Doing that will expose the redds but keep them wet enough that the developing fish will survive. During the six hours the redds are under water, fry will be able to emerge from their eggs and enter the river. But chum-friendly flows are expected to end as soon as the reservoir behind Grand Coulee Dam reaches an elevation of 1,220 feet. Officials at the Bonneville Power Administration say it needs to keep enough water behind the dam to quickly respond to power emergencies. But ironically, cutting off the flows at Grand Coulee could pitch the region into a power shortage that could lead to an emergency declaration.
Power supplies are so tight that every watt lost has to be replaced.
So, as soon as flows from Grand Coulee end, releases from reservoirs elsewhere will have to come on line. That likely will mean more water will be evacuated from Libby and Hungry Horse reservoirs in Montana. But it could also lead to more water leaving Dworshak Dam at Ahsahka. To help another run of fish, water may be spilled over Bonneville Dam this weekend to help 5.2 million fall chinook from the Spring Creek Hatchery make their way past the dam and to the Columbia River estuary. Fish managers asked for 10 days of flow but likely will receive just 24 hours.