Dworshak Dam Impacts Assessment and Fisheries Investigation Project

Dworshak Dam Impacts Assessment and Fisheries Investigation Project
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 18
Release: 1998
Genre:
ISBN:

We used split-beam hydroacoustics to monitor kokanee Oncorhynchus nerka kennerlyi abundance in Dworshak Reservoir from 1995 to 1996 in order to quantify the impacts of water releases from Dworshak Dam. The kokanee population was at a record high level of 1.9 million age-1 and age-2 fish (350 fish/ha) during June 1995. Large discharges of water during July and August of 1995 did not result in major losses of kokanee. Mid-winter flooding in February. March, and April of 1996: however, caused entrainment losses of 90% of all kokanee in the reservoir. The population declined to 140,000 kokanee. High flows during spring runoff used another 50% of the kokanee to be lost, further reducing the population to 71,000 fish (13 fish/ha). Entrainment losses were partially explainable by the distribution of kokanee in the reservoir. During winter, all age-classes of kokanee congregated near the dam making them susceptible to high releases of water. Kokanee appeared to be less susceptible to entrainment during summer and early fall because most kokanee were in other parts of the reservoir: adults were in the upper reservoir staging to spawn, fry were in the upper reservoir having emerged from tributary streams, and juvenile kokanee were spread throughout the reservoir.

Dworshak Reservoir Kokanee Population Monitoring, Annual Report 2001

Dworshak Reservoir Kokanee Population Monitoring, Annual Report 2001
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 40
Release: 2003
Genre:
ISBN:

Onsite testing of strobe lights was conducted to determine if they repelled kokanee Oncorhynchus nerka away from the turbine intakes at Dworshak Dam. We tested a set of nine strobe lights flashing at a rate of 360 flashes/min placed near the intake of a 90 mW turbine. A split-beam echo sounder was used to determine the effect of strobe light operation on fish density (thought to be mostly kokanee) in front of the turbine intakes. On five nights between December 2001 and January 2002, fish density averaged 110 fish/ha when no lights were flashing. Mean density dropped to 13 fish/ha when the strobe lights were turned on during five additional nights of sampling. This 88% decline in density was significant at the P = 0.009 level of significance based on a paired Student's t test. There appeared to be no tendency for fish to habituate to the lights during the night. Test results indicate that a single set of nine lights may be sufficient to repel kokanee from a turbine intake during the night. We also used split-beam hydroacoustics to monitor the kokanee population in Dworshak Reservoir during 2001. Estimated abundance of kokanee has continued to increase since the spring of 1996 when high entrainment losses occurred. Based on hydroacoustic surveys, we estimated 3,276,000 kokanee in Dworshak Reservoir in early July 2001. This included 2,069,000 age-0 kokanee (90% CI ± 16.4%), 801,000 age-1 kokanee (90% CI ± 17.8%), and 406,000 age-2 kokanee (90% CI ± 20.5%). Entrainment sampling was also conducted with split-beam hydroacoustics a minimum of one continuous 24 h period per month. The highest entrainment rates occurred at night with lower discharges and shallower intake depths. Fish movement patterns suggested that they swam 'at will' in front of the intakes and may have chosen to move into the turbine intakes. Based on monthly hydroacoustic sampling in the forebay, we found that kokanee density was low in July and August during a period of high discharge. However, kokanee density was high in late winter when discharge was also high, thus increasing the likelihood of entrainment. Counts of spawning kokanee in four tributary streams used as an index reached 6,079 fish. This spawner count appeared unusually low considering the high population estimate of kokanee in the reservoir and data collected in previous years.

Dworshak Reservoir Kokanee Population Monitoring

Dworshak Reservoir Kokanee Population Monitoring
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 20
Release: 2001
Genre:
ISBN:

We used split-beam hydroacoustics and trawling to monitor the kokanee Oncorhynchus nerka population in Dworshak Reservoir during 1999. Estimated abundance of kokanee has continued to increase since the high entrainment losses in the spring of 1996. Based on hydroacoustic surveys, we estimated 1,545,000 kokanee and rainbow trout O. mykiss in Dworshak Reservoir during July 1999. This included 1,144,000 age-0 kokanee (90% CI " 42%), 212,000 age-1 kokanee (90% CI " 15%), and 189,000 age-2 kokanee and stocked rainbow trout (90% CI " 39%). Rainbow trout could not be distinguished from the age-2 kokanee in the echograms since they were of similar size. Age-0 kokanee ranged in length from 40 mm to 90 mm, age-1 from 193 mm to 212 mm, and age-2 kokanee from 219 mm to 336 mm. These sizes indicated kokanee are still growing well. Discharge of water from Dworshak Dam during 1999 did not stop the expansion of the kokanee population based on these results. Counts of spawning kokanee in four tributary streams exceeded 11,000 fish. This index also showed a marked increase from last year's 660 spawning kokanee or the 1997 total of 144 spawning kokanee.

Biological Opinion

Biological Opinion
Author: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Region 1
Publisher:
Total Pages: 148
Release: 2000
Genre: Bull trout
ISBN:

Operation of Flaming Gorge Dam

Operation of Flaming Gorge Dam
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 340
Release: 2005
Genre: Dams
ISBN:

"The Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Reclamation, proposes to take action to assist in the recovery of four endangered fish in the Green River downstream from Flaming Gorge Dam, a Colorado River Storage Project facility in northeastern Utah, with a reservoir located in Utah and Wyoming. The purpose of the proposed action is to operate Flaming Gorge Dam to protect and assist in recovery of the populations and designated critical habitat of four endangered fishes, while maintaining all authorized purposes of the Flaming Gorge Unite of the Colorado River Storage Project, particularly those related to the development of water resources in accordance with the Colorado River Compact. This draft environmental impact statement has been prepared pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act to analyze the effects of operating Flaming Gorge Dam in accordance with a set of flow and temperature recommendations developed by the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program"--Page i