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A JOHN DAY POOL DRAWDOWN 

 ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACTS 



► A proposal to drawdown the John Day Pool from 1992 operations 

 (elevation 262.5-263.5) to minimum operating pool (elevation 

 257) is currently being reviewed. If enacted, a John Day Pool 

 drawdown would offer very limited fish benefits, but it would 

 create significant environmental and economic costs. 



► Estimated biological benefits of drawdown: 



~ With flows at 200 kefs, water particle travel time would be 

 reduced by .6 days; at 100 kefs, water particle travel time 

 would be reduced by 1.2 days. 



-- 1989 and 1990 smolt travel time data suggest that higher flow 

 regime levels~in the 200 to 300 kefs range-do not 

 substantially reduce smolt travel time through the John Day 

 Pool, a reduction of about 1 day. 



~ Under optimal salmon recovery plan conditions and with high 

 survival rate assumptions, a John Day Pool drawdown would 

 produce less than an additional 100 wild adult salmon 

 returning to Idaho waters (one complete salmon life-cycle). 



► Estimated environmental impacts of drawdown: 



~ Fish and wildlife habitat impacts include: existing sloughs, 

 backwater, and wetlands desiccated (including Umatilla 

 National Wfldlife Refuge); resident and anadromous fish 

 rearing and feeding habitat; and benthic productivity. 



~ Potential impacts to aquifer levels, water availabflity for 

 the Umatilla and Irrigon Fish Hatcheries, and potential 

 water quality impacts. 



► Estimated economic impacts: 



~ Impacts to hydropower production; irrigation pumping stations; 

 navigation access channels/delay in lock passage; water supply 

 mitigation; fish and wildlife mitigation; and recreation 

 site mitigation/loss. 



~ Estimated costs: approximately $10,000,000 per year (annual 

 dollars). 



— Estimated cost range per returning adult wild salmon back to 

 Idaho waters: $100,000 to $300,000 per fish (one complete 

 optimal life-cycle, based on annualized costs). 



► Economic analysis identifies John Day Pool drawdown as one of 

 the least cost-effective salmon recovery measures. 



Data Sources: Amy Corps of Engineen 

 Northwest Irrigation UtUitiea/PNUCC 



