They plan to skimp on spring flow augmentation from Dworshak and rely instead on water from Hungry Horse and Libby reservoirs, said Ed Mosey, spokesman for the federal power broker. We are trying to put the water where it's going to do the most good for fish. The idea is to keep the outflow at Dworshak on the Clearwater River at a minimum, about 1,300 cubic feet per second, for the rest of the winter. Flows to flush spring chinook to the ocean will be concentrated between April and May when more fish are in the system. The remaining water would be saved for the summer to cool the Snake River and push young fall chinook to the ocean.
Water used in the summer also is more valuable for power generation for air conditioners.
Mosey said the agency wants to avoid the need to purchase power on the open market, where prices have exploded. National Marine Fisheries Service research indicates flow augmentation is better for young salmon traveling in the summer than for spring migrants. That is why the agency believes it is more important for Dworshak to refill than the Montana reservoirs, biologist Paul Wagner said. But he added most of the studies on spring flow augmentation have been conducted during years of average or above-average flows. Idaho Department of Fish and Game biologist Steve Pettit said history indicates spring flows are crucial to spring chinook.