Washington Administrative Code › Title 173 - Ecology, Department of (See also Titles 197, 317, 372, and 508) › Chapter 173-563 - Instream resources protection program for the main stem Columbia River in Washington state › Section 173-563-040 - Establishment of instream flows for instream uses

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1) In order to protect the quality of the
			 natural environment and provide for preservation of wildlife, fish, scenic,
			 aesthetic and other environmental values, and navigational values, minimum
			 instantaneous flows and minimum average weekly flows are established for
			 instream uses at the following project locations on the main stem Columbia
			 River in Washington state:
CONTROL STATION
RIVER MILE
MANAGEMENT UNIT
The Dalles Dam
191.5
John Day Dam to Bonneville Dam (Lake Bonneville and
							 Celilo Lake) (River Mile 146.1-215.6)
John Day Dam
215.6
John Day Dam to McNary Dam (Umatilla Lake) (River
							 Mile 215.6-292.0)
McNary Dam
292.0
McNary Dam to Priest Rapids Dam (Lake Wallula and the
							 Hanford Reach) (River Mile 292.0-397.1)
Priest Rapids Dam and upstream (Wanapum, Rock Island,
							 Rocky Reach, Wells, Chief Joseph, and Grand Coulee Dam)
397.1+
Priest Rapids Dam upstream to Canadian Border (River
							 Mile 397.1-745.0)
(2)
			 Minimum instantaneous flows at the locations listed in WAC
			 173-563-040(1) are established for instream uses as follows:
MINIMUM INSTANTANEOUS FLOWS - COLUMBIA RIVER PROJECTS
(1,000 cubic feet/second)
Chief*
Joseph
Wells &
Rocky Reach
Rock Island
& Wanapum*
Priest Rapids
McNary
&
John Day
The
Dalles
Jan
10
10
50
20
20
Feb
10
10
50
20
20
Mar
10
10
50
50
50
Apr
1-15
20
20
50
50
70
16-25
20
30
50
70
70
26-30
20
50
50
70
70
May
20
50
50
70
70
June
1-15
20
50
50
70
70
16-30
10
20
50
50
50
Jul
1-15
10
20
50
50
50
16-31
10
50
50
50
50
Aug
10
50
50
50
50
Sep
10
20
36
50
50
Oct
1-15
10
20
36
50
50
16-31
10
20
50
50
50
Nov
10
10
50
50
50
Dec
10
10
50
20
20
*
As provided in WAC
							 173-563-050(1),
							 the minimum instantaneous flows set forth in this subsection are subject to a
							 reduction of up to twenty-five percent during low flow years, except that in no
							 case shall the outflow from Priest Rapids Dam be less than 36,000 cfs. For the
							 reach from Grand Coulee through Wanapum, minimum instantaneous flows shall be
							 as shown above, or as necessary to maintain minimum flows (subject to low
							 runoff adjustment) at Priest Rapids, whichever is higher.
(3) Minimum
			 average weekly flows for instream uses are established at the locations listed
			 in WAC 173-563-040(1) as follows:
MINIMUM AVERAGE WEEKLY FLOWS - COLUMBIA RIVER PROJECTS
(1,000 cubic feet/second)
Chief Joseph*
Wells
&
Rocky
Reach*
Rock
Island
&
Wanapum*
Priest
Rapids
McNary
John
Day
The Dalles
Jan
30
30
30
70
60
60
60
Feb
30
30
30
70
60
60
60
Mar
30
30
30
70
60
60
60
Apr
1-15
50
50
60
70
100
100
120
16-25
60
60
60
70
150
150
160
26-30
90
100
110
110
200
200
200
May
100
115
130
130
220
220
220
Jun
1-15
80
110
110
110
200
200
200
16-30
60
80
80
80
120
120
120
Jul
1-15
60
80
80
80
120
120
120
16-31
90
100
110
110
140
140
140
Aug
85
90
95
95
120
120
120
Sep
40
40
40
40
60
85
90
Oct
1-15
30
35
40
40
60
85
90
16-31
30
35
40
70
60
85
90
Nov
30
30
30
70
60
60
60
Dec
30
30
30
70
60
60
60
*
For the reach from Grand Coulee through Wanapum,
							 minimum average weekly flows shall be as shown above, or as necessary to
							 maintain minimum flows (subject to low runoff adjustment) at Priest Rapids,
							 whichever is higher. As provided in WAC
							 173-563-050(1),
							 the minimum average weekly flows set forth in this subsection are subject to a
							 reduction of up to twenty-five percent during low flow years, except that in no
							 case shall the outflow from Priest Rapids Dam be less than 36,000 cfs.
Statutory Authority:
				  RCW
				  90.54.040,
				  90.54.050,
				  chapters
				  90.03 and 90.22 RCW.
				  82-21-001 and 82-21-007 (Orders DE 82-35 and DE 82-35A), § 173-563-040,
				  filed 10/7/82 and 10/8/82; 80-08-021 (Order DE 80-2), § 173-563-040, filed
				  6/24/80.