197 



1995 Federal Appropriations Recommendations - 



Army Corps of Engineers - No action or funding is requested as no scientific and 

 public support exists. No Advanced Planning and Design Activities should be 

 funded or conducted Remaining FY 1994 funds should be shifted for high priority 

 activities such as fish marking program and improved smolt transportation as 

 described above 



Consistency with NMFS Recovery Team (Bevan) Plan - 



"The Team has considered and rejected as a significant recovery action, the current 

 plans to draw down John Day Reservoir below minimum irrigation pool." pg 18, Team 

 Final Recomm., Summary 



Comments by the Corps of Engineers (System Configuration Study) - 



"Potential effects of the operation on survival of Snake River stocks is minimal, due 

 to transportation. The vast majority of juveniles from the Snake River would not be 

 affected by actions in the lower Columbia River." Corps SCS Review Phase I 



Conunents by Harza Engineering (NPPC Consultant) - 



"The principal flaw cf a proposed drawdown at John Day is our inability to quantify 

 the benefits to anadromous salmonids... While benefits to salmonids are debatable, 

 impacts to wildlife are not... Harza does not endorse the five-foot John Day 

 drawdown." April 1994 Harza Review of Reservoir Drawdown Study 



V. SNAKE RIVER DRAWDOWN - BIOLOGICAL DRAWDOWN TEST 



Background - In March, 1992, a one-month "physical" drawdown test was conducted 

 of the Lower Granite and Litde Goose Reservoirs. A "biological" test is now being 

 considered by the Corps beginning in 1996 at Lower Granite Reservoir. The test would 

 could be conduaed for up to four years for two month durations. Drafting and refill 

 limitations would extend the drawdown period to approximately three and one-half months. 

 The Corps estimates the test would cost $1 13 million (four-year duration). River navigation 

 to Lewiston and Clarkston would be eliminated during this period. Although the test would 

 simulate spillway crest drawdown conditions (Idaho Plan), the Corps discarded the four-dam 

 spillway crest drawdown option from long term operation in its System Configuration Study 

 (preliminary findings phase I). Therefore, the biological test considered does not provide 

 information for future reservoir operation. The test is simply not as scientific as 

 investigations (Iwamoto, Skalski, Williams Flow/Survival Study) on river flow levels and fish 

 survival that are underway in the Lower Granite Reservoir reach. These baseline studies will 

 be completed in 199S or later. To date, no qualified scientists have supported reservoir 



