619 



Reporc and Proposal Co Scudy 



the 

 Boylan Smolc Transport System 



Incroduetton 



The current losses of salmon and steelhead smolts migrating down the Snake and 

 Columbia Rivers is estimated at up to ISZ per dam. With eight dams and 

 reservoirs to navigate, smolt survival to the ocean is unaccepcably low. 

 Means to improve their survival have or will include screening and bypassing 

 the powerplants, reducing transit time by improving flow velocity, reducing 

 predation, and continuing barge or tanker truck transportation of smolts 

 downstream. This report addresses a closed conduit pipeline system to reduce 

 transit time and reduce other hazards to the smolts. 



The Need for Improved Transport 



The hazards to smolts during downstream migration through the slack water of 

 reservoirs, powerplanc turbines, supersaturated water below dams, and 

 predator- infested waters are the major causes of their reduced populations. 

 Some species are near extinction from these impacts, along with overfishing. 



Efforts to reduce smolt damage at powerplants is centered on new or improved 

 screening and bypass systems. It is assumed this program will continue. The 

 low water velocity in the eight reservoirs (about 270 miles of water) adds 

 many days to the natural migration time; and the resultant losses are 



