113 



Monitoring of resident fish associated with spill in the lower Snake and Columbia 

 rivers has not indicated adverse effects to resident fish populations. There has been 

 very limited mortality of caged resident fish held for 4 aays in known areas of high 

 gas concentrations. These fish were not allowed to seek out areas of the river with 

 lower concentrations of gas. In spite of these adverse conditions that do not reflect 

 mobUe resident fish populations, mortality remained low. 



Monitoring GBT in resident fish is part of the overall monitoring and evaluation 

 program. Results from this program are used to make necessary m-season adjust- 

 ments to fine tune the spill program and minimize risks of GBT in both resident 

 and anadromous fish. 



5. To what extent has scientific research from the states been incorporated into the 

 current spill policy? How can the decisionmakirig process be improvea? 



The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has done a complete job of solicit- 

 ing scientific information regarding the benefits and risks of spill at mainstem 

 dams. NMFS convened a panel of dissolved gas experts in the summer of 1994. This 

 was followed in August of last year with a series of technical workshops with the 

 state and tribal salmon management agencies as well as representatives of the Di- 

 rect Service Industries, Public Power Council, Pacific Northwest Generating Cooper- 

 ative, and environmental groups. The workshops were followed by a series of meet- 

 ings at which all these parties had an opportunity to express tneir views on spill 

 issues. NMFS also invited all interested parties to submit written information on 

 spill in December 1994, and to comment on its draft biological opinion in February 

 1995. 



Although NMFS has allowed ample opportunities for public comment on the gen- 

 eral merits of spill, it has not done all it should to include the state and tribal sSm- 

 on management agencies in the day-to-day decisions regarding the implementation 

 of its spill program. NMFS and the dam operating agencies have not responded to 

 a number of specific requests from the state and tribal fish managers regarding pro- 

 vision of spill and measures to abate dissolved gas. As a result, we believe that the 

 region missed some opportunities to improve salmon survival in 1995. The decision- 

 making process on spill policy can be improved by ensuring that the state and tribal 

 salmon management agencies have a voice in decisions regarding in-season manage- 

 ment of the hydropower system. 



I would also like to call the Subcommittee's attention to two high priority actions 

 that the states have long supported but have not yet been implemented by the 

 Corps of Engineers. First, it is imperative that the Corps install dissolved gas abate- 

 ment devices at Ice Harbor Dam. Much of the concern with dissolved gas levels at 

 that dam this year could have been avoided if the dam were equipped with these 

 devices. Second, the fish bypass system at Lower Granite Dam must be improved. 

 This is the first dam that endangered ssdmon smolts encounter. Yet, the dam has 

 one of the least effective bypass systems in the basin and results in the largest num- 

 ber of smolts passing tiirough turbines of any of the lower Snake River dams. Im- 

 portant modifications are stul years out in the Corps of Engineers's funding and im- 

 plementation process, and the states and tribes are powerless to speea up this 

 schedule. 



SUMMARY 



Managed spill is an important tool for salmon and steelhead recovery. It is the 

 best interim tool available to spread the risk more equitably between transportation 

 and in-river migration, the best tool to minimize the number of in-river migrants 

 passing through turbines, and the best tool to get in-river migrants past the dams. 



Gas Dubble trauma associated with managed spill is a legitimate concern that is 

 being effectively managed with a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation pro- 

 gram. IDFG agrees with NMFS that a variance in state supersaturation standards 

 to approximately 120 percent is necessary to meet flow targets and provide adequate 

 spill provisions for springtime juvenile migrants. 



Recovery of Snake River basin salmon can be accomplished with a net positive 

 effect on the Northwest economy, culture and lifestyle. Managed spillway passage 

 of migrating smolts is an important tool in this recovery process. 



REFERENCES 



Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Authority (CBFWA). 1991. Integrated system 

 plan for salmon and steelhead production in the Columbia River Basin. Columbia 

 Basin System Planning for the Northwest Power Planning Council, 91-16, Port- 

 land. 



FERC. 1992. Initial decision of Judge Stephen Grossman. Project Number 2114-024. 

 Docket Number E-9569-003 (Grant County Phase). Washington, DC. 19 pages. 



