Hydropower in the Columbia River: History of Fish Passage Development and Implications for the Mekong River
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The document discusses the Columbia River basin and its history of dam construction and efforts to ensure fish passage. It provides: 1) A timeline showing the construction of mainstem dams on the Columbia River from 1930 to 2010. 2) An overview of the challenges to fish passage when dams were initially built and the various technical solutions and programs developed over time to improve downstream and upstream fish passage, based on scientific research. 3) Lessons learned from the Columbia River experience that could inform management of the Mekong River basin, where many dams are planned or under construction, including the need for long-term monitoring, measurable objectives, an ecosystem approach, political will, and flexibility.
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Hydropower in the Columbia River: History of Fish Passage Development and Implications for the Mekong River
- 1. David Hand, US Fish and Wildlife Service John Beeman, US Geological Survey
- 2. Overview of Columbia River Timeline of dam construction+fish passage Highlight major themes Implications for the Mekong
- 3. Length : 2,000 km. Source: Columbia Lake, British Columbia Drainage area: - 67 million hectares - Larger than France, Belgium, & Netherlands combined - 7,500 cms daily mean flow - 219 major dams: … 176 in U.S. … 43 in Canada Columbia River
- 4. Columbia Mekong Catchment (km2) 670,000 795,500 Length (km) 2,000 4,900 Mean discharge (m3s-1) 7,500 14,500 Number of fish species ~100 800-1,100 Mainstem Dams (existing or planned) 15 19 Tributary Dams (existing or planned) >250 ~200 Adapted from Ferguson et al 2011 and D. Wills USFWS 4
- 6. 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 Mainstem Dam Construction Begins -Rock Island -Bonneville -Grand Coulee 6
- 7. 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 -McNary -Chief Joseph -The Dalles -Brownlee 7
- 8. 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 -Rocky Reach -Priest Rapids -Wanapum -Wells -Oxbow -Ice Harbor -Hells Canyon -Lower Monumental 8
- 9. 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 -John Day -Little Goose -Lower Granite 9
- 10. Downstream passage through turbines Upstream passage through fish ladders USACE Bonneville ladder,ODOT
- 11. Downstream Spill Surface weirs Flow Augmentation Juvenile Bypass Transportation Turbine redesign Upstream Lamprey Passage Systems Spill Patterns
- 12. Fish Conservation=Power Generation Government/Legal Driven Treaties, NW Power Act, Endangered Species Broad goals measurable objectives Basing decision on SCIENCE CRITFC Lamprey counts Granite Dam
- 14. Initial salmonid focus Salmon passage non-salmon passage 14 NOAA 14
- 15. Assess Problem Design Implement Monitor Evaluate Adjust Test passage designs Rigorous monitoring Flexibility 15
- 16. 80+ years of work Complex Long-term monitoring Financial $US 500 Million annually $US 3.3 Billion 1982-2001 Forgone power generation Spill at Bonneville Dam, USACE USGS 16
- 17. Columbia Mekong Political Will Strong Measurable Objectives Developing Broad Goals Ecosystem Approach 100 species >1,000 species Little known Adaptive Management Monitoring Flexible Limited monitoring Inflexible Long Term Commitment 80+ years Costly Unknown Limited $ 17