. Flow augmentation

highlights were:

Lower Granite Dam

• Spring flow objective was 97 thousand cubic feet per second

(kcfs). Actual flow during the spring period averaged 83

kcfs. Natural flows and Action Agencies’ efforts resulted in

meeting the flow objective 3 out of the 10 weeks.

• Summer flow objective was 51 kcfs. The actual summer

flow averaged 41 kcfs. The flow objective was met 2 out of

the 10 weeks.

McNary Dam

• Spring flow objective was 246 kcfs. Actual flow during the

spring period averaged 269 kcfs. The flow objective was

met 7 out of 11 weeks.

• Summer flow objective was 200 kcfs. The actual flow

during the summer period was 189 kcfs. The flow objective

was met 3 out of 8 weeks.

Priest Rapids Dam

• Spring flow objective was 135 kcfs. The actual flow during

the spring period averaged 181 kcfs. The flow objective

was met all 11 weeks.

• Resident fish benefited from the following reservoir

operations:

Libby Dam

• A sturgeon pulse was provided in the spring.

• All minimum flow levels for resident fish were met.

• A spill test was conducted in June to determine total

dissolved gas (TDG) production levels.

• Released water through selective withdrawal systems to

control water temperatures.

Hungry Horse Dam

• Operated to meet its minimum flows year round with

hourly and daily changes within ramping limits.

• Provided water for summer flow augmentation while

limiting “double peaking.” Released water through selective

withdrawal systems to regulate water temperatures.

Dworshak Dam

• Released water through selective withdrawal systems to

provide cooler water for summer migrating fish in the lower

Snake River.

Spill for Fish Passage

The Action Agencies provided spill to improve juvenile

fish passage and increase survival. Spring and summer spill

was provided as specified in the BiOp at Snake and Columbia

River projects, except at Lower Monumental, which was

undergoing stilling basin repairs. Spill was managed on a
9

2002 Progress Report for the Federal Columbia River Power System

system basis according to a spill priority list to distribute spill

across the region to minimize dissolved gas supersaturation

impacts while maximizing fish passage survival.

Juvenile Fish Transportation

Juvenile fish collection and transport operations were

conducted in concert with juvenile passage spill operations

to “spread the risk.” The barging season was extended through

August 16 for Snake River dams and August 17 at McNary

Dam. Research was continued to better determine

transportation benefits across a range of hydraulic conditions,

including delayed transportation mortality (“D”). Emphasis

was placed on early season transport in 2002 to better define

potential survival differences for early versus late spring

transport.

Other Water Management Actions

The Action Agencies also conducted a number of

miscellaneous water management activities to benefit fish,

including:

• Analyzed the effects of operating Banks Lake 10 feet from

full pool during August for summer flow augmentation,

and completed a Draft EIS on this topic in January 2003.

• Continued ESA consultations with NOAA Fisheries and

the USFWS on several of Reclamation’s tributary projects

below Chief Joseph Dam.

• On the Columbia Basin Project, Reclamation completed

the construction of screens at the Burbank No. 2 and 3

pumps. Monitoring was initiated for salmonid attraction

to the wasteways and drains. Water quality monitoring of

return flows was initiated.

• TDG and temperature models are being developed to

further improve decision making on water-management

actions. BPA funded the installation and operation of nine

weather stations in 2002 that will provide comprehensive

data for gas and water temperature models.

Operations and Maintenance of Fish

Passage Facilities

In 2002, the Corps continued to operate and maintain

(O&M) fish passage facilities according to the annual Fish

Passage Plan, including juvenile bypass systems, fish ladders

and adult fish counting. Noteworthy O&M capital

improvements included:

Bonneville Dam

• Continued rehabilitation of second powerhouse

submersible traveling screens.

• Continued rehabilitation of the Bradford Island/Cascade

Island ladder system.

The Dalles Dam

• Procured new diffuser gratings for north shore fish ladder.

McNary Dam

• Initiated fabrication of spare set of generator coils for the

adult fish collection system auxiliary water supply pumps.

Ice Harbor Dam

• Upgraded adult fishway entrances.

• Started five-year program to rehabilitate the south shore

auxiliary water-supply fish pumps. Awarded contract to

replace fish pump hydraulic systems.

Transmission Reinforcements

BPA completed a Final EIS for a new Grand Coulee–

Bell 500-kV transmission line in 2002 and in January 2003

issued a Record of Decision to proceed with construction of

the project. Construction of the line will begin this February

with completion expected in November 2004. Thus, BPA

has taken actions that will enable RPA Action 56 to be

implemented by 2004 as requested in the BiOp and provide

additional flexibility for fish operations.

BPA also continued to work on the EIS for the SchultzWautoma 500-kV line in 2002.

Habitat Actions

The Action Agencies habitat

priorities include actions that generate

immediate benefits to fish, implementing

an integrated RM&E program and facilitating subbasin

assessments and plans. In 2002, the Action Agencies

implemented projects consistent with these priorities in

tributary, mainstem, and estuary habitats important to fish.

Table 3 shows the number of habitat projects by subbasin

that were implemented by the Action Agencies in 2002.

Generally, the Action Agencies met or exceeded expectations

for implementing these priorities during FY 2002. A brief

summary of tributary, mainstem and habitat improvements

is provided below.

Tributary Habitat

Major tributary habitat accomplishments during FY 2002

addressed water quantity, water quality, fish passage and

screening projects, riparian protection and enhancement, and

subbasin assessments and planning as recommended by

Actions 149 through 154 of the NMFS BiOp.

Water-Quantity Improvements

BPA established the Columbia Basin Water Transactions

Program to serve the primary water brokerage functions under

Action 151. BPA contracted the National Fish and Wildlife

Foundation as the regional water entity to facilitate the review

and development of water transactions and related innovative

transactional strategies proposed by qualified local entities.

This innovative experimental program to increase tributary

flows includes efforts by the Oregon Water Trust, Oregon

Water Resources Department, and Deschutes Resources
2002 Progress Report for the Federal Columbia River Power System

10

Table 3. Number of habitat projects implemented by the Action Agencies in 2002.

Subbasin Lead Agency Tributary Mainstem Estuary Total

Asotin BPA 9 9

Clearwater BPA 8 8

Clearwater Reclamation 2 2

Columbia Estuary BPA 2 2

Columbia Estuary Corps 7 7

Columbia Gorge Corps 1 1

Columbia Lower BPA 3 1 4

Columbia Lower Corps 1 1

Columbia Lower Middle BPA 1 1

Cowlitz BPA 1 1

Deschutes BPA 6 6

Deschutes Corps 1 1

Entiat Reclamation 4 4

Fifteenmile BPA 4 4

Grande Ronde BPA 37 37

Grays Corps 1 1

Hood BPA 2 2

Imnaha BPA 1 1

John Day BPA 17 17

John Day Reclamation 18 18

Klickitat BPA 2 2

Methow BPA 8 8

Methow Reclamation 20 20

Okanogan BPA 3 3

Salmon BPA 20 20

Salmon Corps 1 1

Salmon Reclamation 34 34

Tucannon BPA 2 2

Umatilla BPA 7 7

Walla Walla BPA 9 9

Walla Walla Corps 1 1

Wenatchee BPA 1 1

Wenatchee Reclamation 6 6

Willamette BPA 2 2

Yakima BPA 18 18

Mainstem BPA 1 1

Mainstem Corps 1 1 2

Systemwide BPA 4 4

Total 248 7 13 268
11

2002 Progress Report for the Federal Columbia River Power System

Conservancy in Oregon, the Washington Water Trust,

Washington Department of Ecology, and the Walla Walla

Watershed Alliance in Washington, and the Idaho Water

Resources Department to implement innovative approaches

to acquire and secure instream flows for fish.

Reclamation leased late-summer flows in the lower Lemhi

River of Idaho to assure fish access to spawning areas.

Reclamation also initiated or continued instream flow studies

to ascertain fish flow needs in sections of four of the priority

subbasins, and also installed gauging stations or headgate

control structures to help with diversion measurements.

More progress could accrue for tributary habitat

improvements when NOAA completes its promised protocols

for instream flows. Absent those protocols, the Action Agencies

and others will continue to make progress but with less

certainty about the precise benefits to fish populations.

Passage and Diversion Improvements

Programs in the tributaries continued by all Action

Agencies. Reclamation provided technical assistance including

engineering designs, environmental compliance, and permit

assistance to landowners during FY 2002 (Engineering criteria,

however, for designing effective fish passage projects still has

not been provided by NOAA Fisheries as promised under

Action 149). BPA complemented the efforts of Reclamation

in the priority subbasins and in other areas by expanding on

RPA 149 related measures under the Council program. This

included funding a number of passage and screening projects

across the basin, as well as acquiring additional flows for fish.

The numbers of barriers removed or improved and

additional water acquisitions or enhancements by BPA for

fish flows are listed by subbasin in Tables 4 and 5.

Reclamation and BPA activities included:

• Reclamation initiated priority subbasin programs in the

Upper Salmon, Wenatchee, and Entiat subbasins and

• Reclamation Liaison Offices are established in John Day,

Oregon; Salmon, Idaho; Twisp, Washington; and

Wenatchee, Washington to facilitate passage, diversion, and

water acquisition work by coordinating with landowners

and local entities.

• Programmatic National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

investigations continued for work in the Idaho subbasins

and the John Day subbasins with completion scheduled

for FY 2003.

• Reclamation continued to work with the Administration

to draft legislation to acquire the authority needed to fund

construction of screen and diversion replacement projects.

• Ten diversion replacement projects were initiated and six

diversion replacement projects were completed in priority

subbasins.

• Four screen projects were initiated and five screen projects

were completed. Details about the location of these projects

and the construction funding sources may be found in the

project tables.

• Fish flow studies were initiated in several subbasins to

ascertain fish flow needs in preparation for water acquisition

projects in the subbasins.

Riparian Protection and Enhancement

The Action Agencies initiated several riparian protection

and enhancement projects, including:

• Helped facilitate the protection of nearly 200 miles of

riparian buffer protection in 2002 alone. This facilitation

included funding to leverage resources for the Conservation

Reserve and Enhancement Program (CREP) and other

incentive program coordinators to enroll land into riparian

protection programs, as well as providing financial

assistance for fencing and planting of riparian buffer areas.

While all of this protection may not be legally protected

for 30 or more years, opportunities may exist to extend

the duration of the protection at a future time.

• Funded and maintained the long-term protection for many

acres of currently productive, self-sustaining habitat.

Table 4. BPA FY 2002 Fish flow enhancements.

Subbasin CFS acquired 

or enhanced 

Deschutes 17.9 

Fifteenmile 1.8 

John Day 42.4 

Methow 25.0 

Okanogan 0.0 

Salmon 33.7 

Umatilla 17.2 

Walla Walla 5.5 

Yakima 21.2 

Total flow acquired in FY 2002 164.7 

Table 5. BPA FY 2002 passage improvements.

Subbasin Number of 

barriers 

Miles of stream 

habitat opened 

Clearwater 3 4.0 

Grande Ronde 2 10.0 

John Day 8 0.0 

Klickitat 3 198.0 

Methow 1 1.3 

Okanogan 2 21.0 

Salmon 18 16.4 

Umatilla 10 225.0 

Walla Walla 2 35.0 

Wenatchee 8 2.5 

Willamette 2 5.9 

Yakima 12 178.5 

Total passage improvements 

and river miles of stream opened 71 697.5 

continued its programs in the Upper John Day, Middle

Fork John Day, Methow, and Lemhi subbasins to address

unscreened diversions and diversion migration blockages.
2002 Progress Report for the Federal Columbia River Power System

12

• Completed restoration of a mile of steelhead spawning and

rearing area in East Birch Creek in the Umatilla watershed.

• Completed concept designs for five sites in the 12-mile

stretch of the Salmon River near Challis, Idaho.

• Gathered baseline data and held scoping meetings for the

Walla Walla River feasibility study.

• Completed plans and began work to reestablish riparian

forest and native wetland plant communities in the Salmon

Creek floodplain near Vancouver, Washington.

• Continued designs for a project to remove levees, dikes,

and berms along a four to five mile stretch of Trout Creek

in the Deschutes subbasin.

• Worked with potential sponsors on possible cost-share

projects in the Grande Ronde and Milton-Freewater

subbasins. Tributary protection and enhancement projects

included a number of projects to negotiate and fund

protection of riparian habitat.

• Continued to strengthen support for riparian protection

through CREP and other incentive programs working with

NOAA, Farm Services Administration, Natural Resources

Conservation Service (NRCS), the states and others.

• Continued to work on a collaborative process to develop a

mechanism for longer term or permanent easement

protection of riparian buffer areas. Table 6 lists the acres

and river miles by subbasin of productive fish habitat on

non-Federal lands that was protected by BPA in FY 2002.

Provincial Reviews

In 2002, the Action Agencies, particularly BPA, used the

Council’s Provincial Review process to solicit project proposals

Cascade, Columbia Estuary, Lower Columbia Middle Snake,

and Upper Snake Provincial Reviews. The first cycle of

Provincial Reviews will be completed in FY 2003. This will

allow BPA and the Council to implement on-the-ground

projects that address specific RPA actions. Collectively these

actions represent a range of ESA responses. This range could

include the initial implementation phase of new, or expanded,

projects directed at specific, ESA listed salmon and/or

steelhead populations to re-configuration of existing Council

Fish and Wildlife Program efforts to more efficiently target

those same listed populations.

Subbasin Planning and Assessments

Subbasin planning and assessments provide the

framework critical to the Action Agencies’ longer term

implementation of offsite mitigation. The subbasin plans will

provide the ecological context for future project identification.

Subbasin planning under the Council’s process continued in

FY 2002. The Council established its management plan, and

BPA issued the master contracts for the Council to produce

the subbasin plans. BPA funded contracts for State subbasin

planning coordinators to facilitate preparation of the subbasin

plans by 2004. Subbasin planning will use over $15 million

in funds provided by BPA. The Council developed guidance

for that planning in concert with NOAA Fisheries so that the

Council’s subbasin plans can also be utilized as anadromous

fish recovery plans under the ESA. The Action Agencies

continued to provide a share of technical support for the

development of subbasin assessments and plans as requested

by the subbasin planners.

Mainstem Habitat

In FY 2002, our mainstem habitat focus was on the lower

Columbia and lower Snake rivers. The Action Agencies funded

efforts toward developing improvement plans for mainstem

reaches and improving spawning conditions for chum salmon

for RPA 155, 156 and 157. Projects included:

• Improving spawning conditions in the vicinity of Ives

Island.

• Reintroducing Chum salmon into Duncan Creek.

• Implementing avian predation deterrent actions in

coordination with FPOM.

• Evaluating factors limiting Columbia River Gorge Chum

salmon populations.

• Continued planning and design for a major effort to restore

woody riparian habitat in the lower Snake River.

• BPA will continue to annually monitor catch and harvest

rates of Northern Pikeminnow. BPA will collect

information on population dynamics and the diet of

Northern Pikeminnow, Small Mouth Bass, and Walleye

every 3–5 years.

• Avian predation monitoring continued under the estuary

Table 6. Amount of productive fish habitat protected by

BPA in FY 2002.

Subbasin River Miles Acres 

Deschutes 6.4 114 

Fifteenmile 65.3 760 

Grande Ronde 36.7 2994 

Hood 0.1 3 

Imnaha 12.0 27 

John Day 64.3 14775 

Okanogan 0.8 60 

Salmon 3.0 14 

Umatilla 1.7 0 

Walla Walla 0.5 12 

Yakima 8.4 820 

Total river miles/acres of nonFederal habitat protection 199.4 19579 

to address BiOp actions. The review process included

application of biological criteria, scientific review by the

Independent Scientific Review Panel (ISRP), public review,

and NOAA assessments using ESA priorities. In FY 2002 the

Provincial Reviews for the Blue Mountain, Columbia Plateau,

Mountain Columbia and Mountain Snake provinces were

used by BPA for funding decisions. In FY 2002 BPA also

commented on projects received through the Columbia
13

2002 Progress Report for the Federal Columbia River Power System

monitoring program and was started at Crescent Island

(McNary).

Estuary Habitat

Estuary Planning

BPA funded a Battelle project in 2002 to develop a plan

addressing the habitat needs of salmon and steelhead in the

estuary, as called for in RPA 159. This project is being

conducted with the Corps, LCREP and the Columbia River

Estuary Study Task Force and is scheduled for completion in

2003. The plan will include further development of the

conceptual model called for in RPA 162. The Corps continued

coordination on a General Investigation study for ecosystem

restoration in the Columbia River estuary, covering the river

from the mouth to Bonneville Dam. Efforts in 2002 focused

on identifying a cost-sharing partner and scoping.

Estuary Restoration

No actual construction of restoration projects in the

estuary occurred in 2002. However, planning efforts were

conducted for several habitat restoration projects in the estuary

in 2002 that will help meet the requirements of RPA 160

when implemented.

Planning continued for the Brownsmead Project located

approximately 3 miles northeast of Knappa, Oregon, and 17

miles east of Astoria, at river mile 30. This project is expected

to restore tidal flow to about 9.2 miles of sloughs in an area

consisting of about 2,068 acres of diked flood plain.

Studies were initiated on the following projects:

• Southwest Washington Streams. This project is located

beginning about 2 miles upstream of Chinook, Washington

and extends between river mile 11 and 15. It would involve

replacement of 9 culverts along highways 101 and 401 that

are blocking or restricting access to small tributary streams to

the Columbia River, affecting access to 8 miles of former

stream and 15 acres of wetlands.

• Crims Island Restoration. This project is located near the

town of Clatskanie, Oregon, at river mile 56. The project

would acquire and restore approximately 425 acres of tidal

emergent marsh, swamp, slough, and riparian forest habitat

on Crims Island in the upper Columbia River Estuary to

benefit fish and wildlife. Although this project is located

above river mile 46, it stands to provide significant benefits

to salmonids in the estuary.

Estuary Habitat-Related Research, Monitoring

and Evaluation (RM&E)

The Estuary/Ocean RM&E Work Group was established

in the summer of 2002 and began developing an RM&E plan

for the estuary. The work group includes NOAA Fisheries

and a representative from the Lower Columbia River

Partnership (LCREP). Initial efforts focused on assessing the

ongoing RM&E efforts and identifying any gaps (gap

analysis). This gap analysis was provided to the RM&E

Planning Group for incorporation into the RM&E

Framework document. The Action Agencies also reviewed

proposals for estuarine research in the Council’s Provincial

Review Process and provided recommendations on which to

help meet FCRPS BiOp requirements. The following RM&E

efforts were funded in the estuary and ocean plume in 2002:

• A study to estimate salmonid survival through the estuary

using acoustic tags.

• Estuarine habitat and juvenile salmon—current and

historic linkages in the Lower Columbia River and estuary.

• Monitoring effectiveness of Chum egg-to-fry survival in

restored channels of Duncan Creek.

• Evaluation of the relationship among time of ocean entry,

physical and biological characteristics of the estuary and

plume environment, and adult return rates.

• Sampling PIT-tagged juvenile salmonids migrating in the

Columbia River estuary.

• Evaluation of migration and survival of juvenile steelhead

and fall Chinook following transportation.

• Survival and growth of juvenile salmon in the Columbia

River plume.

• Lower Columbia River habitat classification and assessment

mapping.

While several studies addressed juvenile use of the estuary

and plume, studies of adult use of the Columbia River estuary

plume were given a low priority at the Studies Review Work

Group (SRWG) and no proposals were received. The Action

Agencies recognize the RPA requirement for adult studies and

began discussions with NOAA Fisheries to develop a study

plan that identifies the needed studies and establish the

priority, scope and time line for adult use studies. The Action

Agencies are continuing to work with NOAA to establish the

scope, including identifying components and responsibilities

for those components for Columbia River estuary research.

Hatchery Actions

In 2002, the Action Agencies

continued to support a unified regional

approach to use artificial production

as an important tool for meeting fish

recovery objectives and a means to

support tribal and other fisheries. BPA and the other Action

Agencies continued funding the four-step planning process

of the Artificial Propagation Safety-Net Program (RPA Action

175), funded the regional planning and coordination required

for development of a comprehensive marking plan (RPA

Action 174) and began Phase I of the development of new or

updated Hatchery and Genetic Management Plans (HGMPs)

to guide hatchery reform and aid recovery of listed stocks
2002 Progress Report for the Federal Columbia River Power System

14

(RPA Action 169). Implementation of these actions has been,

and will continue to be a major, region-wide undertaking,

requiring substantial coordination with state and federal

fishery managers, tribes, the Council and other entities.

The Action Agencies continued to operate FCRPS

mitigation hatcheries that contribute to tribal and other

harvest of salmon and steelhead (Figure 8), and BPA continued

to implement ongoing Snake River spring/summer Chinook

and Sockeye salmon safety-net artificial propagation projects,

as well as hatchery RM&E projects (RPA Actions 182 and

184), under the Council’s Fish and Wildlife Program.

Captive Broodstock Program

BPA continued to support ongoing artificial propagation

safety-net programs designed to prevent extinction of critically

depressed populations of ESA-listed salmon (RPA Action

177).

Major safety-net programs funded through the regional

prioritization process by BPA include:

• The Grande Ronde captive broodstock program for Lostine

River, Catherine Creek and Upper Grande Ronde River

spring/summer Chinook populations in Oregon;

• The Salmon River captive rearing program for Lemhi River,

East Fork Salmon River and West Fork Yankee Fork spring/

summer Chinook populations in Idaho;

• The Tucannon River spring/summer Chinook captive

broodstock program in Washington and

• The Snake River (Redfish Lake, Idaho) Sockeye salmon

captive broodstock program.

Safety-Net Program

BPA initiated the Safety-Net Artificial Propagation

Program (SNAPP) (RPA Action 175) in 2001 by working

with NOAA Fisheries and the USFWS to scope the program

and determine how best to implement the program over the

next few years. The Safety Net Program targets some of the

most endangered populations of listed fish to ensure their

continued survival. The effort resulted in BPA funding a

SNAPP Coordinator to facilitate the four-step planning

process for the program. States, tribes, NOAA Fisheries,



 























 





 

  









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Figure 8. Locations of FCRPS mitigation hatcheries.
15

2002 Progress Report for the Federal Columbia River Power System

USFWS and BPA have met to provide oversight and help

implement the program. That group determined that the

initial list of 10 safety-net populations identified in RPA

Action 175 should receive additional scrutiny and developed

a new list of 38 populations that will proceed to the first step

of the four-step, SNAPP planning process, extinction risk

analysis.

In August 2002, BPA began initiating contracts for the

SNAPP extinction risk analysis and state and tribal co-manager

participation in SNAPP.

BPA funded the Grande Ronde and Tucannon safety-net

HGMPs (RPA Action 176) under a Memorandum of

Agreement with the USFWS, which oversees the

Congressionally mandated Lower Snake River Compensation

Plan (LSRCP). Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

completed a Phase I HGMP for Grande Ronde River Spring

Chinook salmon program. Washington Department of Fish

and Wildlife completed a Phase I HGMP for Tucannon River

Spring Chinook salmon program. Both of these Phase I

products were submitted to USFWS. USFWS is expected to

submit these to NOAA Fisheries in early FY 2003, leading to

future actions consistent with ESA and the needs of listed

fish.

Hatchery Reforms

In January 2002, federal, tribal, and state parties convened

to discuss development and implementation of the HGMP

process (RPA Action 169). NOAA Fisheries, Action Agencies

and cooperators developed a plan to split the HGMP process

into three phases.

Phase I–Hatchery operators and all relevant parties will

complete a “Phase I HGMP” for each facility/program that

establishes requirements, including any adjustments or

reforms necessary to comply with the ESA.

Phases II and III–The Phase I HGMPs will be distributed

to other relevant parties and will serve as the focus for the

collaborative, Phase II part of the process. Phase II options

will be provided to subbasin planning processes and the

appropriate technical recovery teams for consideration and

interaction with those groups. Phase II draft HGMPs will

be completed and set aside until all HGMPs relevant to an

Evolutionarily Significant Unit (ESU) are completed,

allowing for ESU-wide considerations and feedback with

the TRT/Recovery Planning processes. The HGMP

collaborators will incorporate TRT advice as appropriate

to ensure consistency with broader recovery objectives. This

step culminates in Phase III drafts, which become final

and ready to implement after approval by NOAA Fisheries.

Early in the developmental process, it became clear that

data requirements for HGMP and the Council’s Artificial

Production Review Evaluation (APRE) would be collecting

very similar data from the same people. Toward this end,

NOAA Fisheries and Council staff collaborated on an

approach where the APRE and the HGMP process will work

together to assemble the necessary information. Once this

“in-common” step is completed, the two processes will separate

to meet their different obligations and requirements.

BPA negotiated a Scope of Work and corresponding

budget to achieve Phase I of the HGMP work with the

Council. The contract is expected to be signed by the Council

in early FY 2003. States and tribes were subcontractors under

this contract for Phase I activities. Provincial meetings are

anticipated to start in the third and fourth quarters of FY

2003.

BPA negotiated a Scope of Work from December 2002

to September 2003 and corresponding budget for a “Process

Manager” to oversee Phase II and participate in early Phase

III development of the HGMP work with a private contractor.

The contract was signed in February 2003.

BPA negotiated budgets for states and tribes to fully

participate in all of Phases II and III. The contracts are expected

to be signed by all cooperating states and tribes by late FY

2003.

The other RPA Actions involving implementation of

hatchery reforms by the Corps, Reclamation, and BPA (RPA

Actions 170–173) cannot be accomplished until the HGMPs

are complete and approved by NOAA Fisheries.

Hatchery Production

Artificial production is needed to meet harvest mandates

and to mitigate overall FCRPS losses. In 2002, the Action

Agencies continued to operate legally mandated FCRPS

mitigation hatchery projects in conformity with the ESA.

Hatcheries in operation during 2002 included eleven LSRCP

hatcheries (Dworshak [the Chinook program], Lookingglass,

Lyons Ferry Complex [Lyons Ferry and Tucannon],

Clearwater, Magic Valley, McCall, Sawtooth, Irrigon,

Wallowa, and Hagerman hatcheries), eight Corps hatcheries

(Dworshak [the Steelhead program], Bonneville, Spring Creek,

Leaburg, McKenzie, Marion Forks, South Santiam, and

Willamette hatcheries) and three USBR hatcheries

(Leavenworth, Entiat and Winthrop hatcheries).

BPA continued funding experimental and production

hatchery facilities under the Council’s Columbia River Basin

Fish and Wildlife Program. Major facilities in operation in

2002 included the Umatilla Hatchery and the Cle Elum

Supplementation and Research Facility. Construction of the

Nez Perce Tribal Hatchery was completed and operation began

in 2002. Planning/design for the Northeast Oregon Hatchery

continued in 2002.
2002 Progress Report for the Federal Columbia River Power System

16

Comprehensive Marking Program

The Action Agencies experienced delay in developing a

comprehensive plan to mark hatchery produced salmon. The

delay was needed to enable differentiation between hatchery

and naturally produced salmon and ensure that appropriate

tagging and sampling rates are being implemented. This delay

is attributable to a number of factors, including the time it

took for the regional ad hoc marking group, which comprised

representatives of NOAA Fisheries and Columbia Basin fishery

managers, to refine and focus the scope of the plan, and delays

attributable to contractor performance. The effect of the delay

is mitigated to some degree, by the fact that the Action

Agencies continue to fund marking at federal facilities that

was not occurring prior to the BiOp for key hatchery

populations identified in the NMFS BiOp. Progress has been

made toward completion of the plan and the ad hoc group

continues its efforts to address the key tagging and sampling

questions including the difficult task of synthesizing its effort

with similar extra-regional undertakings that extend well

beyond the Columbia Basin.

Harvest Actions

Fishing Techniques

In 2002, BPA implemented its

second year of gear efficacy testing studies

of tooth-tangle gear to determine their

potential for reducing mortality of ESA-listed salmonids for

the non-treaty spring fisheries downstream of Bonneville Dam.

Nearly 22,000 steelhead were unintentionally intercepted in

this fishery using this gear. Subsequently, outyear continuation

of this study will include the development of alternative gear

strata and /or methods to both assess and reduce the impact

to steelhead in addition to continuing assessment of spring

Chinook impacts.

Other ongoing activities include the continuation of

implementation of the Tribal Gillnet Exchange Program.

Larger mesh gill nets were provided to tribal commercial fishers

in 2000 to reduce steelhead interceptions while increasing

Chinook harvest under current impacts. Analysis of catch

statistics suggest that the increased use of larger (>9 in.) mesh

gill nets has allowed tribal commercial fishers to access over

11,000 additional fall Chinook within the prescribed steelhead

harvest limit. Similar outyear benefits are expected during

runs in which Chinook to steelhead ratios are similarly large

and use of gear continues.

Harvest Management Assessments,

Decisions and Evaluations

BPA funded a feasibility study in tribal Management Zone

6 in 2002 to determine the existence and impact of lost fishing

nets. Researchers confirmed the feasibility to detect gear using

sonar technology. Eight fishing nets of various length, diameter

and condition were removed, and 80 white sturgeon carcasses

and/or notochords were retrieved from the nets. No other

fish species were found in the nets.

Support Sustainable Fisheries

In 2002, the Action Agencies continued implementation

of the Columbia River Terminal Fisheries Project (BPA 1993-

060) for Chinook and Coho in Youngs Bay and other sites in

the lower river below Bonneville Dam. Increased release

numbers and improved ocean rearing conditions have resulted

in increased returns in recent years. Project sponsors estimate

the combined economic value of select area fish to regional

commercial and recreational fisheries was $1.5 million in

2002.

Resident Fish Actions

White Sturgeon Aquaculture

and Monitoring

The Action Agencies continued

producing and releasing juveniles through

the Kootenai River white sturgeon aquaculture program. They

also continued all ongoing monitoring for natural production

and post-release survival of hatchery-produced juveniles.

Other actions taken for the benefit of Kootenai white

sturgeon include:

• Provided flows recommended by the USFWS.

• Conducted monitoring of scheduled and emergency spill

to quantify water-quality limitations on using spillway to

provide additional flows for Kootenai white sturgeon.

• Initiated NEPA process for interim implementation of

VARQ at Libby to increase reliability of providing sturgeon

flows.

Flows and Ramp Rates

The Action Agencies aided bull trout by adjusting flows

within the ramp rates and providing minimum flows below

Hungry Horse and Libby dams. Modifications to the ramp

rates, to benefit fish needs in the basin, were coordinated in

the Technical Management Team. Minimum flows from

Hungry Horse were provided on all days except two, when

outflow was reduced for local flood control. Minimum flows

were maintained at Columbia Falls except for minor

reductions on 12 days, when natural flows subsided faster

than Hungry Horse operations could compensate, given the

three-hour water travel time to Columbia Falls. The Action

Agencies provided USFWS–requested sturgeon flows from

Libby.

Other actions taken included:

• Managed winter elevations in Lake Pend Oreille (regulated

by Albeni Falls Dam) to help promote a healthier forage

base of kokanee for bull trout in the lake.

• Managed flows from Hungry Horse and Libby dams to
17

2002 Progress Report for the Federal Columbia River Power System

minimize downstream effects on bull trout.

• Provided ways to pass seasonally appropriate water flows

and temperatures at Libby Dam and evaluated the effects

of those flows on Kootenai River white sturgeon

reproduction and on dikes and human uses of the Kootenai

River flood plain from Bonners Ferry, Idaho, to Kootenay

Lake, British Columbia.

• Implemented VARQ at Hungry Horse.

Water Storage

The Action Agencies implemented VARQ flood control

at Hungry Horse for 2002 spring operations. Environmental

documentation was completed and a decision made to

commence VARQ implementation at Libby in 2003.

Bull Trout Monitoring

So little is known about the nature and magnitude of the

FCRPS impacts on bull trout that much of the early effort in

2002 focused on monitoring and evaluation. Results will

determine whether mitigation would be appropriate and to

define the performance standards that might be applied to

mitigation efforts.

The Action Agencies monitored the effects of the 2002

Libby spill test on the fish (including bull trout) downstream

of the dam in the Kootenai River. Also continued was the

monitoring of bull trout entering the Hood River from

Bonneville Pool, bull trout movement through FCRPS dams

on the lower Columbia and Snake rivers and kokanee (bull

trout prey) dynamics in Lake Pend Oreille. New studies of

the bull trout behaviors at Albeni Falls Dam (potentially

leading to a study of the feasibility of providing bull trout

passage facilities over the dam), predator/prey abundances in

Lake Pend Oreille, bull trout population use of Dworshak

Reservoir, and bull trout migrations in the Tucannon River

and lower Snake River reservoirs were initiated.

Other actions implemented in 2002 include:

• Continued counting bull trout that pass through

monitoring facilities at mainstem dams and implemented

a study of bull trout use of lower Snake River reservoirs

• Continued studying bull trout distribution and use of

Dworshak Reservoir, including movements in the reservoir

and tributaries. Also began bull trout–passage studies at

some FCRPS dams, based on priorities set in 2001 (per

USFWS BiOp action 11.5).

• In cases where there already is a relatively clear link between

the FCRPS and the welfare of bull trout, we continued to

implement protective measures.

• In cooperation with the USFWS, in 2002 the Action

Agencies developed ways to gauge how well the FCRPS is

mitigating its impacts on bull trout.

• Began a two-year study of bull trout behavior in the Lake

Pend Oreille basin to provide data for making a decision

on potential bull trout passage needs at Albeni Falls Dam.

• Adhered to USFWS recommendations for reservoir

operation, ramping rates and minimum flows, in operating

Libby and Hungry Horse Dams.

Research, Monitoring

and Evaluation (RM&E)

Actions

In 2002, NOAA Fisheries and the

Action Agencies began to develop a

proposed RM&E Plan as the initial step in developing the

RM&E Programs called for under the NMFS BiOp and

Basinwide Salmon Recovery Strategy. The RM&E Program

is needed for the 2005 and 2008 check-in assessments of

salmon and steelhead populations. This program will inform

the identification and prioritization of actions that are the

most effective toward improved stock performance and

provide information for the NMFS BiOp.

The RM&E Program focuses on six principal categories

or strategies that must be addressed to meet the BiOp

requirements:

• Population and environmental status monitoring,

• Action effectiveness research,

• Critical uncertainty research,

• Project implementation monitoring,

• Data management and

• Regional coordination.

In 2002 the Action Agencies implemented three primary

strategies or categories for RM&E:

• Status and effectiveness monitoring,

• Uncertainties research and

• Regional coordination and integration.

An RM&E Oversight Workgroup convened the following

six technical working groups:

• Status Monitoring,

• Action effectiveness research (for tributary habitat actions),

• Hydro,

• Estuary/ocean,

• Hatchery/harvest and

• Data management.

These groups included participants from the Action

Agencies, NOAA Fisheries, LCREP, and USFWS. The groups

addressed different levels of the three categories and the

associated RPA actions.

Each of the work groups was asked to:

• Identify the RM&E requirements of the BiOp within their

workgroup area,
2002 Progress Report for the Federal Columbia River Power System

18

• Identify ongoing and planned research or monitoring

projects that address these RM&E requirements within the

Corps’ Anadromous Fish Evaluation Program (AFEP)

forum, Reclamation’s priority subbasin program, and the

BPA-funded Council Fish and Wildlife Program,

• Compare the RM&E requirements of the BiOp with the

existing and planned research projects to identify gaps in

existing coverage and

• Recommend any necessary additional research or changes

to planned research. Each work group produced an RM&E

Plan specific to their areas of RM&E component coverage

and the related BiOp actions.

Status and Effectiveness Monitoring

Status monitoring projects help assess the condition or

trend of ESU populations and key environmental attributes

relative to performance targets. Effectiveness projects help

assess the expected benefits of different categories of required

BiOp hydrosystem and offsite mitigation actions.

Projects grouped under this strategy address BiOp

requirements to provide or support status information on adult

and juvenile fish abundance, distribution, and survival, as

well as information on environmental condition identified as

key measures of fish performance. Effectiveness projects

address BiOp requirements to provide or support information

on the physical and biological responses of hydrosystem and

offsite mitigation actions.

In 2002, the Action Agencies’ implementation of status

and effectiveness monitoring projects included:

• Monitoring adult and juvenile migration at Columbia and

Snake River dams, including on going programs such as

the PIT-tagging and monitoring program and the hatchery

marking program.

• Determining the effectiveness of the first in-ladder adult

PIT-tag detection system at Bonneville Dam’s Washingtonshore ladder.

• Monitoring Snake River fall Chinook emergence and

migration timing.

• Implementing the small-stream prototype PIT-tag detection

system.

• Evaluating the relationship between estuary, plume, and

near-shore ocean conditions and juvenile salmon growth

survival,

• Finalizing a report that identifies data collection protocols

and approaches to monitor tributary habitat indicators,

performance standards, and measurement methods.

• Effects of limited spill, low flow conditions, and higher

summer temperatures on passage and survival of adults

through the hydrosystem.

• Estimating juvenile abundance and timing in the estuary

and implementing newly developed sonic tags.

• The effects of supplementation and hatchery management

practices on wild fish production and genetics.

• The effectiveness of reconditioning wild steelhead kelts.

• Implementation of Reclamation RM&E actions through

contracts, interagency and cooperative agreements.

Critical Uncertainties

Projects under this category help resolve or reduce key

uncertainties or unknown causes in mortality and

indeterminate impacts of artificial production. The projects

also assist in assessing survival and recovery requirements of

the ESUs.

Projects implemented under this strategy focus on NMFS

BiOp requirements to address large, systematic research needs

and identify improvements in analytical methods required

for more robust and confident assessments of population

extinction risks, probabilities of recovery, and needed survival

improvements for each ESU. The following are current key

uncertainties:

• Delayed effects in mortality possibly related to

transportation (D),

• Unexplained extra mortality (EM) that may be related to

hydro system passage, and,

• Effectiveness of hatchery spawners—reduction of

uncertainty in the ability of hatchery fish to successfully

reproduce in wild.

Projects initiated in 2002 will help reduce the

uncertainties associated with the differences in survival of

transported and non-transported juvenile fish (D) by focusing

on providing better estimates of “D” for mid Columbia and

Snake River stocks, and on identifying factors that either

contribute to the occurrence of “D” or confound the

estimation of “D.” A series of research, fish marking and

monitoring actions were conducted to reduce the confidence

intervals around current estimates of “D” for stocks

throughout the region. To help determine causes of “D,”

several areas of evaluations were conducted. One area was to

determine the role that physiology plays in “D”; the second

was to determine where “D” occurs in the post-release

environment; and the third was to identify logistical processes

of barge transport that may contribute to “D.” In addition, a

myriad of monitoring actions throughout the region

supported the fundamental research actions addressing “D”

in 2002. These actions range from the Comparative Survival

Studies on the Snake River to the PIT-tag recovery efforts in

the estuary and on avian colony islands along with the

development of specialized technology to provide information

on incremental differences in mortality through the complex

estuarine and near ocean environment to the installation of

primary bypass and adult PIT-tag detectors throughout the

hydrosystem.

Projects implemented in 2002 for the critical uncertainty

of “D” included the following:
19

2002 Progress Report for the Federal Columbia River Power System

• Snake River spring Chinook and Steelhead comparative

survival studies between transported fish and fish allowed

to remain in river during their out migration were

continued in 2002. The adult return data from this work

will establish more robust estimates of “D.”

• Mid Columbia spring Chinook comparative survival

studies were started in 2003. Adult return data from this

study will establish the survival relationships between

bypassed, transported and spill-bypassed fish, in addition

to estimations of “D” for mid Columbia spring Chinook.

2002 was the first year of this evaluation and is expected to

continue through 2006 with juvenile release incorporating

mid Columbia Steelhead and fall Chinook.

• Continued the hatchery marking of the Snake River

hatchery Chinook for the comparative survival study in

2002. Adult returns from this study provide a range of

survival and “D” estimates that are used to evaluate the

relationship of fish condition, migration distance and

natural culling effects on juvenile survival, adult returns

and on estimates of “D.”

• A comparative rearing evaluation was conducted in 2002

to document “D” and investigate physiological causes of

“D.” Short-term survival rates were compared over a sixmonth period to evaluate the effect that migration route

(multiple bypass, transport, and spill-bypass) has on delayed

mortality.

• Post-mortem evaluation of the physiological causes of

mortality was compared between the different groups fish.

Physiological causes of mortality were correlated to

migration history to determine the long-term contribution

that route of passage has in the estimation of “D.”

• The performance of the immune response in fish with

different migration histories (multiple bypass, transport

and spill-bypass) were compared to determine the effect

these passage routes have on post-hydrosystem survival and

thus a factor that contributes to “D.”

• Physiological condition (growth, stress levels, energy

reserves and smoltification) of fish prior to transport and

in-river passage were compared to the changes that occurred

as a result of the transportation process and in river (spillbypassed) passage through the hydrosystem. Results are

being correlated to the observed returns and “D” estimates

for the comparative survival study fish and the rearing

studies to correlate the role that fish condition and energy

consumption have on survival and observations of “D.”

• Differences in physiological responses (including

cumulative stress) between hatchery and wild Chinook and

Steelhead that are transported and those passing multiple

dams.

• Differences in migration behavior of post-release

transported fish vs. in-river migrants, and how that may

affect chances of survival (travel time, predation rates and

migration routes) in the estuary and near-shore ocean

environment. Steelhead and fall Chinook were radiotracked from Bonneville Dam or the transport release

location through the upper estuary to the saltwater

interface. Information from this study will help improve

transportation programs, identify problem areas in the

estuary, and provide travel times, holding, and survival

rates.

• Avian predation studies.

• Implementation of acoustic tag development.

• Canadian/U.S. Continental Shelf salmon monitoring

program.

• Estuarine habitat and juvenile salmonid use.

• Smolt survival monitoring.

• Juvenile survival estimates through the estuary.

• Use of cool water corridors and refugia during the upstream

migration of steelhead and fall Chinook. A component of

this evaluation was to determine the potential benefits of

cool water releases from Dworshak on adult salmon

migration.

• Comparative differences in the homing and straying of

adult fish with known juvenile passage histories and sites

of origin.

As part of additional research efforts on delayed mortality

and extra mortality, the Action Agencies continued studies

for implementation in 2002 to evaluate the use of acoustic

tags to estimate survival below Bonneville Dam, through the

estuary and along the continental shelf. Several studies

addressing the uncertainty of the effectiveness of hatchery fish

to reproduce in the wild were initiated or ongoing in 2002.

Regional Coordination and Integration

The RM&E and data requirements of the BiOp need to

be coordinated across the different categories of RM&E and

the various federal and state programs. This coordination is

essential to maximize the amount and quality of RM&E

within limited budgets, and to avoid confounding effects of

multiple or overlapping treatment and control sites.

Currently RM&E efforts focus on monitoring the

requirements of listed species specified in the NMFS BiOp.

The need to monitor a broad range of environmental variables

in geographic areas beyond those demarcated by the ESUs is

present among many different regional organizations. The

Action Agencies and NMFS recognize the broader regional

needs for monitoring unlisted natural stocks, hatchery

populations, and resident fish species. The RM&E Program

overlaps with other regional programs having their own needs

and geographic coverage. Where there are opportunities to

coordinate with other programs or use their monitoring data,

NOAA Fisheries and the Action Agencies plan to do so. Both

the Action Agencies and NOAA Fisheries recognize that the

various programs have different goals and that this may
2002 Progress Report for the Federal Columbia River Power System

20

preclude region-wide reliance on any single monitoring

program.

In 2002, important advancements were made in the area

of regional RM&E coordination and implementation. Under

the auspices of the Federal Caucus, a federal regional

coordination team was formed. This team, whose participants

include all the federal agencies of the Federal Caucus, has

begun to define methods and requirements to integrate each

agency’s monitoring efforts. The coordination and integration

of the individual federal agency’s monitoring activities will

result in a reduction of uncertainties in RM&E planning and

metrics, increase effectiveness in achieving each agency’s

monitoring goals, help the federal members to meet broader,

overarching regional goals, and increase the efficiency and

effectiveness of meeting the objectives of a comprehensive

RM&E plan called for in the BiOp.

Reclamation co-funded a major conference in May 2002

to identify the barriers and propose solutions to implementing

an ecosystem-based monitoring program. In addition, advance

developments were made in discussions with federal, state,

and tribal partners in determining the structure, funding and

feasibility of creating a regional forum to address RM&E needs

at the policy, programmatic and technical levels.

Planning and

Coordination

Implementation Planning

and Progress Reporting

The Action Agencies coordinated

and prepared a number of BiOp related planning and

reporting documents in fiscal year (FY) 2002. The first annual

implementation plan (Endangered Species Act 2002 Annual

Implementation Plan for the FCRPS) was finalized and released

in November 2001. This plan provided details about the

Action Agencies’ measures planned for implementation in FY

2002 and summarized expected modifications from the BiOp.

In May 2002, after extensive coordination with NOAA

Fisheries, the Action Agencies issued the 2001 Progress Report.

The 2001 Progress Report documented the Columbia River

Basin fish recovery measures implemented by the Action

Agencies in FY 2001. After release of the 2001 Progress Report,

the Action Agencies continued to provide information to

NOAA Fisheries needed for its Findings Letter. The Findings

Letter found that the Action Agencies were making sufficient

progress implementing hydrosystem improvements and offsite

mitigation measures. The Findings Letter also emphasized

areas where future efforts should be focused and identified

issues needing resolution.

The Action Agencies also prepared a draft and final 2003/

2003–2007 Implementation Plan for the FCRPS in FY 2002.

The Action Agencies met with various state, tribal, and other

entities from August through October of 2002 to discuss and

take comment on the draft 2003/2003–2007 Implementation

Plan. Comments received were summarized and responded

to in the final 2003/2003–2007 Implementation Plan.

NOAA Fisheries Regional Forum

The Action Agencies continued to develop and implement

hydrosystem activities in coordination with the various teams

of the NOAA Fisheries Regional Forum: The Implementation

Team, the Technical Management Team, the Water Quality

Team, and the System Configuration Team. The Action

Agencies also coordinated with the Fish Passage Operation

and Maintenance Team (FPOM), the Studies Review Work

Group and the Corps’ Walla Walla and Portland Districts’

Fish Facilities Design Review Work Groups. These groups

provided an opportunity for the region to share information

and coordinate at the technical and policy levels.

The Council’s Fish and Wildlife Program

In 2002, BPA, NOAA Fisheries and the Council worked

together to further align NMFS and USFWS BiOp needs

with the Council’s Fish and Wildlife Program. Significant

effort was put into identifying projects that were responsive

to BiOp requirements and any subsequent gaps. The Action

Agencies also participated in the Council’s mainstem

rulemaking process to share information and coordinate BiOp

implementation with the hydrosystem measures in the

Councils Fish and Wildlife Program.

BPA worked with the Council to assure development of

subbasin assessments and planning and used the Council’s

Provincial Review process to solicit project proposals

responsive to BiOp actions. BPA and the Council continued

to develop contracts for subbasin plans, schedules for plan

completions, and guidelines for the contents of plans.

Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership

BPA and the Corps continued to coordinate BiOp

implementation through Lower Columbia River Estuary

Partnership and used the Lower Columbia River

Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan as the

basis for an estuary recovery initiative that addresses the needs

of ESA-listed populations.

Federal Caucus and the Basinwide Salmon

Recovery Strategy

The Action Agencies use the Federal Caucus to coordinate

salmon recovery efforts with their federal partners.

Coordination also occurred with Federal Caucus subgroups

such as the Federal Habitat Team, the RM&E Work Groups

and the Hydrosystem Work Group.
21

2002 Progress Report for the Federal Columbia River Power System

IV. Summary of Actions

Table 7 summarizes the Action Agencies’ progress in 2002 for each RPA

Action listed in the NMFS BiOp.
2002 Progress Report for the Federal Columbia River Power System

22

Table 7 Action Agency Summary of Progress by RPA Action

Action 

#

Action Description Progress Summary

1

The Action Agencies, coordinating with NMFS 

and USFWS, shall annually develop 1- and 5-year 

plans to implement specific measures in hydro, 

habitat, hatcheries, harvest, research, monitoring, 

and evaluation needed to meet and evaluate the 

performance standards contained in this 

biological opinion.

Annual and 5-year implementation plans were provided for 2002, 2002-2006, and 

2003/2003-2007. The implementation plans included detailed and summarized 

information for the 1- and 5-year planning periods. The plans will continue to be 

coordinated with state, tribal and other regional entities.

2

The Action Agencies shall coordinate 

development and implementation of the hydro 

portion of the 1- and 5-year implementation 

plans through the Regional Forum, chaired by 

NMFS.

The hydrosystem portion of the 2003/2003-07 Implementation Plan was coordinated 

through the NMFS Regional Forum.

3

The Action Agencies, coordinating through the 

Technical Management Team, shall develop and 

implement a 1- and 5-year water management 

plan and in-season action plans for the operation 

of the FCRPS.

The Action Agencies proposed that referencing the Water Management Plans in the 5-

year implementation plans would serve the purpose of the 5-Year WMP.

4

The Action Agencies, coordinating through the 

System Configuration Team, shall annually 

develop and implement a 1- and 5-year capital 

investment plan for the configuration of the 

FCRPS projects.

The Action Agencies continued to use the SCT to identify the system configuration 

priorities, capital investments, hydrosystem research and reliability improvements and 

included them in the 2003/2003-07 Implementation Plans. 

5

The Action Agencies, coordinating through the 

Water Quality Team, shall annually develop a 1-

and 5-year water quality plan for operation and 

configuration measures at FCRPS projects.

The Action Agencies developed the 1- and 5- year work plans as part of the 

implementation process.

The Corps developed a Water Quality Plan that described planned operations to meet 

water quality TMDLs. This plan was issued in conjunction with the Fish Passage Plan in 

February. A summary of water quality measurements taken throughout the year and their 

compliance with, for example, the dissolved gas TMDLs was issued. 

6

The Corps and BPA, through the annual 

planning process, shall develop and implement 

1- and 5-year operations and maintenance 

(O&M) plans and budgets that enhance the 

The Corps developed 5-year O&M plans that describe routine and non-routine O&M 

projects planned at each of the dams. These plans were coordinated with the Fish Passage 

O&M Coordination Group.
2002 Progress Report for the Federal Columbia River Power System

23

Action 

#

Action Description Progress Summary

capability to operate and maintain fish facilities 

at FCRPS projects for listed salmonid stocks.

7

The Action Agencies, with assistance from 

NMFS and USFWS, shall annually develop 1-

and 5-year plans for habitat measures that 

provide offsite mitigation.

The Action Agencies developed 1- and 5-year implementation plans in coordination with 

NOAA and the USFWS that included habitat measures that provide offsite mitigation. 

8

The Action Agencies, with assistance from 

NMFS and USFWS, shall annually develop 1-

and 5-year plans for hatchery and harvest 

measures that provide offsite mitigation.

The Action Agencies included 1- and 5-Year work plans for hatchery and harvest 

measures in the 2003/2003-07 IP, the 2002 Annual IP, and the 2002-2006 5-Year IP.

9

The Action Agencies, with assistance from 

NMFS and USFWS, shall annually develop 1-

and 5- year plans for research, monitoring, and 

evaluation to further develop and to determine 

the effectiveness of the suite of actions in this 

RPA.

The Action Agencies included 1- and 5-Year work plans for research, monitoring, and 

evaluation in the 2003/2003-07 IP, the 2002 Annual IP, and the 2002-2006 5-Year IP.

10

The Action Agencies shall work with NMFS and 

others to promptly incorporate the results of 

recovery planning into annual Fish and Wildlife 

Program implementation funding, including 

support for incorporation of the results into the 

NWPPC’s Fish and Wildlife Program.

BPA initiated funding for project 2002-075-00 to support Technical Recovery Teams. No 

results were available in 2002 to incorporate into the Councils Fish & Wildlife Program.

11

By September 30, 2001, the Action Agencies 

shall develop procedures for carrying out actions 

that could not be anticipated in the planning 

process, but that are necessary or prudent to 

achieve the performance standards.

The Action Agencies, USFWS, and NOAA established an expedited process for 

considering the implementation of activities that are new or were unanticipated during 

development of annual implementation plans or which do not fit into established funding 

processes. The expedited process supplements the framework process established by the 

Corps and NOAA. 

12

The Action Agencies shall coordinate with 

NMFS and USFWS in the review of the 1- and 

5-year plans to facilitate timely review and 

approval as part of the annual decision process.

The Action Agencies continued to coordinate preparation and finalization of the 

implementation plans with NOAA, USFWS, and others.

13

The Action Agencies shall issue annual reports 

to NMFS and USFWS on progress toward 

achieving the performance standards set out in

this biological opinion, including comprehensive 

The Action Agencies released the 2001 Progress Report in May 2002 and the 2002 

Progress Report in May 2003.
2002 Progress Report for the Federal Columbia River Power System

24

Action 

#

Action Description Progress Summary

cumulative reviews in years 3, 5, and 8.

14

The Action Agencies shall operate FCRPS dams 

and reservoirs with the intent of meeting the 

flow objectives (Table 9.6-1) on both a seasonal 

and weekly average basis for the benefit of 

migrating juvenile salmon.

The Action Agencies operated the FCRPS projects to meet the flow objectives. Dworshak 

was refilled. 

Lower Granite: Based on an April final April-July runoff forecast of 19.2 MAF, the 

spring flow objective was 97 kcfs. Actual average outflows from 4/3 –6/20/2002 were 

83.4 kcfs. The summer flow objective was 50.9 kcfs based on a June final April-July runoff 

forecast of 18.1 MAF. From 6/21-8/31/02 the average outflow was 41 kcfs. 

McNary: Based on an April final April-August runoff forecast of 87.8 MAF, the spring 

flow objective was 246 kcfs. Actual average outflows from 4/10 –6/30/2002 were 269.3

kcfs. Summer flow objective was 200 kcfs. From 7/01 -8/31/02 the average outflow was 

189.1 kcfs.

Libby: refill was completed July 15, 2002. A Libby/Duncan swap was agreed to for 70 

kcfd. 

Priest Rapids: From 4/10-6/30/2003, the average outflow was 180.6 kcfs. 

15

The Action Agencies shall operate the FCRPS to 

provide flows to support chum salmon spawning 

in the Ives Island area below Bonneville Dam.

The Action Agencies operated the FCRPS projects to provide flows to support chum 

salmon spawning in the Ives Island area.

16

The Action Agencies shall operate the FCRPS to 

provide access for chum salmon spawning in 

Hamilton and Hardy creeks.

The Action Agencies operated the FCRPS projects to provide access for chum spawning 

in Hamilton and Hardy creeks. The annual Water Management Plan described the chum 

operation that is planned and seasonal updates based upon water volume forecasts and 

chum spawning needs were developed and operations implemented in conjunction with 

the Technical Management Team (TMT).

17

The Action Agencies shall coordinate with 

NMFS, USFWS, and the states and Tribes in 

preseason planning and in-season management 

of flow and spill operations. This coordination 

shall occur in the Technical Management Team 

process (see Section 9.4.2.2).

TMT coordination continued. Seasonal updates to the spill and flow elements of the 

Water Management Plan were coordinated with the TMT and based upon research 

objectives, the water volume forecast, and fish passage needs. 46 TMT meetings and/or 

conference calls occurred.

18

The Action Agencies shall operate the FCRPS 

during the fall and winter months in a manner 

that achieves refill to April 10 flood control 

elevations, while meeting project and system 

minimum flow and flood control constraints 

before April 10. During the spring, the Action 

Agencies shall operate the FCRPS to meet the 

April 10 flood control: Grand Coulee, Dworshak, and Libby were operated in 2002 to 

meet both the April 10 flood control constraint and refill by June 30. Hungry Horse was 

below the April 10 flood control due to minimum flow requirements, but refilled shortly 

after June 30, 2002.

The Albeni Falls flood control rule curve has an upper rule curve elevation of 2056 ft. and 

a lower elevation of 2052 ft. on April 10th. On April 10th the Hope gage reading was 

2052.8 ft.
2002 Progress Report for the Federal Columbia River Power System

25

Action 

#

Action Description Progress Summary

flow objectives and refill the storage reservoirs 

(Albeni Falls, Dworshak, Grand Coulee, Hungry 

Horse, and Libby) by approximately June 30.

2052.8 ft.

June 30 refill: Dworshak was refilled by June 30. Libby was refilled by July 15. Albeni 

Falls was refilled by June 30th. Hungry Horse refilled by July 13. Grand Coulee refilled by 

July 8.

19

The Action Agencies shall operate specific 

FCRPS projects as follows:

The Action Agencies operated the FCRPS projects as indicated in the RPA action. In 

coordination with TMT, in-season fish needs and runoff forecasts were used to make 

operational adjustments. 

20

The Corps shall operate the lower Snake River 

reservoirs within 1 foot of MOP from 

approximately April 3 until small numbers of 

juvenile migrants are present and shall operate 

the John Day pool within a 11⁄2-foot range of the 

minimum level that provides irrigation pumping 

from April 10 to September 30.

Ice Harbor and Little Goose were operated part of the year at MOP plus 1 due to 

navigation concerns. Lower Monumental was operated at MOP. Lower Granite 

exceeded MOP for a total 8 days because of load reductions, unit outage, and ISO bus 

work. John Day was operated per the RPA Action.

21

The Corps shall routinely identify opportunities 

to shift system flood control evacuation volumes 

from Brownlee and Dworshak reservoirs to Lake 

Roosevelt and identify such opportunities for the 

Technical Management Team. The Corps shall 

implement flood control shifts as necessary to 

best protect listed fish, as called for by NMFS in 

coordination with the Technical Management 

Team, taking into account water quality issues 

and the concerns of all interested parties.

A flood control shift of 115 kaf occurred between Dworshak and Grand Coulee. 

22

The Corps and BOR shall implement VARQ 

flood control operations, as defined by the 

Corps (1999d), at Libby by October 1, 2001, and 

at Hungry Horse by January 1, 2001. By 

February 1, 2001, the Corps shall develop a 

schedule to complete all disclosures, NEPA 

compliance, and Canadian coordination 

necessary to implement VARQ flood control at 

Libby.

Reclamation implemented VARQ on an interim basis at Hungry Horse in 2002. Due to 

minimum flow requirements, Hungry Horse was below VARQ flood control elevations 

until early May when inflows refilled the project to VARQ flood control. The Corps 

completed an Environmental Assessment in December 2002 to allow interim VARQ 

operation at Libby beginning in 2003.

23 BOR shall operate Banks Lake at an elevation 5 

feet from full during August by reducing the 

Banks Lake operated such that pumping was reduced by about 130 kaf in August, 

allowing the lake elevation to draft to 1565 feet.
2002 Progress Report for the Federal Columbia River Power System

26

Action 

#

Action Description Progress Summary

volume of water pumped from Lake Roosevelt 

into Banks Lake by about 130 kaf during this 

time.

24

BPA and the Corps shall continue to request and 

negotiate agreements to annually provide 1 Maf 

of Treaty storage from January through April 15, 

release the water during the migration season, 

and seek additional storage amounts.

BPA and the Corps negotiated an agreement with the Canadian Section of the Operating 

Committee for operation of Treaty storage to allow storage of up to 1 MAF of water 

above Treaty Storage Regulation (TSR) levels to support U.S. flow augmentation. Based 

on the early May TSR, after-the-fact accounting showed that flow augmentation storage 

was approximately 0.9 MAF. This water was all released by the end of July 2002.

25

BPA and the Corps shall continue to request, 

and negotiate with BC Hydro for storage of 

water in non-Treaty storage space during the 

spring for subsequent release in July and August 

for flow enhancement, as long as operations 

forecasts indicate that water stored in the spring 

can be released in July and August.

A letter agreement was negotiated between BPA and BC Hydro for spring storage of 

water under the non-Treaty Storage Agreement for release in July and August. Under 

terms of the agreement, BPA received release rights for all water stored in the spring 

storage period (1 May through 7 July 2002) and BC Hydro was required to release onehalf of their spring storage during the summer release period (8 July through 31 August 

2002). BPA and BC Hydro each stored 340 thousand second-foot days (ksfd) during the 

spring period. BPA released all 340 ksfd of spring storage during July and August while 

BC Hydro released their required 170 ksfd.

26

BPA and the Corps shall continue to evaluate, 

request, and negotiate with BC Hydro the 

shaping and release of water behind Canadian 

Treaty storage projects in addition to the nonTreaty storage water previously discussed during 

July and August.

The Columbia River Treaty Operating Committee (BPA, the Corps, and BC Hydro) 

prepared a preliminary report on feasibility on increasing discharges from Canadian 

storage in July and August. The Operating Committee submitted the report in March of 

2002 for the consideration of the Entities. 

The primary focus of the study was on capital improvement options that would enable 

significant increases in summer flows. BPA recently checked with Canada regarding their 

desire to implement the recommendations in the report. They indicated that there are 

currently no firm plans to install additional units at Mica or Revelstoke, but that additional 

units at both projects remain as viable options for their long-range needs It was agreed 

that both entities would like to leave the door open for consideration of these measures in 

the future. The Operating Committee will reconsider the feasibility of these measures 

periodically and will submit recommendations for consideration of the Entities when 

economic conditions are more favorable. 

The report also concluded that there are operational approaches that might provide slight 

increases in summer flows. These operations require additional evaluation of their 

environmental effects both in Canada and in the US as well as their economic effects. 

The Treaty Operating Committee will continue to evaluate operating alternatives that 

would increase Canadian storage discharges to increase summer flows, while providing a 
2002 Progress Report for the Federal Columbia River Power System

27

Action 

#

Action Description Progress Summary

better overall operation for Canadian non-power objectives. 

27

Before entering into any agreement to commit 

currently uncontracted water or storage space in 

any of its reservoirs covered by this biological 

opinion to any other use than salmon flow 

augmentation, BOR shall consult with NMFS 

under ESA Section 7(a)(2). Such consultations 

shall identify the amount of discretionary storage 

or water being sought, the current probability of 

such storage or water being available for salmon 

flow augmentation, and any plan to replace the 

storage volume currently available to salmon 

flow augmentation that would be lost as a result 

of the proposed commitment. Also, BOR shall 

consult with NMFS before entering into any new 

contract or contract amendment to increase the 

authorized acreage served by any irrigation 

district receiving BOR-supplied water. NMFS’ 

criterion in conducting such reviews is to ensure 

that there be zero net impact from any such 

BOR commitment on the ability to meet the 

seasonal flow objectives established in this 

biological opinion. Replacement supplies should 

have at least an equal probability of being 

available for salmon flow augmentation as the 

storage space or water that is being committed.

Reclamation had no change in uncontracted space during 2002, but will continue to 

consult with NOAA and USFWS on an as needed basis.

28

BOR shall pursue water conservation 

improvements at its projects and shall use all 

mechanisms available to it under state and 

Federal law to ensure that a reasonable portion 

of any water conserved will benefit listed species.

Numerous small projects were completed that have the potential to either improve 

instream flows, improve fish passage, increase minimum pools for bull trout, or increase 

water available for flow augmentation.

29

Within 2 years from the date this opinion is 

signed, BOR shall provide NMFS with a detailed 

progress report addressing possible instances 

where BOR-supplied water within the Columbia 

Work continued on the report of unauthorized use.
2002 Progress Report for the Federal Columbia River Power System

28

Action 

#

Action Description Progress Summary

River basin is being used without apparent BOR 

authorization to irrigate lands. In the report, 

BOR shall indicate how it shall proceed to 

identify and address instances of unauthorized 

use.

30

For those BOR projects located in the Columbia 

River and its tributaries downstream from Chief 

Joseph Dam (Table 9.6-2), BOR shall, as 

appropriate, work with NMFS in a timely 

manner to complete supplemental, projectspecific consultations. These supplemental 

consultations shall address effects on tributary 

habitat and tributary water quality, as well as 

direct effects on salmon survival (e.g., 

impingement, entrainment in diversions, false 

attraction to return flows, and others). These 

supplemental consultations shall address effects 

on mainstem flows only to the extent to which 

they reveal additional effects on the in-stream 

flow regime not considered in this biological 

opinion (e.g., flood control).

Reclamation and NOAA have agreed to the following consultation schedules:

Okanogan

Feasibility study – BPA-funded EIS in progress, schedule uncertain

Yakima

BA to NOAA/FWS – August 2000

Umatilla

BA to NOAA/FWS – August 2001

Draft BiOp – April 2002

Ongoing consultation during 2002 on a Supplemental BA 

Crescent Lake is a non-Reclamation Project

Crooked River, Deschutes, Wapinitia

Ongoing consultation during 2002

The Dalles

Completed in 1992

Tualatin

Received NOAA species listing – Jan 2001 (no FCRPS-impacted species present)

Ongoing consultation during 2002

31

BOR shall assess the likely environmental effects 

of operating Banks Lake up to 10 feet down 

from full pool during August. The assessment 

and NEPA compliance work shall be completed 

by June 2002 to determine future operations at 

this project by the summer of 2002.

Work continued on the Banks Lake EIS during 2002

32

The Action Agencies shall acquire water for 

instream use from BOR’s Upper Snake River 

basin projects and Idaho Power Company’s 

Hells Canyon Complex during the spring and 

summer flow augmentation periods to improve 

the likelihood of achieving spring and summer 

flow objectives at Lower Granite Dam.

Reclamation provided up to 286.5 kaf for flow augmentation in 2002.
2002 Progress Report for the Federal Columbia River Power System

29

Action 

#

Action Description Progress Summary

33

The Corps, in coordination with USFWS, shall 

design and implement appropriate repairs and 

modifications to provide water supply 

temperatures for the Dworshak National Fish 

Hatchery that are conducive to fish health and 

growth, while allowing variable discharges of 

cold water from Dworshak Reservoir to mitigate 

adverse temperature effects on salmon 

downstream in the lower Snake River.

Hatchery modifications were designed in FY01 and 02 with contracts awarded in FY02. 

Construction work (boiler replacement, waterline extension, and reuse system 1) was 

completed in December 2002.

34

The Action Agencies shall evaluate potential 

benefits to adult Snake River steelhead and fall 

chinook salmon passage by drafting Dworshak 

Reservoir to elevation 1,500 feet in September. 

An evaluation of the temperature effects and 

adult migration behavior should accompany a 

draft of Dworshak Reservoir substantially below 

elevation 1,520 feet.

The field evaluations continued using temperature and depth-sensitive radio tags to 

evaluate adult salmon use of cooler waters during their migration upstream of Lower 

Granite. The Corps also continued temperature monitoring in Lower Granite Reservoir 

and the Clearwater River and developed the Computational Fluid Dynamics model of the 

lower Snake and Clearwater rivers. 

35

The Corps shall develop and conduct a detailed 

feasibility analysis of modifying current system 

flood control operations to benefit the Columbia 

River ecosystem, including salmon. The Corps 

shall consult with all interested state, Federal, 

Tribal, and Canadian agencies in developing its 

analysis. Within 6 months after receiving 

funding, the Corps shall provide a feasibility 

analysis study plan for review to NMFS and all 

interested agencies, including a peer-review panel 

(at least three independent reviewers, acceptable 

to NMFS, with expertise in water management, 

flood control, or Columbia River basin 

anadromous salmonids). A final study plan shall 

be provided to NMFS and all interested agencies 

4 months after submitting the draft plan for 

review. The Corps shall provide a draft 

feasibility analysis to all interested agencies, 

Congressional funds were sought for a reconnaissance level study. 
2002 Progress Report for the Federal Columbia River Power System

30

Action 

#

Action Description Progress Summary

NMFS, and the peer-review panel by September 

2005.

36

By October 1, 2002, the Corps shall develop 

and, if feasible, implement a revised storage 

reservation diagram for Libby Reservoir that 

replaces the existing fall draft to a fixed end-ofDecember elevation. One option is to evaluate 

variable drafts based on the El Niño Southern 

Oscillation Index (SOI) predictions or other 

forecast methodologies of runoff volume. To 

implement this change, the Corps shall complete

successful coordination with Canada under the 

Columbia River Treaty.

Coordination for Libby occurred at TMT meetings. Revised forecast procedure to evaluate 

El Nino Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) predictions or other forecast methodologies of 

runoff volume. .

37

BOR shall investigate the attraction of listed 

salmon and steelhead into wasteways and natural 

streams receiving waste water from the 

Columbia Basin Project. If listed fish are found 

to be attracted into these channels, BOR shall 

work with NMFS to identify and implement 

structural or operational measures to avoid or 

minimize such use, as warranted.

Investigations continued in 2002 on wasteways and natural streams receiving water from 

the Columbia Basin Project. 

38

By March 1, 2002, BOR shall install screens 

meeting NMFS’ screen criteria at the canal 

intakes to the Burbank No. 2 and Burbank No. 3 

pump plants. BOR shall connect the Burbank 

No. 3 intake canal to Burbank Slough to provide 

juvenile fish egress. BOR shall coordinate with 

NMFS on each of the actions identified above.

This was completed and operational in 2002. 

39

BOR shall evaluate the water quality 

characteristics of each point of surface return 

flows from the Columbia Basin Project to the 

Columbia River and estimate the effects these 

return flows may have on listed fish in the 

Columbia River and in the wasteways accessible 

to listed fish. By June 1, 2001, BOR shall 

Reclamation continued to monitor return flows through 2002. Results were not available 

at the time of this report. 
2002 Progress Report for the Federal Columbia River Power System

31

Action 

#

Action Description Progress Summary

provide NMFS with a detailed water quality 

monitoring plan, including a list of water quality 

parameters to be evaluated. If the water quality 

sampling reveals enough water quality 

degradation to adversely affect listed fish, BOR 

shall develop and initiate implementation of a 

wasteway water quality remediation plan within 

12 months of the completion of the monitoring 

program.

40

The Corps shall continue to transport all nonresearch juvenile salmonids collected at the 

Snake River collector projects. The Corps and 

BPA shall continue to implement voluntary spill 

at all three Snake River collector projects when 

seasonal average flows are projected to meet or 

exceed 85 kcfs.

The transport program was implemented according to the operating criteria. Barging of 

fish collected during the summer was extended through August 16 for Snake River 

projects and August 17 at McNary Dam. The voluntary spill program was implemented at 

Lower Granite and Little Goose. No spill occurred at Lower Monumental due to work in 

the tailrace. 

41

The Corps and BPA shall continue (pending 

results of the McNary Transport Evaluation) to 

bypass juvenile spring migrants collected at 

McNary Dam and shall provide the spring spill 

levels described for that project.

The Corps bypassed spring migrants at McNary Dam. Spill was provided at BiOp levels. 

42

The Corps and BPA shall operate the collector 

projects to maximize collection and 

transportation during the summer migration (i.e., 

no voluntary spill except as NMFS deems 

necessary for approved research).

The Corps operated the collector projects to maximize collection and transportation 

during the summer migration. 

43

The Corps shall not initiate collection of 

subyearling fall chinook for transportation at 

McNary Dam until inriver migratory conditions 

are deteriorating (i.e., no longer spring-like).

Collection began at McNary on July 11, 2002. Barging was extended through August 17, 

2002 at McNary.

44

The Corps shall extend the period of barge 

transportation from the lower Snake River dams 

and McNary to further reduce reliance on 

trucking.

In FY02 the Corps extended barge transport from Snake River projects through August 

16 and at McNary Dam through August 17. 

45 By the end of 2001, the Corps shall develop, in 

coordination with NMFS and the other Federal, 

A research plan was developed and research was started in 2002 to evaluate transport at 

McNary. This work will continue through 2005 with adult return through 2008. The final 
2002 Progress Report for the Federal Columbia River Power System

32

Action 

#

Action Description Progress Summary

coordination with NMFS and the other Federal, 

state, and Tribal salmon managers, a McNary 

Dam transportation evaluation study plan 

specifically focusing on the response of UCR 

spring chinook and steelhead to transportation. 

Approved research should begin by 2002, if 

feasible.

McNary. This work will continue through 2005 with adult return through 2008. The final 

report will be available in 2009.

46

The Corps and BPA, in coordination with 

NMFS through the annual planning process, 

shall evaluate transport to inriver return ratios 

for wild SR yearling chinook salmon and 

steelhead. In addition, the Corps and BPA shall 

also evaluate the effects of transportation on 

summer-migrating subyearling SR chinook 

salmon. 

The transportation evaluation from Lower Granite continued. The baseline study to 

compare in river survival to transportation from Lower Granite will be complete in 2003. 

Adults will be monitored through 2006 and a final report will be available in 2007. 

47

During all transport evaluations, the Corps and 

BPA, in coordination with NMFS through the 

annual planning process, shall include an 

evaluation of delayed mortality (D) of 

transported versus inriver migrating juvenile 

anadromous salmonids. 

Baseline estimates for delayed mortality (D) were incorporated into the study design for 

the Lower Granite and McNary transport evaluations by maintaining an inriver release 

group. The D estimates will be provided in the annual status reports and in the final 

reports (Lower Granite in 2007 and McNary in 2009). 

48

The Corps and BPA shall evaluate the effects of 

prior transport as smolts on the homing of 

adults.

Adult telemetry fieldwork and data analysis continued in 2002. 

49

The Corps shall evaluate strategies to enhance 

post-release survival of transported fish; 

examples of such strategies include timing 

releases so that fish arrival at the estuary 

corresponds to minimal interactions with 

predators and maximum availability of forage

and locating releases so as to decrease passage 

time through areas of high predation.

The Corps began late season evaluations of transported fish in 2002.

50

BPA and the Corps shall install necessary adult 

PIT-tag detectors at appropriate FCRPS projects 

before the expected return of adult salmon from 

Adult Pit-tag detectors were installed at Bonneville and McNary in 2002 and are scheduled 

for installation at Ice Harbor and Lower Granite in 2003. 
2002 Progress Report for the Federal Columbia River Power System

33

Action 

#

Action Description Progress Summary

the 2001 juvenile outmigration.

51

If results of Snake River studies indicate that 

survival of juvenile salmon and steelhead 

collected and transported during any segment of 

the juvenile migration (i.e., before May 1) is no 

better than the survival of juvenile salmon that 

migrate inriver, the Corps and BPA, in 

coordination with NMFS through the annual 

planning process, shall identify and implement 

appropriate measures to optimize inriver passage 

at the collector dams during those periods.

Analysis of the data collected to date comparing the smolt to adult returns (SARs) of 

Snake River spring/summer chinook which were transported versus those which migrated 

in-river and were not detected at any downstream transportation project suggests little 

benefit from transportation early in the season (April). Data for steelhead is more limited, 

but suggests a benefit from April transport. The conclusion drawn from the data to date 

is there is a benefit to providing good in-river conditions during this migration period.

Transportation studies were conducted during 2002 to provide information on this issue.

A more thorough analysis of the data is necessary before drawing any further 

conclusions.".

52 The Corps shall identify and implement 

improvements to the transportation program.

The Corps implemented facility improvements and operational changes for the transport 

program as identified and coordinated through FPOM and the Fish Passage Plan. 

53

The Corps shall evaluate and implement 

structural and operational alternatives to 

improve juvenile transportation at the collector

dams.

Specific improvements to the fish facilities for research included the juvenile fish PIT tag 

detector/deflector sort by code systems at Lower Granite (2001), Little Goose (2002), and 

McNary (2002 – 2003). Modification of the Lower Monumental juvenile fish facility to 

improve raceway releases and barge loading flumes began in 2002 and was completed in 

2003. New fish release pipes were installed at McNary in 2002. The Corps will continue 

to implement other facility improvements and operational changes for the transport 

program as they are identified and coordinated through FPOM and the Fish Passage Plan.

54

The Corps and BPA shall implement an annual 

spill program, consistent with the spill volumes 

and TDG limits identified in Table 9.6-3, at all 

mainstem Snake and Columbia River FCRPS 

projects as part of the annual planning effort to 

achieve the juvenile salmon and steelhead 

performance standards. 

The Corps and BPA implemented an annual spill program coordinated through the TMT. 

Details were provided in the 2002 Water Management Plan.

55

To improve the future flexibility of the 

transmission system, BPA’s Transmission 

Business Line shall initiate planning and design 

necessary to construct a Schultz-Hanford 500-

kV line or an equivalent project, with a planned 

schedule for implementation by 2004 or 2005.

BPA continued to work on the EIS for the Schultz-Wautoma 500-kV line in 2002.

56 BPA’s Transmission Business Line shall 

continue efforts to evaluate, plan, design, and 

BPA completed a Final EIS for a new Grand Coulee – Bell 500-kV transmission line in 

2002 and in January 2003 issued a Record of Decision to proceed with construction of the 
2002 Progress Report for the Federal Columbia River Power System

34

Action 

#

Action Description Progress Summary

construct a joint transmission project to upgrade 

the west-of-Hatwai cutplane and improve the 

transfer limitations from Montana.

project. Construction of the line will begin this February with completion expected in 

November 2004. Thus, BPA has taken actions that will enable RPA Action 56 to be 

implemented by 2004 as requested in the BiOp and provide additional flexibility for fish 

operations.

57

BPA’s Transmission Business Line shall 

continue to evaluate strategically located 

generation additions and other transmission 

system improvements and report progress to 

NMFS annually. BPA’s Transmission Business 

Line shall also limit future reservations for 

transmission capacity, as needed, to enable 

additional spill to meet performance standards, 

while minimizing effects on transmission rights 

holders.

BPA’s Transmission Business Line evaluated the integration of new generating facilities, 

including Hungry Horse Transmission Stability Study -and the Libby Transmission 

Stability Study. Several new transmission line additions were proposed to integrate the 

output from a number of proposed combustion turbines. New 500-kV transmission lines 

from Lower Monumental to McNary and from McNary to John Day have been evaluated 

in EIS’s. Their scheduled completion was delayed when the generation projects were 

placed on hold. 

58

The Corps and BPA, in coordination with the 

Fish Passage Operations and Maintenance 

Coordination Team (FPOM), shall operate all 

turbine units at FCRPS dams for optimum fish 

passage survival. Methods to achieve this 

objective shall include, but are not limited to, 

activities outlined in the following paragraphs. 

(See RPA)

Units were operated at the 1% efficiency except at Lower Granite, Little Goose, and 

Lower Monumental, which were authorized to operate outside of 1% peak efficiency from 

10/01/02 until 10/23/02 due to low flows if needed. McNary was operated outside of 

1% peak efficiency for part of the time during the turbine survival test 4/03– 4/22/2002 

and 5/6 – 6/14/2002. An annual report was provided to NOAA-Fisheries.

59

The Action Agencies, in coordination with the 

Regional Forum, shall determine the appropriate 

operating range of turbines equipped with 

minimum gap runners (MGRs) to increase 

survival of juvenile migrants passing through 

these new turbine designs.

Conducted McNary turbine survival test. Draft phase 1 report underway and scheduled 

for completion early FY 2003. Hydraulic modeling work is planned for 2003. Schedules 

for additional efforts, including field tests, will be determined through development of the 

Turbine Survival Program Phase II study plan in 2003 and implemented according to 

future funding priorities for the program

60

The Corps and BPA shall evaluate adult fallback 

and juvenile fish passage under daytime spill to 

the gas cap at Bonneville Dam in 2002 and 2003, 

after deflector optimization improvements allow 

for increased spill above current levels. Research 

results will be considered, in consultation with 

NMFS through the annual planning process, to 

Conducted adult fallback telemetry evaluations and will continue through 2003. This data 

will be used to assess operational and configuration alternatives (See also RPA action 113). 
2002 Progress Report for the Federal Columbia River Power System

35

Action 

#

Action Description Progress Summary

determine implementation of additional changes 

in spill to further improve fish survival.

61

The Corps shall complete the ongoing prototype 

powerhouse system surface collection 

evaluations at Bonneville First Powerhouse in 

2000. The Corps shall compare the prototype 

with screened bypass systems and, if warranted, 

design and construct permanent facilities after 

full consideration and resolution of biological 

and engineering uncertainties, especially highflow outfall investigations.

The prototype tests were completed. Test program to evaluate potential alternatives was 

developed. The configuration decision process will continue with these additional tests. 

(See also RPA action 97) 

62

The Corps shall complete Bonneville First 

Powerhouse prototype evaluations of extended 

submerged intake and gatewell vertical barrier 

screens, including an assessment of fry passage.

Completed designs for new porosity plate for additional testing. 

63

The Corps shall complete the design of debris 

removal facilities for the Bonneville First 

Powerhouse forebay.

Debris removal (log boom) was designed in conjunction with the JBS outfall relocation 

improvements. 

64

The Corps shall continue the investigation of 

minimum gap runners at the Bonneville First 

Powerhouse.

The Corps conducted second-year evaluation of MGRs at Bonneville first powerhouse.

65

The Corps shall complete Bonneville Second 

Powerhouse post-construction evaluation of the 

new juvenile fish bypass outfall and address 

design and operational refinements as warranted.

Completed 2002 post-construction biological evaluations. 

66

The Corps shall continue design development 

and construction of a Bonneville Second 

Powerhouse permanent corner collector at the 

existing sluice chute, pending results of highflow outfall investigations. The Corps shall 

construct new facilities if, and as soon as, 

evaluations confirm the optimum design 

configuration and survival benefits.

Began corner collector construction. 

67 The Corps shall continue Bonneville Second 

Powerhouse investigations of measures to 

Completed prototype testing. Based on identified problems with VBS, redesign and 

retesting is needed. Implementation decision will be made following tests.
2002 Progress Report for the Federal Columbia River Power System

36

Action 

#

Action Description Progress Summary

improve intake screen fish guidance efficiency 

and safe passage through the gatewell 

environment. This work shall include an 

assessment of fry passage.

68

The Corps and BPA shall continue spill and 

passage survival studies at The Dalles Dam in 

2001. Research results shall be considered, in 

consultation with NMFS through the annual 

planning process, to assess the need for 

additional changes in spill to further improve 

fish survival by 2002, if possible, but no later 

than 2005.

Continued field studies, alternative analysis, and initiated plans and specifications for spill 

walls. Also see RPA actions 134 and 135.

69

The Corps shall continue design development 

and 2001 prototype testing of upper turbine 

intake occlusion devices at The Dalles, with a 

goal of increased non-turbine passage rates 

through either the sluiceway or the spillway. The 

Corps shall install occlusion devices across the 

entire powerhouse, as warranted.

Prototype test conducted and design report completed. Preliminary analysis indicated that 

prototype blocks did not reduce turbine entrainment significantly. 

70

The Corps shall continue biological and 

engineering investigations and design of a 

composite ice and trash sluiceway outfall 

relocation and adult ladder auxiliary water system 

at The Dalles Dam and shall construct such 

devices as warranted.

Deferred alternative site analyses due to funding priorities and to await results of spillway 

improvement study. (See RPA action 69) 

71

The Corps and BPA shall continue investigation 

of 24-hour spill at John Day Dam in 2001. 

Research results will be considered, in 

consultation with NMFS through the annual 

planning process, to determine implementation 

of daytime spill to further improve juvenile fish 

survival as needed for its contribution to the 

performance standard.

Studies will continue in 2003 to be completed in 2004. Spillway operations will be 

established in conjunction with configuration decisions for John Day project. (See RPA 

action 98) 

72 The Corps shall continue design development of

a prototype RSW and extended deflector for 

The NOAA Findings Letter (July 2002) acknowledges that the prototype RSW test at John 

Day will be delayed from 2002 pending results of tests at Lower Granite and Ice Harbor. 
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Action Description Progress Summary

testing at John Day in 2002. The Corps should 

synthesize evaluation results, determine the fish 

survival benefits of one or more RSWs or a 

skeleton bay surface bypass, and install the units 

as warranted.

A schedule for future development, if warranted, will be established when additional 

information becomes available.

73

The Corps shall continue John Day prototype 

development and investigations of extended 

submerged intake screens, gatewell vertical 

barrier screens, and, if necessary, orifices to 

optimize guidance and safe passage through the 

system, including a gatewell debris cleaning plan. 

This work shall include an assessment of fry 

passage. The Corps shall design and construct 

new screen systems for safe passage of juvenile 

salmonids, as warranted. Juvenile bypass outfall 

survival investigations shall also be conducted.

Completed summer tests and did not observe gatewell mortality. However, encountered 

structural problem with VBS that will need repaired prior to additional testing. (See RPA 

action 98)

74

The Corps shall continue evaluations to assess 

the need for improvements of the existing intake 

screens, gatewell vertical barrier screen cleaning 

system, and bypass facilities (including debris 

containment and removal systems, separation, 

sampling, loading, and outfall facilities) at 

McNary to determine where improvements are 

necessary to reduce problems experienced during 

the 1996 flood, increase fish survival, and resolve 

holding and loading facility problems, including 

raceway jumping by juvenile salmon and 

steelhead and debris plugging of bypass lines. 

Additionally, the Corps shall evaluate whether 

the existing juvenile bypass system outfall should 

be relocated.

Second year of debris and biological tests on cylindrical dewatering screen were 

conducted. Decision on future use pending. 

75

The Corps shall investigate a surface bypass 

RSW at McNary Dam, based on prototype 

results at other locations, and shall install the 

unit in multiple spillway bays, as warranted.

The Corps will complete a draft decision analysis for the Lower Snake River Projects and 

McNary in the spring 2003. This analysis will identify project priorities for application of 

RSW technology. The analysis will also include other juvenile bypass features.
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Action Description Progress Summary

76

The Corps shall investigate, design, and 

construct, as warranted, a new juvenile bypass 

outfall at Lower Monumental Dam. 

Investigations shall be conducted in conjunction 

with spillway deflector and spill pattern 

optimization studies.

The Corps plans to use a decision analysis for McNary and Lower Snake projects similar to 

that used for Bonneville 1 Powerhouse that would include the RPA actions related to 

Lower Monumental (76, 77, 78, and 99). ESBS design and testing has not started due to 

other high priority work and recent discussions regarding poor performance related to the 

juvenile facility support. The Corps is delaying any significant improvements to the 

powerhouse collection system until spill survival results are available. The spill studies are 

scheduled to start in 2003 pending funding and regional prioritization. The studies will 

include consideration of spill survival, RSW benefits, transport vs in-river, etc. and call for 

a decision analysis to be completed by 2005. Corps and NOAA technical staff will work 

with the region to develop a comprehensive plan. Work in FY03 will also include hydraulic 

model studies to evaluate alternative outfall locations for analysis in the decision document.

77

The Corps shall investigate surface bypass (e.g., 

RSW) at Lower Monumental Dam, based on 

prototype results at other locations, and install in 

multiple spillway bays, as warranted.

Same as 76

78

The Corps shall initiate design development and 

testing of extended submerged intake screens 

and vertical barrier screens at Lower 

Monumental Dam and construct units as 

warranted.

Same as 76

79

The Corps shall conduct a post-construction 

evaluation of the new debris containment boom 

at Little Goose to monitor populations and 

behavior of aquatic predators when debris 

accumulates at the log boom.

The post-construction predator monitoring evaluation was completed.

80

The Corps shall continue the design 

development, fabrication/deployment, and 

testing of a prototype RSW at Lower Granite, in 

conjunction with the existing prototype 

powerhouse occlusion devices, including the 

forebay behavioral guidance structure (BGS) and 

upper turbine intake occlusion devices. As 

warranted by prototype test results, the Corps 

shall install one or more permanent RSWs and 

occlusion devices at appropriate lower Snake 

Conducted 1st year biological test of the RSW in 2002. RSW performance exceeded 

expectations. A second year of testing is scheduled for spring 2003. The existing SBC 

and BGS will be removed to provide stand-alone test conditions. See RPA action 75 for 

discussion of installing RSWs at other projects.
2002 Progress Report for the Federal Columbia River Power System

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Action 

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Action Description Progress Summary

hydro projects, in coordination with the annual 

planning process.

81

The Corps shall complete design for new 

juvenile bypass facilities at Lower Granite Dam, 

including enlarged orifices and bypass gallery, 

open-channel flow bypass, improved separator 

for juvenile separation by size, and improved fish 

distribution flumes and barge-loading facilities 

and shall proceed to construction, as warranted.

The Corps will resume design in 2004. It will take two construction work windows and

completion of new facility will be in 2007. 

82

The Action Agencies, in coordination with 

NMFS through the annual planning process, 

shall investigate the spillway passage survival of 

juvenile salmonids at appropriate FCRPS dams. 

These investigations shall assess the effect of 

spill patterns and per-bay spill volumes on fish 

survival, across a range of flow conditions. The 

Action Agencies shall develop a phased 

approach (including costs and schedules) and set 

priorities, in consultation with NMFS in the

annual planning process, to continue spillway 

passage survival studies in 2001 and future years.

Bonneville: Completed 2001 Research Report and conducted 2002 passage and survival 

studies. 

The Dalles: Continued spill and project survival studies. 

John Day: Completed 12 vs 24 spill evaluations. (See also RPA action 98)

McNary Dam: Started spill survival studies. 

83

The Action Agencies, in coordination with 

NMFS through the annual planning process, 

shall evaluate the effect of spill duration and 

volume on spillway effectiveness (percent of 

total project passage via spill), spill efficiency 

(fish per unit flow), forebay residence time, and 

total project and system survival of juvenile 

steelhead and salmon passing FCRPS dams. 

Studies shall include both collector and noncollector projects. Adult passage considerations 

and potential adult fallback shall also be 

considered in study designs. Little Goose and 

Lower Granite dams shall be specifically 

considered for daytime spill studies. An overall 

See RPA action 82 
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Action Description Progress Summary

phased study approach for spill evaluations will 

be determined in the 1- and 5-year 

implementation plans.

84

The Corps shall continue high-flow outfall 

investigations to determine whether it is 

appropriate to modify bypass outfall criteria in 

the context of high-discharge bypass discharges.

Evaluations were completed and the results were incorporated into the outfall design for 

the B2 corner collector. Post-construction testing of the corner collector is scheduled for 

2004 and 2005 at which time outfall performance will be monitored. 

85

The Corps shall continue to develop and 

evaluate improved fish-tracking technologies and 

computational fluid dynamics (numerical 

modeling). The ability to integrate these 

technologies and fluid dynamics shall be assessed 

as a potentially improved means of determining 

fish responses to forebay hydraulic conditions.

Continued development of improved tracking technologies and CFD modeling, funded 

and employed as an ongoing component of several surface bypass/project configuration 

evaluations underway at various dams and estuary studies. Implementation of this RPA is 

not envisioned to be a stand-alone activity, and has not been prioritized or funded as such 

in SCT.

86

The Corps shall continue to investigate a way to 

increase entry rates of fish approaching surface 

bypass/collector entrances.

This is an ongoing effort to test fish entry with various entrance geometry and flow 

conditions at projects where surface bypass is being tested (see specific RPA actions at 

various projects). 

87

The Corps and BPA shall assess less-intrusive, 

PIT-tag interrogation methods at FCRPS 

juvenile bypass systems with interrogation sites, 

including McNary, John Day, and Bonneville 

dams. The Corps and BPA shall also assess 

providing a similar detection capability for the 

Ice Harbor juvenile bypass system.

Installation completed at McNary Dam in 2002. Other projects to follow in future years. 

88

The Corps and BPA, in coordination with the 

Fish Facility Design Review Work Group and 

the Fish Passage Improvement Through 

Turbines Technical Work Group, shall continue 

the program to improve turbine survival of 

juvenile and adult salmonids. 

Conducted McNary test and draft Phase 1 report underway for completion in 2003. (See 

RPA action 89)

89

The Action Agencies shall investigate hydraulic 

and behavioral aspects of turbine passage by 

juvenile steelhead and salmon through turbines 

to develop biologically based turbine design and 

operating criteria. The Corps shall submit a 

report to NMFS stating the findings of the first 

A study was conducted at McNary in 2002 to evaluate different operating points. The 

Phase 1 report was delayed and will be completed in 2003 with a plan of study for Phase 

II. 
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Action Description Progress Summary

report to NMFS stating the findings of the first 

phase of the Turbine Passage Survival Program 

by October 2001. Annual progress reports will 

be provided after this date.

90

The Action Agencies shall examine the effects of 

draft tubes and powerhouse tailraces on the 

survival of fish passing through turbines. 

Initiated evaluation of draft tubes at McNary as part of the turbine survival program. 

Additional evaluation needs will be identified in the turbine survival program Phase II.

Radio telemetry study to partition tailrace (roller) impacts from turbine mortality also 

started in 2002. Future work will depend on regional discussions. 

91

The Action Agencies shall remove all 

unnecessary obstructions in the higher velocity 

areas of the intake-to-draft tube sections of the 

turbine units. 

All Corps NWW Columbia River turbine-to-draft tube sections are being inspected during 

scheduled turbine dewaterings. All obstructions are being identified with any unnecessary 

items being removed during each turbine units’ dewaterings. A status report is being 

produced and will be submitted to FPOM in 2003.

92

The Action Agencies shall consider all state-ofthe-art turbine design technology to decrease 

fish injury and mortality before the 

implementation of any future turbine 

rehabilitation program (including any major 

repair programs, the ongoing rehabilitation 

program at The Dalles Dam, and any future 

program at Ice Harbor Dam). The Action 

Agencies shall coordinate within the annual 

planning process before making decisions that 

would preclude the use of fish-friendly 

technologies and to minimize any adverse effects 

of project downtime. 

No activity for this action.

93

The Action Agencies shall determine the number 

of adults passed through turbines, then, if 

warranted, investigate the survival of adult 

salmonid passage through turbines (including 

steelhead kelts). 

Began evaluation of adult passage through turbines as part of the adult studies program 

for completion in 2004. Future work will depend on regional discussion.

94

The Corps shall continue to evaluate the need 

for improvements of the existing intake screens, 

gatewell vertical barrier screens’ cleaning system, 

and bypass facilities (including debris 

containment and removal systems, separation, 

No activity for this action.
2002 Progress Report for the Federal Columbia River Power System

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Action 

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Action Description Progress Summary

sampling, loading, and outfall facilities) at the 

four lower Snake River hydropower projects.

95

The Corps shall complete investigations of 

improved wet separator designs in 2002. The 

Corps shall design and construct a new wet 

separator at McNary, Lower Monumental, and 

Little Goose dams, as warranted.

Completed the final report with conceptual designs to be complete in 2003. However, 

based on regional review of the separator study findings, additional work has been 

recommended to evaluate impacts of fish densities on separation efficiency before 

considering installation at Lower Granite. The new study will be conducted in 2003 with 

a final report due in 2004. 

96

The Corps shall complete the extended 

submerged intake screen systemwide letter 

report and implement recommended 

improvements. 

Completed the report and identified improvements to be completed at various projects by 

2003.

97

By January 2002, the Action Agencies shall 

develop an analysis that compares the relative 

passage survival benefits of an extended-length, 

intake screen bypass system, a surface-collection 

bypass system, and hybrid alternatives at 

Bonneville First Powerhouse. Through the 

annual planning process, the Corps shall 

determine which of these configurations to 

implement.

The NOAA Findings Letter (July 2002) acknowledged that the comparative analysis should 

be delayed. The delay is consistent with the SCT's determination that additional 

information is needed before a prudent final decision can be made regarding juvenile 

passage alternatives for the first Powerhouse. The analysis will be indefinitely delayed 

depending on corner collector information needs and ISRP review. 

The overall decision document for Bonneville project was completed in 2002 establishing 

B2 priority for operations among other recommendations. With B2 priority and 

recognition that additional information is needed before a B1 configuration can be 

determined, the decision will be deferred until at least 2005.

98

By January 2003, the Action Agencies shall 

develop an analysis that compares the relative 

passage survival benefits of replacing existing 

standard-length intake screens with extendedlength screens at the John Day Dam powerhouse 

to surface collection at one or more skeleton or 

spillway bays. Through the annual planning 

process, the Action Agencies shall then 

determine the need for, and the implementation 

priority of, these configuration alternatives. 

Completed summer tests. Configuration decisions at John Day were indefinitely delayed 

pending a decision to test RSW at this project and funding priorities.

99

By January, 2003, the Action Agencies shall 

develop an analysis that compares the relative 

passage survival benefits of replacing existing 

standard-length intake screens with extendedlength screens at the Lower Monumental Dam 

See RPA action 76
2002 Progress Report for the Federal Columbia River Power System

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Action Description Progress Summary

powerhouse turbines to a removable RSW 

surface bypass system.

100

The Action Agencies shall continue to 

implement and study methods to reduce the loss 

of juvenile salmonids to predacious fishes in the 

lower Columbia and lower Snake rivers. This 

effort will include continuation and 

improvement of the ongoing Northern 

Pikeminnow Management Program and 

evaluation of methods to control predation by 

non-indigenous predacious fishes, including 

smallmouth bass, walleye, and channel catfish.

BPA continued to annually monitor catch and harvest rates of Northern Pikeminnow. In 

2002, approximately 200,000 (199,380) northern pikeminnow were removed, which 

equates to approximately 12.3% exploitation rate. Multi-year system-wide exploitation 

rate was approximately 12.2%, for an average annual reduction in predation of ~25%.

101

The Corps, in coordination with the NMFS 

Regional Forum process, shall implement and 

maintain effective means of discouraging avian 

predation (e.g., water spray, avian predator lines) 

at all forebay, tailrace, and bypass outfall 

locations where avian predator activity has been 

observed at FCRPS dams. These controls shall 

remain in effect from April through August, 

unless otherwise coordinated through the 

Regional Forum process. This effort shall also 

include removal of the old net frames attached 

to the two submerged outfall bypasses at 

Bonneville Dam. The Corps shall work with 

NMFS, FPOM, USDA Wildlife Services, and 

USFWS on recommendations for any additional 

measures and implementation schedules and 

report progress in the annual facility operating 

reports to NMFS. Following consultation with 

NMFS, corrective measures shall be 

implemented as soon as possible.

Avian deterrent actions were implemented as coordinated with FPOM. Draft 

Environmental Assessment prepared by USDA Wildlife Services. 

102

The Action Agencies, in coordination with the 

Caspian Tern Working Group, shall continue to 

conduct studies (including migrational behavior) 

to evaluate avian predation of juvenile salmonids 

Avian predation monitoring continued under the estuary monitoring program. Started 

monitoring at Crescent Island (McNary) and will continue through the project survival 

studies.
2002 Progress Report for the Federal Columbia River Power System

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Action Description Progress Summary

to evaluate avian predation of juvenile salmonids 

in the FCRPS reservoirs above Bonneville Dam. 

If warranted and after consultation with NMFS 

and USFWS, the Action Agencies shall develop 

and implement methods of control that may 

include reducing the populations of these 

predators.

The project titled "Avian Predation on Juvenile Salmonids" will (1) identify those 

piscivorous water bird populations (i.e., terns, cormorants, and gulls) that pose the greatest 

risk to smolt survival, (2) test the feasibility of different management initiatives to reduce 

avian predation on smolts, (3) monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of those initiatives 

once fully implemented, and (4) recommend changes to existing management plans to 

maximize benefits to juvenile salmonids, while maintaining or enhancing the status of 

managed bird populations.

103

The Action Agencies shall quantify the extent of 

predation by white pelicans on juvenile salmon 

in the McNary pool and tailrace. A study plan 

shall be submitted to NMFS by September 30, 

2001, detailing the study objectives, methods, 

and schedule. Based on study findings, and in 

consultation with USFWS and NMFS, the 

Action Agencies shall develop recommendations 

and, if appropriate, an implementation plan.

Evaluation started in 2002 and will continue in 2003. A final report will be available in 

2004.

The project titled "Avian Predation on Juvenile Salmonids" will (1) identify those

piscivorous water bird populations (i.e., terns, cormorants, and gulls) that pose the greatest 

risk to smolt survival, (2) test the feasibility of different management initiatives to reduce 

avian predation on smolts, (3) monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of those initiatives 

once fully implemented, and (4) recommend changes to existing management plans to 

maximize benefits to juvenile salmonids, while maintaining or enhancing the status of 

managed bird populations.

104

The Action Agencies shall recover PIT-tag 

information from predacious bird colonies and 

evaluate trends, including hatchery-to-hatchery 

and hatchery-to-wild depredation ratios.

Evaluation of avian predation continued as part of the estuary monitoring efforts. (See 

RPA action 102)

105

The Action Agencies shall develop a pilot study 

to assess the feasibility of enhancing the function 

of ecological communities to reduce predation 

losses and increase survival in reservoirs and the 

estuary.

BPA funded the Council project 1997-026, and additional work continues to be funded as 

part of project 1998-014. The project assesses feeding habits of predatory fishes during 

the spring salmonid smolt migration period. Also assessed are the indirect effects on the 

changing pelagic fish community associated with different oceanographic regimes on 

juvenile salmonids.

106

The Action Agencies, in coordination with 

NMFS, shall investigate marine mammal 

predation in the tailrace of Bonneville Dam. A 

study plan shall be submitted to NMFS by June 

30, 2001, detailing the study objectives, methods, 

and schedule.

Marine mammal studies were initiated in 2001 and will continue through 2003. The 

information will be provided to NOAA for further action.

107

The Action Agencies shall conduct a 

comprehensive evaluation to assess survival of 

adult salmonids migrating upstream and factors 

 This action was evaluated in 2002 in the adult studies program. Radio telemetry 

monitoring to assess unaccounted loss will continue through April 2004. Data analysis 

will be conducted through 2005 and a final report will be available in 2006. As a result of 
2002 Progress Report for the Federal Columbia River Power System

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Action 

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Action Description Progress Summary

contributing to unaccounted losses. adult PIT tag detector installation in 2003 additional information will be available for PIT 

tag database and for further monitoring and analysis. 

Adult PIT detection systems were installed at McNary and are scheduled for installation at 

Priest Rapids, Ice Harbor and Lower Granite this winter. Further installation needs will 

be considered for subsequent years.

108

The Corps and BPA shall conduct a 

comprehensive evaluation to investigate the 

causes of headburn in adult salmonids and shall 

implement corrective measures, as warranted.

Conducted first of 2-year head burn evaluations. Additional studies may continue through 

2004 with a final report in 2005. Corrective measures will be determined based on results 

and regional discussions.

109

The Corps shall initiate an adult steelhead 

downstream migrant (kelt) assessment program 

to determine the magnitude of passage, the 

contribution to population diversity and growth, 

and potential actions to provide safe passage.

Completed second year of the kelt study for the Snake and lower Columbia rivers. 

Evaluation of kelt abundance and survival through various routes of passage (including 

transportation) shall continue in 2003 and 2004. Monitoring of return spawning shall 

continue through 2007and the final report is due in 2008. 

110

The Corps shall use information from previous 

and ongoing investigations regarding the 

problem of adult steelhead holding and jumping 

in the fish ladders at John Day Dam, develop a 

proposed course of action, and implement it, as 

warranted. 

Ladder weir modifications were initiated in 2002 to be completed for 2003 adult migration 

season. An evaluation is scheduled to be completed in 2003.

111

The Corps shall investigate and enumerate 

fallback of upstream migrant salmonids through 

turbine intakes at all lower Snake and lower 

Columbia River dams. The Corps shall 

implement corrective measures to reduce turbine 

mortality, as warranted.

Radio telemetry monitoring of fallback was ongoing in 2002 and will continue through 

April 2004. Data analysis will be conducted through 2005 and a final report will be 

available in 2006. Actions for remediation will be assessed at that time. 

112

The Corps shall investigate ways to provide 

egress to adult fish that have fallen back into 

juvenile collection galleries and primary 

dewatering facilities at Ice Harbor and McNary 

dams. The Corps shall either install structural, 

or implement operational, remedies to minimize 

delay and injury of fish that fall back, as 

warranted.

Completed the field evaluation and a final report is due in 2003. Although a final decision 

to modify the collection channel depends on the results in the final report, preliminary 

results do not appear to support collection channel modifications. Results and 

recommendations will be coordinated through the FFDRWG. 
2002 Progress Report for the Federal Columbia River Power System

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Action Description Progress Summary

113

The Corps shall investigate measures to reduce 

adult steelhead and salmon fallback and 

mortality through the Bonneville Dam spillway. 

A final report shall be submitted to NMFS 

stating the findings of these investigations and 

recommending corrective measures. Potential 

remedies shall be included in the annual planning 

process.

Continued fallback studies (see RPA action 60). 

114

The Corps shall examine existing fish-ladder 

water temperature and adult radio-telemetry data 

to determine whether observed temperature 

differences in fishways adversely affect fish 

passage time and holding behavior. If nonuniform temperatures are found to cause delay, 

means for supplying cooler water to identified 

areas of warmer temperatures should be 

developed and implemented in coordination 

with the annual planning process.

The Corps monitored ladder water temperatures for four years at Bonneville, The Dalles 

and John Day dams. The John Day ladder systems were the only ones where nonuniform temperatures large enough to be detected by fish were noted. No passage delays 

(radio tracking data) were apparent that could be associated with those temperature 

differences. Report due in 2003.

115

The Corps and BPA shall conduct a 

comprehensive depth and temperature 

investigation to characterize direct mortality 

sources at an FCRPS project considered to have 

high unaccountable adult losses (either from 

counts and/or previous adult evaluations).

Continued evaluation of temperature impacts on adult delays, homing, straying, and 

survival using radio telemetry through April 2004. Data analysis will be conducted 

through 2005 and a final report will be available in 2006. 

116

The Corps shall investigate adult fish delay and 

fallback at ladder junction pools and implement 

remedies to reduce this problem, as warranted. 

Completed field evaluation of fish passage improvements in December 2002 and the final 

report will be available in 2003. Design for changes will occur in 2004 for implementation 

in 2005 at Lower Granite. A schedule for implementation at additional projects (2003-

2004) will be developed and prioritized through FFDRWG. 

117

The Corps shall evaluate adult count station 

facilities and rehabilitate where necessary at all 

projects to either minimize delay of adults or 

minimize counting difficulties that reduce count 

accuracy.

The Corps evaluated all count stations and reports for submission to FPOM in 2003. 

Funding for corrective actions will be prioritized by FPOM in the O&M budget process 

for future implementation.

Telemetry evaluation of impacts of count windows will continue through spring 2004. 

118 The Corps shall develop and implement a 

program to better assess and enumerate indirect 

Continued adult telemetry evaluation to help identify factors that contribute to successful 

spawning or unaccounted loss through spring 2004. Data analysis is scheduled through 
2002 Progress Report for the Federal Columbia River Power System

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Action Description Progress Summary

prespawning mortality of adult upstreammigrating fish. Such mortality may be due to, or 

exacerbated by, passage through the FCRPS 

hydro projects. If measures are identified which 

will reduce the unaccountable adult loss rate 

and/or the prespawning mortality rate, the 

Corps shall implement these measures as 

warranted. The program should also enhance 

efforts to enumerate unaccountable losses 

associated with tributary turnoff, harvest, or 

other factors in FCRPS mainstem reservoirs and 

upstream of FCRPS projects. 

2005 and the final report will be available in 2006. 

119

The Corps shall ensure that alterations to fish 

ladders and adult passage facilities to 

accommodate Pacific lamprey passage do not 

adversely affect salmonid passage timing and 

success.

Continued adult lamprey prototype studies with scheduled completion in 2003. A design 

report could be initiated in late-2003. Implementation of ladder modifications could be 

initiated by 2005 at one or more projects subject to regional funding priorities.

120

The Corps shall develop improved operations 

for adult fishway main entrances at FCRPS dams 

so that the best possible attraction conditions are 

provided for adult migrants, both at the four 

Columbia River hydro projects and the four 

lower Snake hydro projects (where reservoir 

elevations are held near MOP). The Corps shall 

report the findings of fishway entrance flowbalancing investigations in a report to NMFS by 

the end of 2001 and shall continue to work 

through FPOM to evaluate and implement, as 

warranted, structural changes to satisfy fish 

passage plan fishway entrance criteria.

Hydraulic evaluation reports for various projects were prepared and submitted to FPOM 

prior to 2000. An in-depth analysis of some of the reports showed the consultant did not 

evaluate the systems as they were being operated. More thorough and accurate hydraulic 

evaluations are being conducted by the Corps and will be completed and submitted in 2003 

and 2004 to FPOM. By the end of calendar year 2003, the Corps will report to NOAA 

the findings of fishway entrance flow-balancing investigations. This delay is needed to 

allow the Corps to complete the work informing the report. Corrective actions will be 

implemented as warranted and when funding becomes available (if additional funding is 

necessary).

121

The Corps shall develop and maintain an 

auxiliary water-supply, emergency-parts 

inventory for all adult fishways where 

determined necessary, in coordination with 

NMFS.

The Corps determined which spare parts need to be available on project. Funding was 

made available to the respective projects for procurement of the identified spare parts. A 

report will be submitted to FPOM by the end of 2003. Funding for additional spare parts 

or high cost items will be prioritized by FPOM in the O&M budget process for future 

implementation.
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Action Description Progress Summary

122

The Corps shall continue design development 

and, subsequently, construct an emergency 

auxiliary water supply system at The Dalles 

Dam’s east ladder.

Work was been deferred due to funding priorities. See RPA action 70.

123

The Corps shall continue to investigate 

alternatives to dewater adult auxiliary water 

system floor diffusers for inspection at The 

Dalles adult fishway powerhouse collection 

channel. The Corps shall implement design and 

construction of needed changes, as warranted.

Construction was initiated in 2002 and the system will be operational in late 2003 or early 

2004.

124

The Corps shall investigate methods to provide 

additional emergency auxiliary water to The 

Dalles Dam north fishway when the normal 

auxiliary water supply is interrupted.

This activity was deferred due to funding priorities. The Corps will initiate in 2004 if 

funding is available. 

125

The Corps shall develop and implement an 

automated monitoring and alarm system at

appropriate FCRPS projects, as determined in 

the NMFS Regional Forum, to monitor changes 

in head differential remotely between the 

primary auxiliary water supply conduits/channels 

and the adult collection channels and to 

minimize diffuser damage due to excessive 

differentials. The Corps shall ensure that 

diffuser gratings for all auxiliary water supply 

systems are securely fastened. The Corps shall 

work through FPOM to develop a monitoring 

program for inspecting diffuser gratings and 

grating fasteners.

The Corps projects ensured all diffusion water gratings are secured in place. Methods 

were demonstrated to FPOM. The Corps conducted an engineering study to determine 

the feasibility of successfully and economically constructing an automated monitoring and 

alarm system on an AWS system the size of those on mainstem projects. A report will be 

provided to FPOM in 2003.

126

The Corps shall initiate an investigation and 

prepare a report on the Bonneville First 

Powerhouse Bradford Island and Cascade Island 

adult fishway auxiliary water system by the end 

of 2001. In the report, the Corps shall identify 

measures that will improve or replace aging 

components, thereby enhancing current and 

The Bonneville Project replaced and repaired major aging components of the subject 

fishways in the last three years. 
2002 Progress Report for the Federal Columbia River Power System

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Action Description Progress Summary

long-term performance and reliability.

127

The Corps shall continue its investigation of the 

Bonneville Second Powerhouse adult fishway 

auxiliary water system and shall identify 

measures to satisfactorily address emergency 

backup auxiliary water needs.

Completed plans and specifications. Contract for modifications awarded in September 

2002 and scheduled for completion in 2003.

128

The Corps shall initiate an engineering study to 

evaluate existing limitations relating to its 

inability to satisfy fish passage plan operating 

criteria at the John Day Dam north shore ladder. 

Problem evaluations completed and alternative solutions for further study identified. 

129

The Corps shall complete adult fishway auxiliary

water supply evaluations at each lower Snake 

River hydro project and implement corrective 

measures as warranted. 

Continued construction related to auxiliary water supply systems at Lower Granite and Ice 

Harbor for completion in 2003. Initiated design and EDC at Little Goose. Completed 

final report of designs of proposed operational/structural modifications at Lower 

Monumental.

130

The Corps shall complete its DGAS by April 

2001. The results of this study will be used to 

guide future studies and decisions about 

implementation of some long-term structural 

measures to reduce TDG.

The DGAS study was completed in 2002 and the TDG production equations have been 

used to develop the SYSTDG spreadsheet model. SYSTDG model results have been used 

to evaluate operational alternatives related to annual spill cap management.

131

The Action Agencies shall monitor the effects of 

TDG. This annual program shall include 

physical and biological monitoring and shall be 

developed and implemented in consultation with 

the Water Quality Team and the Mid-Columbia 

PUDs’ monitoring programs.

The Corps conducted the TDG monitoring program and prepared a report that was 

provided to the Oregon DEQ and Washington DOE.

.

132

The Action Agencies shall develop a plan to 

conduct a systematic review and evaluation of 

the TDG fixed monitoring stations in the 

forebays of all the mainstem Columbia and 

Snake river dams (including the 

Camas/Washougal monitor). The evaluation 

plan shall be developed by February 2001 and 

included as part of the first annual water quality 

improvement plan. The Action Agencies shall 

conduct the evaluation and make changes in the 

The Action Agencies have worked with a Water Quality Team subcommittee in 2001 and 

2002 on a systematic review of the forebay fixed monitoring sites. The 2001 efforts 

focused on the lower Columbia River. In 2002, lower Columbia River and lower Snake 

River sites were evaluated. Changes at some sites have been implemented and studies are 

ongoing for 2003 at other sites.
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Action Description Progress Summary

location of fixed monitoring sites, as warranted, 

and in coordination with the Water Quality 

Team. It should be possible to make some 

modifications by the start of the 2001 spill 

season.

133

As part of DGAS, the Corps shall complete 

development of a TDG model to be used as a 

river operations management tool by spring 

2001. Once a model is developed, the 

applications and results shall be coordinated 

through the Water Quality Team. The Corps 

shall coordinate the systemwide management 

applications of gas abatement model studies with 

the annual planning process, the Transboundary 

Gas Group, the Mid-Columbia Public Utilities, 

and other interested parties.

The Corps advanced the development of the SYSTDG spreadsheet model and two MASS 

numerical models for use as river operations models. The SYSTDG model was used for 

guidance in 2000 and the MASS 1 model was used for water temperature guidance during 

the 2001 drought year spill season. The SYSTDG model was shared with the region in 

2001 by providing regional training sessions.

134

The Corps shall continue the spillway deflector 

optimization program at each FCRPS project 

and implement it, as warranted. The Corps and 

BPA shall conduct physical and biological 

evaluations to ensure optimum gas abatement 

and fish passage conditions. Implementation 

decisions will be based on the effect of spill 

duration and volume on TDG, spillway 

effectiveness, spill efficiency, forebay residence 

time, and total project and system survival of 

juvenile salmon and steelhead passing FCRPS 

dams.

Additional deflectors were installed at Bonneville in 2002. A report will be available in 

2003 on whether existing deflectors should be modified. 

135

The Corps shall include evaluations of divider 

walls at each FCRPS project in the spillway 

deflector optimization program. Design 

development and construction of divider walls 

would begin only after coordination within the 

annual planning process, and only if warranted. 

Hydraulic model studies were conducted for a prototype spill wall at The Dalles. 

Construction will be initiated in 2003, with completion and initial testing anticipated for 

the 2004 passage season.

136 The Corps shall continue to develop and Pending receipt of appropriations, the Corps, NMFS, and Reclamation continued efforts 
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Action Description Progress Summary

construct spillway deflectors at Chief Joseph 

Dam by 2004 to minimize TDG levels 

associated with system spill.

to investigate alternative means to reduce total dissolved gas saturation in the Columbia 

River below Chief Joseph and Grand Coulee Dams by shifting additional power 

generation to Grand Coulee Dam. The Task Force prepared a draft report. The Corps 

continued to seek appropriations to develop and construct the spillway deflectors. 

137

The Corps shall investigate TDG abatement 

options at Libby Dam, including the installation 

of spillway deflectors and/or additional turbine 

units. The Corps shall construct gas abatement 

improvements at Libby on the Kootenai River, 

as warranted, to reduce TDG levels below the 

project.

The Corps conducted spill test and is discussing the results with the State of Montana for 

potential future spill options, including a potential TDG variance. The Corps will 

investigate in FY 03 the feasibility of installing flow deflectors in the spillway. The Corps 

has already investigated installation of additional turbines (in FY 02) and found that the 

installation of generating units at Libby is technically feasible using a generating unit major 

rehab construction protocol. Most of the major parts for two units are present and in 

relatively good condition. But there is insufficient, reliable load in the spring when the 

sturgeon flows through the added units would be called for and no available transmission 

capacity to move any additional generation from Libby Dam. BPA/TBL estimated 

approximately $250 million of transmission improvements would be needed to provide 

the capacity to move power to reliable load assuming a reliable load can be found. There 

are no current funded plans to provide the required transmission capacity. If the projects 

were funded, environmental coordination, planning, and other requirements would take 

several years to complete before construction of a new transmission line could be 

undertaken. Under an optimistic schedule, the soonest that new turbines could be in 

place would be 2007 or 2008. 

138

The Corps shall continue to investigate RSWs, in 

conjunction with extended spillway deflectors, as 

a means of optimizing safe spillway passage of 

adult steelhead kelts and juvenile migrants.

Conducted 1st year biological test at Lower Granite. Work will continue at Lower Granite 

in 2003 and begin preparatory work for evaluation at Ice Harbor. 

139

The Corps shall investigate TDG abatement 

options at Dworshak Dam and implement 

options, as warranted, in coordination with the 

annual planning process. 

No activity for this action.

140

The Corps shall design the spillway Number 1 

(end bay) deflector at John Day Dam, and 

implement as warranted, in coordination with 

the annual planning process.

Deferred spill bay 1 deflector construction for construction efficiency reasons pending 

decisions on spillbay 20 construction plans relative to RSW testing at this project and for 

determination of regional funding priorities

141

The Action Agencies shall evaluate juvenile fish 

condition due to disease in relation to high 

temperature impacts during critical migration 

Continued temperature monitoring and physiological monitoring at McNary; final report 

scheduled for 2004. The SRWG sub-group on juvenile fish temperature impacts will 

develop an action plan and schedule by 2004. 
2002 Progress Report for the Federal Columbia River Power System

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Action Description Progress Summary

periods. This evaluation should include 

monitoring summer migrants at lower Columbia 

and lower Snake river dams to clarify the 

possible link between temperature and fish 

disease and mortality. This information will be 

used to assess the long-term impacts of water 

temperature on juvenile fish survival.

142

The Corps shall work through the regional 

forum process to identify and implement 

measures to address juvenile fish mortality 

associated with high summer temperatures at

McNary Dam. As a starting point, the Corps 

shall assemble and analyze the temperature data 

that have been recorded in the McNary forebay, 

collection channel, and juvenile facilities. The 

Corps shall examine relationships among 

juvenile mortality, temperatures, river flow rates, 

and unit operations in detail. The Corps shall 

investigate the feasibility of developing a 

hydrothermal computational fluid dynamics 

model of the McNary forebay to evaluate the 

potential to determine optimal powerhouse 

operations or structural modifications for 

minimizing thermal stress of juvenile salmon 

collected in the summer and to conduct a 

modeling program, if warranted.

Conducted temperature monitoring at McNary. A temperature model of the McNary 

forebay is scheduled to be complete by 2004. Physiological monitoring will continue in 

2003 at McNary and a final report is due in 2004. 

143

By June 30, 2001, the Action Agencies shall 

develop and coordinate with NMFS and EPA on 

a plan to model the water temperature effects of 

alternative Snake River operations. The 

modeling plan shall include a temperature data 

collection strategy developed in consultation 

with EPA, NMFS, and state and Tribal water 

quality agencies. The data collection strategy 

shall be sufficient to develop and operate the 

The Action Agencies have been working with an ongoing Water Quality Team 

subcommittee since 2001 to develop a plan to model water temperature effects of 

alternative Snake River operations. The 2001 and 2002 subcommittee work efforts have 

determined the goals of water temperature modeling, have investigated and evaluated 

multi-agency existing data, determined what questions can be answered without modeling, 

recommended and started additional data collection, recommended numerical models to be 

considered, and are currently in the process of identifying a recommended numerical 

model to be used.
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model and to document the effects of project 

operations.

144

The Corps, in coordination with the Regional 

Forum, shall maintain juvenile and adult fish 

facilities within identified criteria and operate 

FCRPS projects within operational guidelines 

contained in the Corps’ Fish Passage Plan. The 

Corps shall coordinate with NMFS on the 

development of these criteria and operational 

guidelines before the start of each fish passage 

season (generally February 1).

The Corps updated and implemented the Fish Passage Plan in coordination with NOAA 

Fisheries and the Region.

Rehabilitation of pumps for the Lower Monumental AWS began in FY 02 and will 

continue through FY 04. 

145

The Corps shall develop and implement 

preventative maintenance programs for fish 

passage facilities that ensure long-term reliability, 

thereby minimizing repair costs.

The Corps developed, budgeted for, and implemented preventative maintenance 

programs for their fishways. The plans were coordinated with FPOM. 

146

The Corps shall address debris-handling needs 

and continue to assess more efficient and 

effective debris-handling techniques to ensure 

that the performance of both new and old fish 

passage facilities will not be compromised.

General: As a normal course of O&M of the projects, debris is constantly monitored 

throughout the facilities and appropriate removal action initiated as required. This has 

been and will continue to be addressed in the Fish Passage Plan. Specific problem areas 

that come up are presented and discussed at FPOM, where courses of action are 

developed and then followed-up on by the Corps. The Corps believes fish passage effects 

are adequately addressed and are the critical concern in establishing protocols and 

correcting problem areas. A system-wide assessment was not called for in the subject 

RPA, nor is one necessary at this time. At the end of this summary is a chronology of 

evaluations and actions completed for the Snake River and McNary projects that the 

Corps believes have fully addressed the issue at those projects and in conjunction with 

ongoing efforts as will be described below meet the intent of this RPA.

The Corps also questions the value for a reconnaissance-level analysis for debris booms at 

the dams and believes they are beyond that at the projects. Again, see the specific actions 

and the chronology below. Immediately following is a listing of the status and plans for 

specific debris-related issues for FY 03 and beyond at the projects. In these the Corps 

references the other RPA actions items associated with these activities. Several of these 

actions are only a part of other larger measures and as such may not have been highlighted 

in the RPA implementation summaries. Much of this information should be available in 

the FY03 work plans provided to the SCT, and used as the basis for implementation plan 
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Action Description Progress Summary

summaries.

Bonneville: Also, reference RPA Action 63. At 1st PH, analysis of debris handling has 

been addressed in association with the JBS improvement/outfall relocation project. A 

debris boom is recommended and has been designed for installation when and if that 

project is implemented. No action is planned until that decision is made. 

At B2 (no specific RPA reference) an ongoing prototype study of a gatewell debris 

removal system is underway, but has not been funded recently, nor in 2003, due to 

funding priorities. Also, action is being deferred pending completion of the corner 

collector and evaluation of the effect of its operation on B2 debris issues.

Under the B2 FGE improvement study (RPA 67), evaluation of problems with failure of 

VBS screens due to increased slot flows, tighter mesh criteria, and debris will continue. 

New VBS screen frame designs will be tested in 2003 and a new screen cleaner prototype 

is under design and is planned for testing in 2004.

Also at B2, under the follow-on work for bypass improvements (RPA 65) a new air burst 

cleaning system is under development due to problems with the mechanical cleaning 

system for the DSM dewatering screens. We are also planning for an automated trash 

rake for the fish units in 2004.

The Dalles: No specific actions are anticipated at this time

John Day: Reference RPA Action 73. Debris issues will continue to be addressed in 

association with the extended screen evaluations. No specific debris-related work is 

planned for 2003, but would be continued as the screen program moves forward. The 

schedule will depend on future funding priorities and decisions on future configuration of 

this project.

McNary: Reference RPA Action 74. Ongoing efforts continue as required. Annual 

contracts for debris removal continue and the new debris removal craft is scheduled to be 

purchased in 2004, subject to funding priorities. Corrections to the debris plugging 

problems in the 10-inch fish transport lines were completed in 2002 and no further action 

is anticipated. Testing of the cylindrical dewatering prototype was concluded in 2002, 

final reports will be completed in 2003 and the test facility is scheduled to be removed in 

2004.

We are continuing a major modeling effort at WES to try to identify and resolve gatewell 

debris issues, particularly at McNary. That effort continues, under the McNary 
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Action Description Progress Summary

debris issues, particularly at McNary. That effort continues, under the McNary 

Modernization Project to look at options to resolve periodic VBS and gatewell debris 

issues at McNary.

Snake River projects (system evaluation): Reference RPA 94. The Lower Snake and 

Columbia Rivers Extended-Length Submerged Bar Screen System-Wide Letter Report

was completed in 2002 to assess JBS system performance at each of the Lower Snake 

projects to include debris control and cleaning systems.

Ice Harbor: No specific actions for debris planned as a result of the system evaluation.

Lower Monumental: No specific actions for debris planned as a result of the system 

evaluation. New debris issues may need to be evaluated in conjunction with ongoing 

ESBS development initiated in 2002 for this project (RPA 78). 

Little Goose: Reference RPA 79. Completed post-construction predator studies of the 

new containment boom to verify or modify debris removal criteria in 2002. No further 

action required.

Lower Granite: No specific actions for debris are planned based on above evaluations 

and until re-initiation of the Lower Granite juvenile bypass facility improvement measure 

(RPA action 81).

(a) Lower Snake and McNary 

debris issues chronology

November 1996 - The Lower Snake and Columbia Rivers Debris Control Study Phase I 

Report was completed. That report identified various short-term actions that could be 

implemented to mitigate the effects of debris at the projects. The report also looked at 

potential long-term solutions.

1997 – Lower Snake and Columbia River Debris Control Phase II was completed. Shortterm actions identified in the Phase I report were implemented.

July 1998 – The Lower Snake and Columbia Rivers Debris Control Study Phase III 

Report was completed. This report recommended long-term actions and measures to be 

installed as permanent systems. This report recommended installation of a debris boom 

at Little Goose, which was subsequently installed in 2000 and recommended not to install 

a debris boom at McNary. The report also made other recommendations specific to the 

Collection Systems at McNary and Lower Granite.

March 2000 – The McNary Dam Debris Boom Analysis & Alternatives report was 

completed. This report reinforced the conclusions of the Phase III report that a debris 

boom was not a feasible alternative and that the recommended course of action was to 
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Action Description Progress Summary

procure a Debris Removal Craft. Purchase of that craft is scheduled for FY04, subject to 

regional coordination and SCT prioritization.

August 2002 – The Lower Snake and Columbia Rivers Extended Length Submerged Bar 

Screen System-Wide Letter Report was completed. Section 4 of that report dealt 

extensively with Forebay Debris, Collection System Debris and Holding & Loading 

Debris as applicable at all projects.

Current Status: Forebay Debris Booms exist at Lower Granite and Little Goose Projects. 

Similar booms are not needed at Lower Monumental or Ice Harbor due to minimal debris 

accumulation and 24 hr spill. 

147

As a contingency plan, the Corps (in cooperation 

with other Federal agencies) shall develop a 

project management plan to reevaluate more 

intensive dams. The project management plan 

will identify the scope, schedule, costs, tasks, 

products, and responsibilities for the 

reevaluation study. The study should assess all 

significant changed conditions to the Lower 

Snake River Feasibility Report and 

Environmental Impact Statement (Corps 1999c). 

The project management plan should be 

consistent with direction from Congress, Corps 

authorities, and other legal requirements. The 

completed project management plan should be 

coordinated with the appropriate regional 

interests. The project management plan should 

include, but not be limited to, plans to mitigate 

disproportionate impacts to communities, 

industries, and Tribes, detailed water and air 

quality effects, implementation plans, and a 

complete public involvement program. The 

decision to start the reevaluation study should 

result from the NMFS check-in process in 

Section 9.5. The Corps will request funding or 

reprogramming to complete the project 

management plan within 1 year after NMFS’ 

Further action on this item will follow the 2005 check-in.
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Action Description Progress Summary

issuance of a check-in report indicating the need 

to seek additional authority. The study should 

result in a general reevaluation report and 

supplemental environmental impact statement, 

which would be used to seek authorization 

and/or appropriations to implement, 

recommended action(s), if needed. The general 

reevaluation report/ supplemental 

environmental impact statement will require 

approximately 2 years to complete.

148

The Corps shall conduct detailed engineering 

and design work for improvements 

recommended in the general reevaluation report 

and supplemental environmental impact 

statement described in the preceding action. The 

Corps shall seek funding to allow initiation of 

the engineering and design work to occur 

immediately upon completion of the final 

general reevaluation report. The engineering and 

design work shall include only those activities on 

(or near) the implementation schedule critical 

path for the recommended actions, up to the 

award of the first construction contract. For a 

dam breach recommendation, the critical path 

activities shall include turbine physical modeling 

(for use as low level outlets), rock source 

explorations for embankment erosion protection 

(riprap), and hydraulic (physical) modeling for 

the embankment removal and channelization. 

Tentative milestones for the general reevaluation 

report/EIS and engineering and design work are 

as follows, based on the check-in process 

identified in Section 9.5. (see RPA for list)

Further action on this item will follow the 2005 check-in.

149 BOR shall initiate programs in three priority 

subbasins (identified in the Conceptual Recovery 

During FY 2002, Reclamation initiated programs in three additional subbasins and 

continued work in the four subbasin programs initiated in FY 2001. The seven subbasins 
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Action Description Progress Summary

Plan) per year over 5 years, in coordination with 

NMFS, FWS, the states and others, to address all 

flow, passage, and screening problems in each 

subbasin over 10 years. The Corps shall 

implement demonstration projects to improve 

habitat in subbasins where water-diversionrelated problems could cause take of listed 

species. Under the NWPPC program, BPA 

addresses passage, screening, and flow problems, 

where they are not the responsibility of others. 

BPA expects to expand on these measures in 

coordination with the NWPPC process to 

complement BOR actions described in the 

action above.

with active programs are the Upper Salmon and Lemhi in Idaho; the Middle Fork John 

and Upper John Day subbasins in Oregon; and the Methow, Wenatchee, and Entiat 

subbasins in Washington. (Specific projects in the subbasins initiated or completed by 

Reclamation in the seven priority subbasins are identified below.) Reclamation continued 

programmatic NEPA compliance studies for the Idaho subbasins and the John Day 

subbasins which were initiated in FY 2001. In addition, fish flow studies were intiated in 

several subbasins to ascertain fish flow needs in preparation for water acquisition projects 

in the subbasins. To acquire the needed authority to fund the construction of screen and 

diversion barrier projects, Reclamation worked with the appropriate Administration 

officials to draft the needed legislation. During FY 2002, it was discovered that 6 of the 

16 priority subbasins identified in the Basinwide Salmon Recovery Strategy did not qualify 

under the requirements of the Endangered Species Act for a Reasonable and Prudent 

Alternative. Reclamation initiated discussions with NOAA Fisheries and the other Action 

Agencies to help resolve this issue. 

During FY 2002, BPA complemented the efforts of Reclamation in the priority subbasins 

and in other areas by expanding on RPA 149 related measures under the Council 

program. This included funding a number of passage and screening projects across the 

basin, as well as funding work to acquire additional flows for fish.

The actions are summarized, by subbasin, as follows with a cross reference to the 

appropriate Data Base ID numbers if more information is needed:

Entiat: Reclamation initiated its subbasin program in the Entiat subbasin in FY 2002, one 

year earlier than originally scheduled (# 4042). As part of this early action, an IFIM study 

(# 4007) was initiated in partnership with the Entiat Water Planning Unit which will be 

integrated with an EDT analysis being conducted in conjunction with the Yakama Nation. 

Grays: One Corps section 206 project to restore a large portion of 7.6 miles of stream 

and 15 acres of wetlands through culvert replacement, installation of fishways and ladders, 

and wetland enhancement (ID # 559).

Upper John Day: Reclamation continued its subbasin program in the Upper John Day 

subbasin (ID # (4047), including continuation of a programmatic environmental 

assessment (# 4091). During FY 2002, a diversion was replaced on Bear Creek ((ID # 

4085), a diversion replacement project was initiated on Beech Creek (#4086), and 

Reclamation entered into an agreement with the Grant County Soil and Water 

Conservation District to provide design assistance on diversion replacements (# 4116) 
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Action Description Progress Summary

Middle Fork John Day: Reclamation continued its subbasin program in the Middle 

Fork John Day subbasin (ID # 4047) including: Reclamation continued its subbasin 

program in the Methow subbasin which was initiated in FY 2001 (#4091). During FY 

2002, a passage, screen, and headgate project was completed at the Oxbow Ranch—

Beaver Creek (#4087), and Reclamation entered into an agreement with the Grant County 

Soil and Water Conservation District to provide design assistance on diversion 

replacements (# 4089). 

North Fork John Day: Although Reclamation is not scheduled to initiate a program in 

the North Fork John Day until FY 2003, this subbasin was included in the programmatic 

environmental assessment (ID # 4091) for the other two John Day subbasins as a means 

to streamline early implementation of actions once the subbasin is initiated. 

Methow: Reclamation continued its subbasin program in the Methow subbasin which 

was initiated in FY 2001 (#4045). Diversion reconstruction projects were initiated at 

Campbell Diversion (#4003), Marracci (#4026), Twisp Valley (#4096), and Methow 

Valley ID East and West Canals (# 4034 and #4035). Screen projects were initiated at 

Methow Valley ID East and West Canals (# 4095 and # 4093). Reclamation also entered 

into an agreement with USGS to assist with hydrologic model upgrades (#4027). 

Salmon River: Twenty-six programs and projects are included in the Salmon River 

drainage including 3 by BPA, 1 by the Corps, and 22 by Reclamation. Several of these 

projects are joint ventures by the action agencies and project sponsors, and a crossreference is noted below where appropriate. BPA has two projects that apply to the entire 

Salmon River drainage and the remainder can be allocated into subbasins.

Entire Salmon River: BPA projects are: (1) a program for consolidation and elimination 

of irrigation diversions and screen intakes and canals (ID #82), (2) a model watershed 

habitat improvement project through development of alternative management plans and 

reestablishment of riparian protection (ID #83) and (3) a multi-year project in the Upper 

Salmon River to reduce the number of irrigation diversions, enhance in-stream flows 

through water conservation measures, reduce juvenile delay and entrapment, and 

construct NMFS approved fish screens (ID #85). Reclamation is providing technical 

assistance to sponsors under this project.

Little Salmon: Although Reclamation was not scheduled to initiate a program in the 

Little Salmon subbasin until later, this subbasin was included in the programmatic 

environmental assessment (ID # 4109) with the other Reclamation Idaho subbasins as a 

means to streamline early implementation of actions once the subbasin program is 

initiated. 
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Action Description Progress Summary

Lemhi: Reclamation continued its subbasin program in the Lemhi subbasin which was 

initiated in FY 2001 #4043) including continuation of a programmatic environmental 

assessment which was initiated in FY 2001 ((4109). Two screen projects were initiated at 

L-13 (#4013) and L-35 (#4019). Five diversion replacement projects were initiated at L-3 

(# 4022), L-35 (#4017), L-3A (#4020), L-3A0 (# 4021), and L-6/S-14 (#4023). To 

improve streamflow management, three headgate projects were initiated at L-3 ((#4022), 

L-3A (#4100), and L-35A (#4018). In addition, to help identify fish flows needs, a 

streamflow gaging station was installed at L-5 (#4097), a Lemhi River Flow 

Characterization Study was initiated with multiple partners (#4098) including state and 

federal entities and the Shoshone-Bannock tribes. A contract was issued to the Idaho 

Department of Water Resources to fund development of a Lemhi Water Budget Model 

(#4101). Reclamation also leased 25 cfs of Lemhi River flows downstream from the L-6 

diversion (#4108) from July 1 through August 31 to assure access to the lower Lemhi 

River.

Upper Salmon Subbasin: Reclamation initiated its Upper Salmon Subbasin program in 

FY 2002 (#4050) and continued a programmatic environmental assessment for the 

subbasin that was initiated in FY 2001 (#4109). During FY 2002, four screens were 

replaced in the East Fork Salmon, a tributary of the upper Salmon River—EFS-10 

(#4103), EFS-11 (#4106), EFS-4 (#4107), and Herd Creek-3 (#4102). A diversion 

consolidation and screen replacement project was completed at S-11/S-12 (#4104). 

Reclamation also initiated an upper Salmon Basin Flow Characterization Study in 

partnership with several state and federal entities and the Shoshone-Bannock tribes 

(#4099). BPA has 2 projects in the Upper Salmon, the Corps has 1 project. BPA projects 

are: (1) addressing effectiveness assessments, migration barriers, fine sediments, 

geomorphic structure, and riparian vegetation in Custer County (ID # 81), (2) an upper 

Salmon diversion consolidation, fish screen and irrigation water conservation program 

(ID # 82). The Corps has initiated a project to restore habitat quality in the lower 12 

miles of the upper Salmon River through a channel restoration feasibility study (ID # 

555). 

Walla Walla subbasin: the Corps is supporting one study in the Walla Walla. The Corps 

has a 3-year feasibility study to identify alternatives for increased instream flow, headwater 

dams for instream flows, water exchanges with the Columbia River, increased irrigation 

efficiency, and purchase of water rights (ID # 561).

Wenatchee subbasin: Reclamation initiated its subbasin program for the Wenatchee 

subbasin by establishing a subbasin liaison office and initiating contacts with local groups 

and individuals as part of program initiation (# 4051). 
2002 Progress Report for the Federal Columbia River Power System

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Action Description Progress Summary

and individuals as part of program initiation (# 4051). 

Yakima River: The Yakima is not a high priority subbasin, but BPA is implementing 2 

projects that meet the intent of this action. Other projects not listed in this summary also 

contribute to the basic intent of action 149, but are not located in a high priority subbasin. 

The 2 projects are part of the Yakama Nation Yakima/Klickitat Fisheries Project and 

exemplify projects that contribute to the basic intent of action 149. They are: (1) a 

project to protect and restore off-channel rearing habitats associated with the Yakima and 

Naches mainstems, (ID #13) and (2) a project to reestablish access into Yakima tributaries 

through fencing, revegetation, easement and/or property purchases, consolidation of 

diversions and modernization of irrigation systems (ID # 16). 

150

In subbasins with listed salmon and steelhead, 

BPA shall fund protection of currently 

productive non-Federal habitat, especially if at 

risk of being degraded, in accordance with 

criteria and priorities BPA and NMFS will 

develop by June 1, 2001.

BPA worked with NOAA Fisheries and other entities to develop priorities for funding 

projects under this action. BPA funded a number of projects that protect currently 

productive habitat that is largely self-sustaining. Projects implemented under this action 

included ongoing work to maintain naturally self-sustaining habitat on Pine Creek Ranch 

(1998-022-00) through watershed management planning and to enhance and improve 

protection for productive habitat for the Oxbow Ranch Acquisition (2000-015-00) by 

removing historic mine tailings and constructing headgates to increase flows. In 2002, 

BPA funded projects that protected nearly 200 river miles and over 20,000 acres in at least 

11 subbasins. 

151

BPA shall, in coordination with NMFS, 

experiment with innovative ways to increase 

tributary flows by, for example, establishing a 

water brokerage. BPA will begin these 

experiments as soon as possible and submit a 

report evaluating their efficacy at the end of 5 

years. 

Beginning in 2001, representatives from the Council, NOAA Fisheries, and BPA as well 

as other regional representatives from non-profit and governmental entities participated in 

the development of a water transactions program to meet the requirements of Action 151 

and the Council’s 2000 Fish and Wildlife Program (FWP) section titled, Funding 

Agreement for Land and Water Acquisitions. From this process and an RFQ solicitation, 

the Columbia Basin Water Transactions Program was established in 2002 to fulfill these 

goals. 

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is operating as the regional water 

entity and facilitating the review and funding of water transactions and related innovative 

transactional strategies to increase tributary flows proposed by qualified local entities. 

This innovative experimental program to increase tributary flows includes efforts by the 

Oregon Water Trust, Oregon Water Resources Department, and Deschutes Resources 

Conservancy in Oregon, the Washington Water Trust, Washington Department of 

Ecology, and the Walla Walla Watershed Alliance in Washington, and the Idaho Water 

Resources Department to to implementation of innovative approaches to acquire and 
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Action Description Progress Summary

secure instream flows for fish. 

Per BPA agreement with the Council, the ISRP reviewed the program criteria and 

transaction checklist in 2002 that had been developed with input from the Council, 

NOAA Fisheries, BPA, and staff from various other entities. BPA intends to use the 

Columbia Basin Water Transactions Program in order to test innovative transactional 

strategies for delivering water in flow-limited tributaries in each of the Columbia Basin 

states and apply the effective strategies in the field to make progress toward meeting 

performance standards.

152

The Action Agencies shall coordinate their 

efforts and support offsite habitat enhancement

measures undertaken by other Federal agencies, 

states, Tribes, and local governments by the 

following: (See RPA)

In FY2002, the Action Agencies coordinated efforts with other Federal agencies, states, 

Tribes, and local governments in support of development and implementation of TMDLs. 

153

BPA shall, working with agricultural incentive 

programs such as the Conservation Reserve 

Enhancement Program, negotiate and fund longterm protection for 100 miles of riparian buffers 

per year in accordance with criteria BPA and 

NMFS will develop by June 1, 2001.

BPA, working with NOAA Fisheries, Farm Services Administration, NRCS, the states, 

and others, continued to strengthen support for riparian protection through CREP and 

other incentive programs, and work on a collaborative process to develop a mechanism 

for longer term or permanent easement protection of riparian buffer areas. Action 153 

has a goal to negotiate and fund long-term protection for 100 miles of riparian buffer each 

year. 

In the realm of riparian protection, BPA helped facilitate the protection of over 300 miles 

of riparian buffer protection in 2002 alone. This facilitation included funding to leverage 

resources for CREP and other incentive program coordinators to enroll land into riparian 

protection programs, as well as providing financial assistance for fencing and planting of 

riparian buffer areas. BPA understands that NOAA Fisheries goal is for long-term 

protection to enable protection of the riparian buffers for at least 30 years through a 

conservation easement or contract mechanism. While all of this protection may not be 

legally protected for 30 or more years, opportunities may exist to extend the duration of 

the protection at a future time. 

One of the serious challenges identified in implementing this action is the relatively slow 

implementation of the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) by the 

Northwest states. Only Oregon and Washington have agreements with the USDA to 

implement CREP, but neither state’s program currently has a mechanism to extend to 
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protection beyond fifteen years by adding an increment to the contract price. BPA has 

funded riparian protection not associated with CREP but with the same overall goal to 

obtain miles of riparian protection. Many of these miles may provide better opportunities 

to secure long-term protection in riparian areas, and BPA considers these miles of 

protection applicable under the action. BPA continued discussions with the Oregon 

Watershed Enhancement Board and the Washington Conservation Commission to 

explore options to add an easement component to CREP as done in several states outside 

of the Northwest. Until the states agencies implementing CREP add such an easement 

component to their programs, no additional benefits or efficiencies would be achieved by 

making protection long-term on CREP enrolled lands compared to other areas targeted 

for riparian protection. 

BPA still pursued a two-tier approach to leverage agricultural incentive programs, 

primarily CREP, to fund long-term protection for riparian buffers. Tier 1 is a continued 

effort to develop and implement a program for establishing long-term protection for lands 

enrolled in these programs. Tier 2 consists of continued support of CREP 

implementation and other similar programs as needed to develop, refine, and implement 

and support components of a long-term protection mechanism. To this end, BPA, 

working with NOAA, FSA, NRCS, OWEB, WA Conservation Commission, and others, 

began exploring development and implementation of a means to strengthen CREP and 

increase riparian protection in areas within the range of listed fish species. The ultimate 

objective of the multi-agency process would be to establish a mechanism to ultimately 

achieve long-term or permanent protection of 100 miles of riparian habitat per year. 

154

BPA shall work with the NWPPC to ensure 

development and updating of subbasin 

assessments and plans; match state and local 

funding for coordinated development of 

watershed assessments and plans; and help fund 

technical support for subbasin and watershed 

plan implementation from 2001 to 2006. 

Planning for priority subbasins should be 

completed by the 2003 check-in. The action 

agencies will work with other Federal agencies to 

ensure that subbasin and watershed assessments 

and plans are coordinated across non-Federal 

Subbasin Planning under the Council’s process continued in FY 2002. The Council 

established its management plan and BPA issued the master contracts for the Council to 

produce the subbasin plans. Subbasin planning will utilize over $15 million in funds 

provided by BPA. The Council developed guidance for that planning in concert with 

NOAA Fisheries so that the Council’s subbasin plans can also be utilized as anadromous 

fish recovery plans under the ESA. In addition to arranging the review of the Clearwater 

Plan, the Council helped put in place work plans for the Kootenai, Flathead, and Lower 

Columbia Fish Recovery Board. The Action Agencies continued to provide a share of 

technical support for the development of subbasin assessments and plans as requested by 

the subbasin planners. BPA also funded a number of projects that support coordinated 

development of state and local watershed assessments and plans..
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and Federal land ownerships and programs.

155

BPA, working with BOR, the Corps, EPA, and 

USGS, shall develop a program to 1) identify 

mainstem habitat sampling reaches, survey 

conditions, describe cause-and-effect 

relationships, and identify research needs; 2) 

develop improvement plans for all mainstem 

reaches; and 3) initiate improvements in three 

mainstem reaches. Results shall be reported 

annually.

BPA continued to implement 3 existing projects including an evaluation of fall Chinook 

and chum salmon spawning, the restoration of the Sandy River delta, and the evaluation 

of factors limiting Columbia River Gorge chum salmon populations. 

156

The Action Agencies and NMFS shall study the 

feasibility (including both biological benefits and 

ecological risks) of habitat modification to 

improve spawning conditions for chum salmon 

in the Ives Island area.

The Corps began the Ives Island project in March 2002. Project goal is to create chum 

salmon habitat that will compensate for loss of habitat near Ives and Pierce Island during 

low tailwater conditions. During the year, the team worked closely with regional salmon 

managers and determined locations for potential habitat restoration; three in Lower 

Columbia and three near Bonneville Dam. A feasibility report on actions to restore 

and/or protect chum spawning areas should be completed and available 2003. 

157

BPA shall fund actions to improve and restore 

tributary and mainstem habitat for CR chum 

salmon in the reach between The Dalles Dam 

and the mouth of the Columbia River.

BPA continued to implement 4 ongoing projects (1999-003-01, 1999-025-00, 2001-012-

00, and 2001-053-00) that apply to this Action. 

158

During 2001, the Corps and BPA shall seek 

funding and develop an action plan to rapidly 

inventory estuarine habitat, model physical and 

biological features of the historical lower river 

and estuary, identify limiting biological and 

physical factors in the estuary, identify impacts 

of the FCRPS system on habitat and listed 

salmon in the estuary relative to other factors, 

and develop criteria for estuarine habitat 

restoration.

The Corps continued coordination to identify cost-sharing partners and scooping for 

General Investigation Study. For estuary mapping, the Corps signed a planning 

assistance to States agreement and completed planning. Initiated estuary studies in 

cooperation with BPA.

159

BPA and the Corps, working with LCREP and 

NMFS, shall develop a plan addressing the 

habitat needs of salmon and steelhead in the 

estuary.

BPA and the Corps worked with LCREP and the Columbia River Estuary Study 

Taskforce (CREST) to develop this plan. This project, initiated in FY 2002, will provide 

the foundational plan for habitat restoration activities in the estuary. 

160 The Corps and BPA, working with LCREP, shall 

develop and implement an estuary restoration 

The Corps and BPA began working on a cost share agreement that will allow the Corps to 

use existing and new authorities to protect and enhance 5,000 acres of estuary habitat 
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develop and implement an estuary restoration 

program with a goal of protecting and enhancing 

10,000 acres of tidal wetlands and other key 

habitats over 10 years, beginning in 2001, to 

rebuild productivity for listed populations in the 

lower 46 river miles of the Columbia River. The 

Corps shall seek funds for the Federal share of 

the program, and BPA shall provide funding for 

the non-Federal share. The Action Agencies 

shall provide planning and engineering expertise 

to implement the non-Federal share of on-theground habitat improvement efforts identified in 

LCREP, Action 2.

use existing and new authorities to protect and enhance 5,000 acres of estuary habitat 

during the next 5 years (2003-2007). 

The Corps initiated planning and preparation of a preliminary restoration plan for Crims 

Island and southwest Washington streams, and planning was continued for the 

Brownsmead project. 

161

Between 2001 and 2010, the Corps and BPA 

shall fund a monitoring and research program 

acceptable to NMFS and closely coordinated 

with the LCREP monitoring and research efforts 

(Management Plan Action 28) to address the 

estuary objectives of this biological opinion.

The Estuary/Ocean RM&E Work Group was established in the summer of 2002 and 

began developing an RM&E plan for the estuary. The work group includes NOAAFisheries and a representative from the Lower Columbia River Partnership (LCREP). 

Initial efforts focused on assessing the on-going RM&E efforts and identifying any gaps 

(gap analysis). This gap analysis was provided to the RM&E Planning Group for 

incorporation into the RM&E Framework document. The Action Agencies also reviewed 

proposals for estuarine research in the Provincial Review Process and provided 

recommendations on which would help to meet FCRPS BiOp requirements. Several 

RM&E efforts were funded in the estuary and ocean plume in 2002.

162

During 2000, BPA, working with NMFS, shall 

continue to develop a conceptual model of the 

relationship between estuarine conditions and 

salmon population structure and resilience. The 

model will highlight the relationship among 

hydropower, water management, estuarine 

conditions, and fish response. The work will 

enable the agencies to identify information gaps 

that have to be addressed to develop 

recommendations for FCRPS management and 

operations.

The Estuary/Ocean RM&E Work Group began reviewing available conceptual models, 

including Dr. Thom’s model developed for the Columbia River Channel Improvement 

Project, NOAA Fisheries’ Salmon at Rivers End report, and Dr. Simenstad’s work on 

food web interactions and nutrient cycling in the estuary and considering how well they 

meet the RPA requirements. 

163 The Action Agencies and NMFS, in conjunction 

with the Habitat Coordination Team, will

The Action Agencies are using an Access database for project level BiOp implementation 

planning and progress reporting. This provides the initial effort towards development of 
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develop a compliance monitoring program for 

inclusion in the first 1- and 5-year plans. 

a compliance monitoring program. The Action Agencies will continue to work with other 

parties to develop a compliance monitoring program. 

164

The Action Agencies shall work with NMFS, 

USFWS, and Tribal and state fishery 

management agencies in a multiyear program to 

develop, test, and deploy selective fishing 

methods and gear that enable fisheries to target 

nonlisted fish while holding incidental impacts 

on listed fish within NMFS-defined limits. The 

design of this program and initial 

implementation (i.e., at least the testing of new 

gear types and methods) shall begin in FY 2001. 

Studies and/or pilot projects shall be under way 

and/or methods deployed by the 3-year checkin.

The Action Agencies funded its second year of testing and assessing selective fishing gear 

in the lower Columbia River (BPA 2001-007-00). The 2002 non-Indian commercial 

tangle net fishery harvested 14,238 spring Chinook, released 14,095 spring Chinook and 

released 20,854 steelhead. The large handle of steelhead likely was the result of too large a 

maximum mesh strata allowed combined with an exceptionally large steelhead run in 

2002. Information on short term catch and release mortality was obtained. Future 

modifications will focus upon reducing handling of non-target species and improving 

estimates of pre-spawning mortality of released fish, including steelhead.

Through the Select Area Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) project (BPA 1993-060-00), the 

Action Agencies continued to collect and analyze homing and straying information, and 

evaluate the suitability of the use of Willamette and Cowlitz stock of spring Chinook for 

optimal use in select fishing areas. This included a treatment/control test using 

morpholine drip to enhance homing of spring Chinook. Continuing efforts to optimize 

fishery value by rearing and release of spring Chinook occurred during 2002. SAFE 

production contributed over 105 thousand salmon toward commercial and recreational 

fisheries, with an estimated economic value of $1,588,000 in 2002.

165

The Action Agencies shall work with NMFS, 

USFWS, Tribal and state fishery managers, and 

the relevant Pacific Salmon Commission and 

Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) 

technical committees to develop and implement 

methods and analytical procedures (including 

revising and/or replacing current fishery 

management and stock assessment models based 

on these methods and procedures) to estimate 

fishery and stock-specific management 

parameters (e.g., harvest rates). The Action 

Agencies shall place particular emphasis on 

current methods and procedures affected by the 

transition to mass marking of Columbia River 

basin hatchery produced fish and/or deployment 

No fundable proposals specific to implementation of this item appeared in the 

Mainstem/Systemwide solicitation, nor was any specific project implemented by the 

Action Agencies in 2002. However, progress toward the intended purpose of this RPA 

has occurred through funding by NOAA Fisheries for a project to update the Chinook 

harvest management model used by the Pacific Salmon Commission - Chinook Technical 

Committee. This project was initiated in 2002.
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of selective fishery regimes in the Columbia 

River basin, addressing these concerns within a 

time frame necessary to make the new selective 

fishing regimes feasible. Specifically, the Action 

Agencies shall facilitate the development of 

models, methods, and analytical procedures by 

the 3-year check-in.

166

The Action Agencies shall work with NMFS, 

USFWS, the Pacific States Marine Fisheries 

Commission, and Tribal and state fishery 

management agencies to implement and/or 

enable changes in catch sampling programs and 

data recovery systems, including any required 

changes in current databases (e.g., reformatting) 

and associated data retrieval systems, pursuant to 

the time frame necessary to implement and 

monitor mass marking programs and/or 

selective fishery regimes in the Columbia River 

basin. Specifically, the Action Agencies shall 

facilitate the revision of programs and systems, 

as needed, by the 3-year check-in.

The Action Agencies supported a study to assess the feasibility of removing ghost fishing 

nets in the mainstem Columbia River in 2002 (BPA 2001-058-00). Unaccounted loss of 

salmonids due to lost nets has been identified as a potential contributor to loss estimates 

within harvest data systems. Preliminary results indicate the ability to target and locate 

submerged nets using side-scan sonar. A total of 8 fishing nets of various length, diameter 

and condition were removed in 2002. A total of 80 white sturgeon carcasses and/or 

notochords were retrieved from the nets. No other fish species were found in the nets. 

The Action Agencies will assess the priority of continuing to implement this project after 

the report of research is delivered. 

The Action Agencies continued funding support for the Coded Wire Tag (CWT) and 

harvest monitoring database, including any changes necessitated by the ongoing 

refinements of fishery and stock assessment programs. Additionally, in 2002, the harvest 

managers began to look at adult pit tag data at Bonneville Dam to try to improve stock 

run-timing estimates (spring/summer Chinook) for inclusion in inseason management 

decisions. 

167

The Action Agencies shall work with NMFS, 

USFWS, and Tribal and state fishery 

management agencies to develop improved 

methods for estimating incidental mortalities in 

fisheries, with particular emphasis on selective 

fisheries in the Columbia River basin, doing so 

within the time frame necessary to make new 

marking and selective fishery regimes feasible. 

The Action Agencies shall initiate studies and/or 

develop methods by the 3-year check-in.

The Action Agencies funded its second year of testing and assessing selective fishing gear 

in the lower Columbia River (BPA 2001-007-00). Results from this study indicate a 50% 

mortality rate on spring Chinook and steelhead for modified conventional gillnets. 

Information derived from 2002 spring Chinook long-term mortality research using 4.5-

inch tooth-tangle nets shows a 25% mortality rate. 

The Action Agencies supported a study to assess the feasibility of removing ghost fishing 

nets in the mainstem Columbia River in 2002. Preliminary results indicate the ability to 

target and locate submerged nets using side-scan sonar. A total of 8 fishing nets of 

various length, diameter and condition were removed in 2002. A total of 80 white 

sturgeon carcasses and/or notochords were retrieved from the nets. No other fish species 

were found in the nets. The Action Agencies will assess the priority of continuing to 

implement this project after the report of research is delivered. 
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implement this project after the report of research is delivered. 

168

The Action Agencies shall work with NMFS, 

USFWS, and Tribal and state fishery 

management agencies to develop methods for 

crediting harvest reforms, and the survival 

benefits they produce, toward FCRPS offsite 

mitigation responsibilities. A crediting approach 

shall be agreed upon by the 3-year check-in.

In 2002, the Action Agencies and NOAA fisheries discussed options and methodology 

for crediting harvest reforms sponsored by the Action Agencies. The product of this 

discussion is a white paper to address crediting approaches for harvest-related reforms to 

be completed by the 2003 Action Agency check-in.

169

The Action Agencies shall fund the development 

of NMFS-approved HGMPs for 

implementation, including plans for monitoring 

and revising them as necessary as new 

information becomes available. HGMPs have to 

be completed first for the facilities and programs 

affecting the most at-risk species (Upper 

Columbia and Snake River ESUs), followed by 

those affecting mid-Columbia, and then the 

Lower Columbia ESUs. HGMPs for all the 

Columbia basin hatchery programs and facilities 

should be completed (and approved by NMFS) 

by the 3-year check-in.

NOAA and the Action Agencies developed a 3-phased process for producing NOAAapprovable HGMPs. 

The Corps funded HGMP development for Spring Creek and Bonneville fish hatcheries. 

These were completed and should be through the NOAA approval process prior to 

September 2003.

170

Using new authorizations and appropriations 

and/or BPA funds as necessary and appropriate, 

the Corps, working with USFWS, shall oversee 

the design and construction of capital 

modifications identified as necessary in the 

HGMP planning process for Lower Snake River 

Compensation Plan anadromous fish hatchery 

programs. These improvements shall begin 

immediately after the relevant HGMPs are 

completed and approved by NMFS, and shall be 

completed as expeditiously as is feasible. BPA 

shall provide for the operations and maintenance 

costs of these reforms and shall reimburse the 

Federal Treasury for an appropriate share of the 

As the HGMPs are completed and approved, the Corps, USFWS, and NOAA will 

coordinate implementation schedules and funding mechanisms to expedite recommended 

construction modifications and operations and maintenance reforms. No new processes 

are required to secure BPA funding. Prompt review (Council’s 3-step Hatchery Review 

process) and implementation (through mid-year reallocations) can be used. Non-BPA 

avenues of funding (authorizations and appropriations) will require more agency lead time. 

It is likely that some reforms will not be subject to the 3-step process, which is designed 

primarily for new hatchery production or significant changes to existing hatchery programs.
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capital costs. The Corps shall have begun to 

implement reforms for programs affecting the 

most at-risk species by the 3-year check-in.

171

BOR shall implement the reforms identified in 

the HGMP planning process for the Grand 

Coulee mitigation anadromous fish hatchery 

programs, beginning immediately following 

completion of the relevant (NMFS approved) 

HGMPs and completing the work as 

expeditiously as feasible. BPA shall fund the 

operations and maintenance costs of the reforms 

and shall reimburse the Federal Treasury for an 

appropriate share of the capital costs. BOR shall 

have begun to implement reforms for programs 

affecting the most at-risk species by the 3-year 

check-in

HGMPs for Leavenworth, Entiat and Winthrop National Fish Hatcheries will be 

completed and submitted to NOAA in FY2003 for review and approval. Approval of 

HGMPs should occur either in late FY2003 or early FY2004. Planning for and 

implementation of reforms will begin as soon as practical after receiving NOAA approval.

172

The Corps shall implement the reforms 

identified in the HGMP planning process for the 

Corp’s Columbia River basin mitigation 

anadromous fish hatchery programs, beginning 

immediately after the relevant HGMPs are 

completed and are approved by NMFS. The 

work shall be completed as expeditiously as 

feasible. BPA shall fund the operations and 

maintenance costs of the reforms and shall 

reimburse the Federal Treasury for an 

appropriate share of the capital costs. The 

Corps shall have begun to implement reforms 

for the programs affecting the most at-risk 

species by the 3-year check-in.

The Corps will work with each hatchery operating agency to ensure prompt 

implementation of recommended HGMP reforms. Reforms requiring additional funding 

will be submitted in the first available budget request. Dependent upon the relative priority 

of the reform action compared to other ongoing fish activities, funds may be supplied 

sooner if available. The Corps will implement the HGMP reforms as the HGMPs are 

completed. 

173

BPA shall implement the reforms identified in 

the HGMP planning process for Federal and 

Federally funded hatcheries, beginning 

immediately after the relevant HGMPs are 

completed and approved by NMFS. The work 

shall be completed as expeditiously as possible. 

BPA will implement the HGMP reforms as the HGMPs are completed. BPA and NOAA 

will work with hatchery operators to coordinate implementation schedules and funding 

mechanisms to expedite recommended construction modifications and operations and 

maintenance reforms. No new processes are required to secure BPA funding. Prompt 

review (Council 3-step Hatchery Review process) and implementation (through mid-year 

reallocations) can be used.
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shall be completed as expeditiously as possible. 

BPA shall have begun to implement reforms for 

the programs affecting the most at-risk species 

by the 3-year check-in. 

reallocations) can be used.

It is likely that some reforms will not be subject to 3-step process, which is designed 

primarily for new hatchery production or significant changes to existing hatchery programs.

174

Working through regional prioritization 

processes to the extent feasible and in 

coordination with NMFS, BPA shall collaborate 

with the regional, state, Tribal, and Federal fish 

managers and the Pacific States Marine Fisheries 

Commission to enable the development and 

implementation of a comprehensive marking 

plan. Included in this action are the following 

four steps:

Development of a comprehensive plan to mark hatchery produced salmon was delayed in 

2002. The delay enabled differentiation between hatchery and naturally-produced salmon 

and ensure that appropriate tagging and sampling rates are being implemented. 

1. Develop a comprehensive marking strategy 

for all salmon and steelhead artificial production 

programs in the Columbia River basin by the 

end of 2001.

See above.

2. Provide funding by March 1, 2001, to begin 

marking all spring chinook salmon that are 

currently released unmarked from Federal or 

Federally funded hatcheries.

No progress in FY 2002.

3. Provide funding, beginning in FY 2002, to 

implement the Action Agencies’ share of the 

comprehensive marking plan for production not 

addressed in (2) above. 

4. Obtain funding contributions as appropriate 

for additional sampling efforts and specific 

experiments to determine relative distribution 

and timing of hatchery and natural spawners. 

175

BPA shall, in coordination with NMFS, USFWS, 

and the relevant state and Tribal comanagers, 

fund the four-step planning process described 

above as quickly as possible and, if so 

determined by that process, implement safetynet projects as quickly as possible at least for the 

The NOAA Findings Letter (July 2002) acknowledged that the planning process was 

delayed by up to one year to allow co-managers to better define and coordinate the 

components of the program. The planning process was expanded to include analysis of 38 

populations instead of the original 10 populations specified in Action 175. Planning was 

delayed for approximately six months while the consolidated Safety-Net Artificial 

Propagation Program (SNAPP) proposal was undergoing review and approval through the 
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following salmon and steelhead populations: 1) 

A-run steelhead populations in the Lemhi River, 

main Salmon River tributaries, East Fork Salmon 

River, and Lower Salmon River; 2) B-run 

steelhead populations in the Upper Lochsa River 

and South Fork Salmon River; and 3) 

spring/summer chinook populations in the 

Lemhi, East Fork, and Yankee Fork Salmon 

rivers, and Valley Creek.

Provincial Review process. As a result of this review, the SNAPP planning process was 

more closely aligned and coordinated with the efforts of the Interior Columbia Technical 

Recovery Team, making the SNAPP schedule somewhat dependent on the TRT’s 

completion of it’s work products. In August 2002, BPA began to initiate contracts for the 

SNAPP extinction risk analysis and state and tribal co-manager participation in SNAPP. 

Because of all of these changes to the SNAPP program, the end of 2003 is now a realistic 

target date for completion of the initial products from SNAPP, the NOAA-approved 

HGMPs for contingency safety-net projects. 

176

BPA shall, in coordination with NMFS, USFWS, 

and the relevant state and Tribal comanagers, 

fund the development of HGMPs for the 

Grande Ronde and Tucannon spring/summer 

chinook safety-net programs. 

BPA funded the Grande Ronde and Tucannon safety-net HGMPs under a Memorandum 

of Agreement with the USFWS, which oversees the Congressionally-mandated Lower 

Snake River Compensation Plan (LSRCP). Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 

completed a Phase I HGMP for Grande Ronde River Spring Chinook salmon program. 

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife completed a Phase I HGMP for Tucannon 

River Spring Chinook salmon program. Both of these Phase I products were submitted to 

USFWS. 

177 In 2002, BPA shall begin to implement and 

sustain NMFS-approved, safety-net projects. 

Existing safety-net projects (e.g., the Snake River spring/summer chinook and Snake 

River sockeye captive brood programs) were sustained when required. 

178

BPA shall commit to a process whereby funds 

can be made quickly available for funding the 

planning and implementation of additional 

safety-net projects for high-risk salmon and 

steelhead populations NMFS identified during 

the term of this biological opinion. 

BPA worked with NOAA on developing an approach for funding planning and 

implementation of additional safety-net projects if and when these projects become 

necessary during the term of the 2000 BiOp after the current SNAPP four-step planning 

process is completed.

179

The Action Agencies and NMFS shall work with 

affected parties to establish regional priorities 

within the congressional appropriations 

processes to set and provide the appropriate 

level of FCRPS funding to develop recovery 

goals for listed salmon ESUs in the Columbia 

River basin. Tasks shall include defining 

populations based on biological criteria and 

evaluating population viability in accordance 

with NMFS’ viable salmonid population 

approach. These tasks shall be completed by 

The Action Agencies cost-shared with NOAA Fisheries to produce draft TRT recovery 

planning products for Columbia Basin ESUs. BPA initiated funding through the 

Council’s Fish & Wildlife Program for contract 2002-075-00 to directly support this 

Action.
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2003.

180

The Action Agencies and NMFS shall work 

within regional prioritization and congressional 

appropriation processes to establish and provide 

the level of FCRPS funding to develop and 

implement a basinwide hierarchical monitoring 

program. This program shall be developed 

collaboratively with appropriate regional agencies 

and shall determine population and 

environmental status (including assessment of 

performance measures and standards) and allow 

ground-truthing of regional databases. A draft 

program including protocols for specific data to 

be collected, frequency of samples, and sampling 

sites shall be developed by September 2001. 

Implementation should begin no later than the 

spring of 2002 and will be fully implemented no 

later than 2003.

NOAA and the Action Agencies developed a detailed plan for this Action item, including 

pilot scale projects. Ongoing RM&E consistent with the plan continued and is being 

augmented by the Action Agencies and NOAA. 

181

The Action Agencies and NMFS shall work 

within regional prioritization and congressional 

appropriations processes to establish and 

provide the appropriate level of FCRPS funding 

for a program to acquire and digitize aerial or 

satellite imagery of the entire Columbia River 

basin once every 3 to 5 years.

Reclamation purchased aerial imagery in FY2002 for a significant portion of the Columbia 

River Basin. 

182

The Action Agencies and NMFS shall work 

within regional priorities and congressional 

appropriations processes to establish and 

provide the appropriate level of FCRPS funding 

for studies to determine the reproductive success 

of hatchery fish relative to wild fish. At a 

minimum, two to four studies shall be conducted 

in each ESU. The Action Agencies shall work 

with the Technical Recovery Teams to identify 

the most appropriate populations or stocks for 

The RM&E Plan was written and included an evaluation of RM&E needs for determining 

the reproductive success of hatchery salmon and steelhead relative to wild salmon and 

steelhead.
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these studies no later than 2002. Studies will 

begin no later than 2003.

183

Initiate at least three tier 3 studies (each 

necessarily comprising several sites) within each 

ESU (a single action may affect more than one 

ESU). In addition, at least two studies focusing 

on each major management action must take 

place within the Columbia River basin. The 

Action Agencies shall work with NMFS and the 

Technical Recovery Teams to identify key 

studies in the 1-year plan. Those studies will be 

implemented no later than 2003. 

Implementation of effectiveness monitoring projects under this Action was coordinated 

with the implementation of the status monitoring program under Action 180 and the data 

management program under Action 198. The Action Agencies implemented a steelhead 

data information system in John Day, conducted fish production and flow analysis, 

assessed salmonids in Asotin Creek, conducted Chinook smolt-to-adult return studies, and 

evaluated stream habitat using Nez Perce Tribe Fisheries/Watershed as part of fulfillment 

of this RPA 

184

The Action Agencies and NMFS shall work 

within regional prioritization and congressional 

appropriation processes to establish and provide 

the appropriate level of FCRPS funding for a 

hatchery research, monitoring, and evaluation 

program consisting of studies to determine 

whether hatchery reforms reduce the risk of 

extinction for Columbia River basin salmonids 

and whether conservation hatcheries contribute 

to recovery.

The RM&E Plan was written and included an evaluation of RM&E needs relating to the 

effectiveness of hatchery reforms and conservation hatchery actions. 

185

The Action Agencies shall continue to fund and 

expand, as appropriate, fish marking and 

recapturing programs aimed at defining juvenile 

migrant survival for both transported and 

nontransported migrants and adult returns for 

both groups. These studies shall also compare 

the SARs of transported and nontransported fish 

to calculate the differential delayed mortality (D), 

if any, of transported fish.

In fulfillment of this Action, the Action Agencies implemented the following projects: 

delayed mortality studies on juveniles, estimated survival for the passage of juvenile 

salmonids through dams, and conducted a survival study of salmonids on the continental 

shelf and ocean habitats.

186

The Action Agencies and NMFS shall work 

within the annual planning and congressional 

appropriation processes to establish and provide 

the appropriate level of FCRPS funding for 

Ongoing studies were continued to compare survival of radio tagged run-of-river and 

transported fish to partition delayed mortality downstream of Bonneville (also to evaluate 

transportation) and to compare survival of acoustically tagged transported and run-ofriver smolts through the saltwater interface and Columbia River Plume. Final reports will 
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Action 

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Action Description Progress Summary

comparative evaluations of the behavior and 

survival of transported and downstream 

migrants to determine whether causes of D can 

be identified for the reach between Bonneville 

Dam and the mouth of the Columbia River.

be available in 2004. 

187

The Action Agencies and NMFS shall work 

within the annual planning and congressional 

appropriation processes to establish and provide 

the appropriate level of FCRPS funding for 

studies and analyses to evaluate relationships 

between ocean entry timing and SARs for 

transported and downstream migrants.

The Action Agencies conducted a comparative survival rate study of hatchery PIT tagged 

Chinook.

188

The Action Agencies and NMFS shall work 

within the annual planning and congressional 

appropriation processes to establish and provide 

the appropriate level of FCRPS funding for 

studies of PIT-tagged wild stocks from the lower 

river streams. The studies shall be used to 

contrast stock productivity and hydrosystem 

effects.

The Action Agencies implemented the following studies: statistical support for salmonid 

survival studies, Comparative survival rate study of hatchery PIT Tagged Chinook, nd 

trend and habitat monitoring of salmonid productivity and escapement.

189

The Action Agencies and NMFS shall work 

within the annual planning and congressional 

appropriation processes to establish and provide 

the appropriate level of FCRPS funding for 

studies to investigate the causes of discrepancies 

in adult return rates for juvenile salmonids that 

have different passage histories through the 

hydrosystem.

Continued the rearing study to evaluate differences in survival of fish with different routes 

of passage. A final report will be available in spring 2006. Physiology evaluations 

continued and a final report will be available in 2004.

Adult and juvenile PIT tag recovery data were analyzed to compare survival estimates for 

transported fish of known origin, downriver stocks, wild and hatchery transported fish 

and fish handled and not handled at dams.

Installed adult PIT detection systems in all ladders at Bonneville and McNary; and 

installed an innovative, less-expensive, alternative, adult PIT detection system in McNary 

Oregon-shore ladder.

The focus is on determining the absolute and comparative adult return rates of smolts 

transported from Lower Granite and McNary to smolts that complete their outmigration 

within the river. Lower Granite transport evaluation, spring chinook and steelhead 

completed.

190 The Action Agencies shall continue to fund 

studies that monitor survival, growth, and other 

Provided precise measurements of survival of juvenile salmon as they pass through dams 

and reservoirs in the Snake and Columbia Rivers. This work is closely related to RPA 
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Action 

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Action Description Progress Summary

studies that monitor survival, growth, and other 

early life history attributes of Snake River wild 

juvenile fall chinook.

and reservoirs in the Snake and Columbia Rivers. This work is closely related to RPA 

187.

Explored holdover behavior of fall chinook salmon in Lower Granite Reservoir and 

refining existing methods of scale pattern analysis for determining age and DNA analysis 

for determining genetic lineage of holdover fish. Using radio telemetry to determine 

where fish hold over in Lower Granite Reservoir and document passage timing past 

Lower Granite Dam.

191

The Action Agencies shall continue to 

implement adult salmonid counting programs at 

FCRPS dams, but shall improve the reporting of 

these counts.

The Corps continued to implement its annual adult fish counting program at mainstem 

Columbia and Snake river projects and will continue routine operation of fish passage 

facilities, including monitoring adult fallback. . 

192

As set out in Action 50 (Section 9.6.1.3.4), BPA 

and the Corps shall install necessary adult PITtag detectors at appropriate FCRPS projects 

before the expected return of adult salmon from 

the 2001 juvenile outmigration. These adult 

PIT-tag detectors shall be used as needed for 

calculating transport benefits, conversion rates, 

and SARs for listed salmon and steelhead.

Provided basic infrastructure for all PIT tag related projects in Columbia River Basin. 

Operated and maintained long-term data repository for PIT tag information, permanent 

PIT tag interrogation sites, and supports other PIT tag research.

Adult PIT tag interrogation systems were installed in all four of the adult fish ladders at 

the Bonneville project for use beginning in 2002. Also, the two fish ladders and one of 

the counting stations at McNary project were equipped. Significant problems with shields 

leaking and fall chinook using the overflow weirs caused the implementation team to reevaluate future deployments. Installation was completed at the Bonneville ladders.

193

The Action Agencies shall investigate state-ofthe-art, novel fish detection and tagging 

techniques for use, if warranted, in long-term 

research, monitoring, and evaluation efforts.

Developed, installed, and evaluated a prototype adult PIT detection system in Bonneville 

WA-shore ladder. 2) Continued development of the flat-plate PIT detection system in the 

Bonneville 1st powerhouse sluiceway. 3) Continued development of small-stream PIT 

detection systems. 4) Designed adult PIT detection systems for all ladders at Bonneville 

and McNary under project number 2001-003-00.

Assessed the feasibility/validity of remote monitoring approaches to quantify adult 

steelhead escapement in select tributaries of the Imnaha River subbasin.

Completed feasibility project to evaluate new acoustic tracking technology to verify its 

capabilities and designed an acoustic monitoring network to track movement of salmon 

smolts into the ocean and along the continental shelf to areas of ocean residency.

194

The Action Agencies and NMFS shall work 

within the annual planning and congressional 

appropriation processes to establish and provide 

the appropriate level of FCRPS funding for 

The RM&E Estuary/Ocean Work Group is evaluating available physical models and 

considering their applicability to evaluating hydrosystem impacts on the estuary. These 

include the OGI work under project 1998-014 (CORIE model), which continued to be 

funded and developed in 2002, and other physical models, which were developed by the 
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Action 

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Action Description Progress Summary

studies to develop a physical model of the lower 

Columbia River and plume. This model will 

characterize potential changes to estuarine 

habitat associated with modified hydrosystem 

flows and the effects of altered flows where they 

meet the California Current to form the 

Columbia River plume.

Corps for other specific purposes but may be useful in identifying potential changes in the 

estuary. 

195

The Action Agencies shall investigate and 

partition the causes of mortality below 

Bonneville Dam after juvenile salmonid passage 

through the FCRPS.

Work began in 1998 under project 1998-014-00. A major component is the Canadian 

Shelf monitoring project that samples salmonids from Canadian waters up into Alaskan 

waters. Additional work has been completed under project 2000-08 to develop an 

innovative sonic tag tracking system to monitor fish movement from the estuary through 

the near shore waters of the continental shelf. The Corps is developing a smaller sonic tag 

in order to partition mortality below Bonneville. Over time these projects will address the 

causes and partition mortality below Bonneville Dam. The Action Agencies agree to fund 

additional studies through the mainstem/systemwide Provincial Review process and 

through targeted solicitations that specifically meet needs and requirements identified by

the Action Agency/NMFS Hydro RM&E Technical Work Groups work plan. 

196

The Action Agencies and NMFS shall work 

within the annual planning and congressional 

appropriation processes to establish and provide 

the appropriate level of FCRPS funding for 

studies to develop an understanding of juvenile 

and adult salmon use of the Columbia River 

estuary. These studies support the actions to 

develop criteria for estuarine restoration (Action 

158), restoration planning (Action 159), and 

implementation (Action 160) in Section 9.6.2.2.

Studies of juvenile salmonid use of the estuary, including a study to estimate survival 

through the estuary, another to evaluate current and historical use and linkages, and one 

evaluating the relationship between time of ocean entry, physical and biological 

characteristics of the estuary and adult returns were conducted in 2002. 

197

The Action Agencies and NMFS shall work 

within the annual planning and congressional 

appropriation processes to establish and provide 

the appropriate level of FCRPS funding for 

studies to develop an understanding of juvenile 

and adult salmon use of the Columbia River 

plume.

Studies evaluating the relationship between time of ocean entry, physical and biological 

characteristics of the estuary and adult returns and evaluating survival and growth of 

juvenile salmon in the Columbia River plume occurred in 2002.

198 The Action Agencies, in coordination with The Action Agencies continued to support this Action through the following efforts: 
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Action 

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Action Description Progress Summary

NMFS, USFWS, and other Federal agencies, 

NWPPC, states, and Tribes, shall develop a 

common data management system for fish 

populations, water quality, and habitat data.

regional database, ESA coordination at Chief Joseph Dam, second tier database support, 

Montana Natural Heritage Program, StreamNet Pacific Northwest Hydro power database, 

Genetic Monitoring and evaluation and analysis system, develop data management system, 

information system monitoring wild smolt migrations, coded wire tag recovery program, 

and the Idaho Conservation Data Center.

199

The Action Agencies shall implement the 

specific research/monitoring actions outlined in 

Appendix H.

The Action Agencies worked within AFEP and the Regional process (including NOAA) 

to ensure that the elements of App. H are integrated with the broader R, M&E 

framework.