188 



2. 1 .2 System Operating Strategy 



The first level of dedsionmaking is to determiixe a System Operating Strategy. The 

 strategy establishes a broad operating regime of storage elevations, outflows and their 

 timing designed to balance the multiple uses of the river. There has yet to be a formal 

 strategy published by the SOR lead agencies. The current operating strategy "exists" as 

 a collection of multiple-use requirements for individual projects and several system 

 objectives that are met through these project requirements. Examples of system 

 objectives are power production, flood control and anadramous fish flows, irrigation, 

 navigation. The SOS will be one of the major products of the System Operation Review. 

 Once the SOS is in place, there would also have to be considerable operational planning 

 between all the parties to ensure that the strategy can be implemented. 



The SOS is currently being determined as part of the SOR. This is a five-year multi- 

 million dollar study. One of the goals in establishing the Forum is to provide a 

 mechanism for revising the strategy that won't require such an immense effort. The 

 goal is that the SOR EIS will consider a broad enough range of alternatives that future 

 revisions to the strategy will be covered by the SOR HS, possibly with a new Record of 

 Decision or a Supplemental EIS. 



2.1.3 Annual Operating Plan 



But even when there is an overall strategy, it must be interpreted in light of actual 

 hydrologic conditions, such as the amount of storage in the reservoirs, the amount of 

 snowpack, the water supply forecast, etc. Each year, a year in advance, annual 

 operating plans are developed for power and nonpower uses. For example, power 



Final Draft - September 15, 1993 19 



