408 



maximum 150-megawatt "hit" from drawdowns. Conservation and/ or 

 renewable generating resources such as wind power can also make up for 

 hydropower lost in drawdowns. 



Neither the Corps nor farmers have identified any irrigation pump 

 intake that can not be extended to function at lower pool elevations. 



In mitigation of a 10-week interruption of barge navigation in the 

 Lower Snake River, farmers can ship crops either before and after the 

 drawdowns, or by rail. New grain storage and /or improved railroad service 

 would give fanners the benefit of better competition in the shipping 

 marketplace. Reviewing the impact of a 2-3 month navigation lock outage, 

 agricultural economists at Washington State University. Oregon State 

 University, and the University of Idaho predict that the grain shipping 

 marketplace would react to eliminate or minimize losses by local farmers. 

 The agricultural economists conclude, "These market-driven adjustments 

 are likely to mitigate some of the impact of a river drawdown. Those 

 estimates which predict devastating impacts on the region's shippers could 

 be seen as negotiation postures." New storage and /or better rail service 

 would keep farmers whole if and when the marketplace does not provide 

 equal prices to pre- or post-position crops around the drawdown window, 

 and/or to convert to grain shipping by train. (See The Effect of Lower Snake 

 River Reservoir Drawdown on Barge Transportation.) Predictions of multi- 

 million dollar losses and business closures in the Lewiston-Clarkston area 

 alone assumed a drawdown of 5 months duration. 



During the March, 1992 structural test of drawdowns at the Lower 

 Granite and Little Goose pools, no damage occurred which has not been 

 repaired, and can not be repaired permanently. 



Costs of E>rawdowns. Including Successful Mitigation of Economic Impacts, 

 Are Affordable Investments 



Contrary to the undocumented allegations of those who have sought to 

 panic and divide the public, reservoir drawdowns and other salmon recovery 

 measures can be brought on-line while maintaining the current economic 

 and jobs base of the local area. Farmers did not create the juvenile salmon 

 blockage at the dams: farmers and other river users impacted by drawdowns 

 can. and should, be kept whole. 



The two leading design options for dam modifications — a constant 

 pool drawdown at 33-40 feet below normal elevation, and a natural river 

 drawdown with full evacuaUon of the reservoir — are estimated to cost $1.3 

 and $4.9 billion respectively. These are separate price tags for different 

 designs, not a range of possible expenses. Under contract to the Northwest 

 Power Planning Council. Harza Engineering has identified several ways to 

 substantially reduce the Corps" cost figures. 



Drawdowns Offer Greatest Promise — Page 4 



