US Army Corps of EngineersBUILDING STRONG®

Kristian Mickelson, PE

Seattle District09 March 2016

Libby Dam Information BriefColumbia Basin Regional Advisory Committee and

CRT Local Governments’ CommitteeKootenay System Workshop

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Executive SummaryPurpose: Inform the Kootenay Basin stakeholders about multi-

purpose Libby Dam operations in the context of an interstate & international watershed

BLUF: Libby Dam & Koocanusa Reservoir fulfill 5-purposes (hydro, flood risk, fish/wildlife, recreation, navigation) purposes while meeting environmental requirements in the international Kootenai River watershed of the upper Columbia Basin

Key points:1. Complex – only Corps dam w/upstream & downstream

international impacts2. CRT & IJC framework drive international interaction3. Significant Endangered Species Act considerations (NOAA BiOp

= salmon & steelhead; USFWS BiOp = sturgeon & bull trout)

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Libby Dam

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Columbia Basin Map

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Upstream/Lake Koocanusa US

► Lake Recreation• Access for boats – Lake is too low• Marina Beaches inundated if

reservoir is too high (2459 ft)

► Air Quality – Dust if lake is low Canada

► Lake Recreation• Max elevation of Libby Dam is 2459

ft per Columbia River Treaty• Access for boats – Lake is too low

Lake does not reach Canada until elevation 2420 ft

• Beaches inundates if reservoir is at 2459 ft

► Air Quality – Dust if lake is low

International Interests & ConcernsDownstream/Border &

Kootenay Lake US

► Flood Control (Bonners Ferry,ID)

► Fishery – ESA listed species► Levee sloughing and saturation► Seepage of farmlands in

Kootenai Flats (Northern Idaho) Canada

► Kootenay Lake• Elevation (1755 ft) – Flood Control• Power generation – Flows in winter

► Levee slough and saturation► Farmland Seepage

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Governing Statutes, Treaties, Executive Orders, guidance: Libby Dam’s Enabling Legislation Columbia River Treaty

► Libby Coordination Agreement• Libby Operating Plan

Endangered Species Act (ESA)► 2006 USFWS BiOp, as clarified► 2008/2010 NOAA FCRPS BiOp The Northwest Power Act The Clean Water Act International Joint Commission (IJC) 1938 Order on Kootenay Lake

Libby Dam Regulation - General

Bonners Ferry Idaho-1948

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Libby Dam Water Management in Kootenai Watershed

Basin Characteristic – Variability Large: 9K mi^2 above & 10K mi^2 below dam Elevation from 2,500 to 12,000 ft Large monsoonal events in June/July Kootenay Lake creates a backwater into

Northern IdahoLibby provides local & system control Max flood control draft = 4.98 MAF (El 2287 ft) Koocanusa full pool is El 2459 ft Local Flood Control Point is Bonners Ferry, ID System Flood Control for Portland & Lower

Columbia developed areas

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VARQ FC (Variable Flow Flood Control) is the preferred flood control procedure, operated to the “Standard” FC pre-2003► Improves the chances of refill► Provides more normative flow

Draws the reservoir down less in the winter and requires more water out in the springtime

Adopted as the permanent flood control procedure - June 2008

Libby Flood Control Operations

Libby Dam Outflows - comparison of VARQ and Standard

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

1-Jan 1-Feb 1-Mar 1-Apr 1-May 1-Jun 1-Jul

Out

flow

(cfs

)

Standard

VARQ

Lake Koocanusa Elev - comparison of VARQ and Standard

2,320

2,340

2,360

2,380

2,400

2,420

2,440

2,460

1-Jan 1-Feb 1-Mar 1-Apr 1-May 1-Jun 1-Jul

elev

(fee

t)

VARQ

Standard

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Kootenay Lake and International Joint Commission (IJC)

Kootenay Lake Order relates to Corra Linn Dam, owned by FortisBC

Board of Control provides oversight of Corra Linn Dam► Board Members from both the US and Canada

Compensates Idaho farmers for effects of higher groundwater The Order allows FortisBC to store water in the lake, but

specifies a “lowering” formula for the freshet.Kootenay Lake Hydrograph

1,737

1,739

1,741

1,743

1,745

1,747

1,749

J F M A M J J A S O N D

Month

Stag

e (fe

et)

Rule Curve

Queens Bay

Nelson

2005 International Kootenay Lake Board of Control

2005-04-23Commencement of spring rise

Libby Dam reduced releases in both 2011 and 2012 to help with Queens Bay stage on Kootenay Lake

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Biological Opinions 2006 USFWS BiOp, as clarified 2008/2010 NOAA FCRPS BiOpOperational Requirements Bull trout minimum flows

► Provides higher required minimum flows from May 15th-Sept 30th

Sturgeon operations► Dedicated release to proved a pulse in the later spring -

early summer Salmon target

► 10 – 20 ft from full by 30 September► Required target to help with fish passage on the mainstem

of the Columbia River

Libby Dam Regulation – BiOp

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“Average” Libby Water Year, 5.885 MAF Apr-Aug Volume

0

10000

20000

30000

40000

50000

60000

70000

80000

1-Oct 31-Oct 30-Nov 30-Dec 29-Jan 28-Feb 30-Mar 29-Apr 29-May 28-Jun 28-Jul 27-Aug 26-Sep

Date

Flow

(cfs

)

2250.02260.02270.02280.02290.02300.02310.02320.02330.02340.02350.02360.02370.02380.02390.02400.02410.02420.02430.02440.02450.02460.0

Elev

atio

n (ft

)

Inflow Regulated Outflow URC Elev Regulated Elevation

Draw dow n Period from Nov through SoR

VarQ Sturgeon

Draft to 2449 ft Sept 30th

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Large Water Year (2012), 9.195 MAF Apr-Aug Volume

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Small Water Year (2015), 4.225 MAF Apr-Aug Volume

2330

2340

2350

2360

2370

2380

2390

2400

2410

2420

2430

2440

2450

2460

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

110

120

130

1-Oct 1-Nov 1-Dec 1-Jan 1-Feb 1-Mar 1-Apr 1-May 1-Jun 1-Jul 1-Aug 1-Sep

Elev

atio

n (ft

)

Flow

(kcf

s)

Date

Observed Outflow

Observed Inflow

Observed Forebay

Max Elevation of 2444.07 ft. on 7/16

Min Elevation of 2409.71 ft. on Feb 4

9/30 Elevation of 2440.24 ft.

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Libby Dam Effects on Kootenai River

Ecosystem

Reversed Hydrograph

Kootenai River TemperaturesPre- and Post-Libby Dam

0

5

10

15

20

1/1 2/1 3/1 4/1 5/1 6/1 7/1 8/1 9/1 10/1

11/1

12/1

DateTe

mpe

ratu

re (C

)Copeland '67-'72 Bonners Ferry '93-'03

Warmer Winter

Temperatures

Cooler Spring Temperatures

Pre- and Post-Libby Dam Hydrograph

Pre- and Post-Libby Dam Thermograph

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River and Lake Regulation Effects in Kootenai River at Bonners Ferry, Idaho

Regulation of the Kootenai River at Libby Dam and of Kootenay Lake at Corra Linn Dam alters depth and location of Kootenay Lake / Kootenai River backwater interface at Bonners Ferry, Idaho.

Sturgeon now spawn in deep water over sand and silty substrates – no survival of eggs.

Low Gradient / Deposition / Fine Sediments

High Gradient / Scour / Coarse Sediments

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Kootenai River White Sturgeon Recovery Team

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Sturgeon / Ecosystem Habitat

EnhancementCenter for Biological Diversity Lawsuit Settlement Agreement

Clarified USFWS BiOp RPA’s

Corps and BPA to fully support KTOI Ecosystem Habitat Restoration Projects

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Conclusion Take Aways:

► Libby Dam provides flood control, hydropower, and recreation for the mutual benefit of the USA and Canada

►Endangered Species Act considerations complicate Libby Dam’s operation

► Libby Dam is a key component in the Columbia River Treaty and operates within the framework of the International Joint Commission Order for Kootenay Lake

Questions: ???

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Trivia Does Libby change operations of Kootenay Lake?

►Yes, the Corps worked closely with BC Hydro in both 2011 and 2012 to minimize lake levels where possible

Questions: ???

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Questions: ???

Photo y Arnold C (User:Buchanan-Hermit) - Own work, Attribution, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1107740

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