434 



In March 1992 the Anny Corps performed a drawdown test that proved drawdowns are structurally feasible. A 

 National Marine Fisheries Service economics comminee released an analysis in 1992 which showed drawdowns to be 

 economically feasible-the least-cost way to attain needed flows. Fishery agencies reiterated their judgment that tempo- 

 rarily moving back towards pre-dam conditions during spring migration is biologically prudent. 



The only real alternative to lower Snake drawdowns is to continue current collection and transportation - barging 

 - of juvenile salmon through the projects. In December 1992, the fishery agencies and tribes concluded the evidence 

 indicates barging is detrimental to wild salmon recovery. Salmon barging has had 16 years to prove itself; instead the 

 result has been continued decline of the barged stocks toward extinction. 



The Northwest must put the fish back in the river, and begin implementing the in-river elements of the Council 

 program. Dam modification to allow drawdown operation must begin now. 



An Early Action Initiative at Lower Granite Dam 



As a first step, Northwest salmon advocates propose capital investments, totalling $70-95 million over two years, 

 to draw Lower Granite Reservoir down near spillway crest each spring. This investment will: speed juvenile fish through 

 the reservoir, and spill or pass them by the dam; allow adult fish ladders to continue operating; and prevent or mitigate 

 damage to other uses. 



The money can come from the U.S. Treasury or the Boimeville Power Administration Fund. In either case 

 Congress must act to appropriate it. 



These investments modify the upstream side of Lower Granite Dam; there is substantial agreement on the techni- 

 cal work needed. Modifying the '<«'" to operate near spillway crest (some 45 feet below normal) includes these elements: 



A. Mine a new low-level juvenile collection channel so downstream migrating salmon can bypass turbines 

 during drawdown. The Army Corps estimates a $15 million cost. (For another $14 million, the pressurized pipes which 

 now bypass fish for barging could be replaced by a more "fish friendly" open channel flume.) 



B. Install new pumps for, and add a secondary low>leveI exit to, the adult fish ladder. Estimate: $3 million. 



C. Improve project structures. Reservoir embankments would be armored to prevent slumping, for $29 million. 

 Changes to the navigation lock and trash boom total $1 million. 



D. Mitigation to affected reservoir users, so they can continue operating during drawdown (irrigators and other 

 water pumpers) or be kept whole for die 2-month interruption of their activity (port customers). A combination Army 

 Corps/NMFS cost estimate is $8 J-9 J million. There are opportunities for mitigating these impacts entirely through 

 capital investments rather than aimual payments. 



E. Improved spillway guidance for juvenile salmon in drawdowns. Measures could include a sluiceway along 

 the powerhouse forebay (to move smolts to the spillway), an angled curtain along the ffash boom, and sound and/or light 

 guidance mechanisms. Estimates for these improvements haven't been made. 



F. Overhead. The Corps' estimate is 28% (engineering and design) and 1 1 % (management) of total costs. 



Total cost for this package is $70-95 million, depending on inclusion of the flume, item E, and actual overhead. It 

 could be appropriated over two years. The package tracks closely with one alternative the Army Corps is analysing in its 

 drawdown smdies. Corps staff suggested Lower Granite modification as a logical starting point for that alternative. With 

 Congressional action, the modification could be complete ii: two to diree years. 



