Cedar River Instream Cedar River Instream Flow ManagementFlow Management

Balancing Certainty and Balancing Certainty and FlexibilityFlexibility

Setting the Context:Setting the Context:5 LINKS--Headwaters to 5 LINKS--Headwaters to SeaSea

Cedar River Watershed HCPCedar River Watershed HCP• Preserves and protects the upper 2/3 of the Preserves and protects the upper 2/3 of the

Cedar River basinCedar River basin

• Fish passage facilities to restore access for Fish passage facilities to restore access for chinook, coho and steelhead into over 17 miles chinook, coho and steelhead into over 17 miles of habitatof habitat

• Innovative sockeye hatchery supplementation Innovative sockeye hatchery supplementation programprogram

• Capital improvements throughout the Lake Capital improvements throughout the Lake Washington BasinWashington Basin

• Improved instream flow management programImproved instream flow management program

• Broad-based monitoring and research program Broad-based monitoring and research program

Stream Flow Management:Stream Flow Management: Protecting Instream ResourcesProtecting Instream Resources

• Seattle’s water storage and diversion Seattle’s water storage and diversion activities have a substantial effect on stream activities have a substantial effect on stream flows in the lower Cedar Riverflows in the lower Cedar River

• Stream flow is a key component of the Stream flow is a key component of the aquatic/riparian ecosystem that supports aquatic/riparian ecosystem that supports salmon and many other speciessalmon and many other species

• Social values and species protection priorities Social values and species protection priorities change over timechange over time

• The applied science of stream flow The applied science of stream flow management is complex, relatively new, and management is complex, relatively new, and continues to evolvecontinues to evolve

Geographic Geographic OverviewOverview

5

• Storage reservoir receives run-off from the upper 43% of the basin

• Approx. 20% of average annual flow diverted at the Landsburg Diversion Dam

Complex Array of Complex Array of ObjectivesObjectives

• Protect all life stages of salmonProtect all life stages of salmon

• Provide sufficient flows to Lake Provide sufficient flows to Lake Washington and the Ballard LocksWashington and the Ballard Locks

• Minimize impacts to lake dependent Minimize impacts to lake dependent species in Chester Morse Reservoir species in Chester Morse Reservoir

• Promote natural biophysical processes Promote natural biophysical processes that shape and maintain the that shape and maintain the aquatic/riparian ecosystem aquatic/riparian ecosystem

Cedar River Salmon Life Cedar River Salmon Life StagesStages

SP: spawning RE: juvenile rearing

IN: incubation MO: migration out of river

FE: fry emergence

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

CHINOOK SPINFEREMO ?

COHO SPINFERE

SOCKEYE SPINFEMO

STEELHEAD SPINFERE

Complex Array of Complex Array of ObjectivesObjectives

• Protect all life stages of salmonProtect all life stages of salmon

• Provide sufficient flows to Lake Provide sufficient flows to Lake Washington and the Ballard LocksWashington and the Ballard Locks

• Minimize impacts to lake dependent Minimize impacts to lake dependent species in Chester Morse Reservoir species in Chester Morse Reservoir

• Promote natural biophysical processes Promote natural biophysical processes that shape and maintain the that shape and maintain the aquatic/riparian ecosystem aquatic/riparian ecosystem

The HCP Flow Tool BoxThe HCP Flow Tool Box• Capital improvementsCapital improvements to help protect fish to help protect fish

• Detailed mngmt. prescriptionsDetailed mngmt. prescriptions that protect that protect the river and maintain municipal water the river and maintain municipal water supply capacitysupply capacity

• Limitations on diversions Limitations on diversions to ensure to ensure flexibility to adapt and improve flow flexibility to adapt and improve flow managementmanagement

• Continued Continued monitoring and researchmonitoring and research

• Commitment to Commitment to apply researchapply research results results

• Collaborative Collaborative oversightoversight

Capital Capital ImprovementImprovementss

SCL’s Cedar Falls hydropower facilities SCL’s Cedar Falls hydropower facilities improved to protect fish and flowsimproved to protect fish and flows

Fish passage and water efficiency Fish passage and water efficiency improvements at the Ballard Locksimprovements at the Ballard Locks

Habitat protection/restoration in the Habitat protection/restoration in the lower river downstream of Seattle’s lower river downstream of Seattle’s ownership boundaryownership boundary

Prescriptions for real-Prescriptions for real-time managementtime management• Guaranteed flowsGuaranteed flows

MinimumsMinimums below which flows are not below which flows are not allowed to dropallowed to drop

Supplemental flows Supplemental flows provided according to provided according to hydrologic conditions and biological needhydrologic conditions and biological need

• Downramping requirementsDownramping requirements toto moderate rates of stream flow reductionmoderate rates of stream flow reductionReduce the risk of fish stranding and,Reduce the risk of fish stranding and,More closely emulate patterns of natural More closely emulate patterns of natural

flow recessionflow recession

Guaranteed Flow RegimeGuaranteed Flow Regime

CEDAR RIVER HCPGuaranteed Stream Flows Adjusted to Renton

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

Sep 2

- Sep

8

Oct 1

- Oct

7

Oct 2

9 - N

ov 4

Nov 2

6 - D

ec 2

Dec 2

4 - D

ec 3

0

Jan

21 -

Jan

27

Feb

18 -

Feb

24

Mar 1

8 - M

ar 2

4

Apr 1

5 - A

pr 2

1

May 1

3 - M

ay 1

9

Jun

10 -

Jun

16

Jul 8

- Ju

l 14

Aug 5

- Aug

11

Week

Flo

w a

t R

en

ton

(c

fs)

Flow Providing Maximum WUA IRPP Flow

HCP Low Normal w/No Supplements and Median Inflows HCP High Normal w/Supplements and Median Inflows

sockeye spawning chinook spawning coho spawning steelhead spawning steelhead rearing

2000 Compliance Graph2000 Compliance GraphCalendar Year 2000

Cedar River Instream Flows Measured at USGS Stream Gage No. 12117600

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1-J

an

15-J

an

29-J

an

12-F

eb

26-F

eb

11-M

ar

25-M

ar

8-A

pr

22-A

pr

6-M

ay

20-M

ay

3-J

un

17-J

un

1-J

ul

15-J

ul

29-J

ul

12-A

ug

26-A

ug

9-S

ep

23-S

ep

7-O

ct

21-O

ct

4-N

ov

18-N

ov

2-D

ec

16-D

ec

30-D

ec

Days of the Calendar Year

Av

era

ge

Da

ily F

low

, cfs

Normal Minimum Flows Normal Minimum Flows Plus Supplemental Flows Actual Flows Critical Minimum Flows

HCP/IFA Signed on April 21, 2000

Non-Firm Flow Supplement for Sockeye Outmigration

Firm Block - 2500 Ac-Ft Allocation for Steelhead Incubation. Schedule Set by Agencies on June 14. Revised on July 6.

City Offers Non-Firm Block - 3500 Ac-Ft Allocation. Decision Deferred by Agencies to July 6. Agencies Decline Non-Firm Block on July 6.

Higher Normal Flows for Sockeye and Chinook Spawning This Year Because Temporary Flashboards Are In Place.

High Normal Minimum Flows for Sockeye and Chinook Spawning This Year. Decision Made on October 4.

Preserving Preserving Flexibility: Flexibility: Cedar River Cedar River Hierarchy Hierarchy of River of River

FlowsFlows Reserved for Fish

Reserved for Fish

Flexibility: Fish (Primary)W ater Supply (Secondary)

Flexibility: W ater Supply (Primary)Fish (Secondary)

Reserved for W ater Supply

HCP G uaranteedInstream Flows(249 M G D)

Perfected Portion ofSeattle 's C la im(150 M G D)

Unperfected Portion ofSeattle 's C la im(150 M G D)

0 MGD

249 MGD

354 MGD

549 MGD

449 MGD

399 MGD

10

05

04

51

05

24

9

Summary:

Reserved for F ish 64%

Reserved for W ater Supply 19%

Flexib ility: F ish Prim ary 9%

Flexib ility: W ater Supply P rim ary 8%

blocks.vsd 5/14/99 jmk

Distribution and Hierarchy of Cedar River Flow s(Average Annual F lows in M G D )

Monitoring and Research-- Monitoring and Research-- Supplemental Biological Supplemental Biological StudiesStudies

Dedicated funding to investigate up to 19 Dedicated funding to investigate up to 19 prioritized study questions addressing the prioritized study questions addressing the effects of stream flow on:effects of stream flow on:

•Chinook and sockeye spawning and Chinook and sockeye spawning and incubationincubation

•Steelhead spawning and incubationSteelhead spawning and incubation

•Chinook early life historyChinook early life history

•Water temperatureWater temperature

•Natural ecological processes that shape and Natural ecological processes that shape and maintain riparian and in-channel habitat maintain riparian and in-channel habitat

CommitmeCommitment to Apply nt to Apply Results Results

Reserved for Fish

Reserved for Fish

Flexibility: Fish (Primary)W ater Supply (Secondary)

Flexibility: W ater Supply (Primary)Fish (Secondary)

Reserved for W ater Supply

HCP G uaranteedInstream Flows(249 M G D)

Perfected Portion ofSeattle 's C la im(150 M G D)

Unperfected Portion ofSeattle 's C la im(150 M G D)

0 MGD

249 MGD

354 MGD

549 MGD

449 MGD

399 MGD

10

05

04

51

05

24

9

Summary:

Reserved for F ish 64%

Reserved for W ater Supply 19%

Flexib ility: F ish Prim ary 9%

Flexib ility: W ater Supply P rim ary 8%

blocks.vsd 5/14/99 jmk

Distribution and Hierarchy of Cedar River Flow s(Average Annual F lows in M G D )

OversightOversightCedar River Instream Flow CommissionCedar River Instream Flow Commission

Representatives from:Representatives from:•National Marine Fisheries ServiceNational Marine Fisheries Service

•U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

•Muckleshoot Indian TribeMuckleshoot Indian Tribe

•Washington Department of Fish & WildlifeWashington Department of Fish & Wildlife

•Washington Department of EcologyWashington Department of Ecology

•King CountyKing County

•U.S. Army Corps of EngineersU.S. Army Corps of Engineers

•Seattle City LightSeattle City Light

•Seattle Public UtilitiesSeattle Public Utilities

Does the Tool Box promote the Does the Tool Box promote the right mix of certainty and right mix of certainty and flexibility?flexibility?

• Capital improvementsCapital improvements to help protect fish to help protect fish

• Detailed mngmt. prescriptionsDetailed mngmt. prescriptions that protect the that protect the river and maintain municipal water supply river and maintain municipal water supply capacitycapacity

• Limitations on diversions Limitations on diversions to ensure flexibility to ensure flexibility to adapt and improve flow managementto adapt and improve flow management

• Continued Continued monitoring and researchmonitoring and research

• Commitment to Commitment to apply researchapply research results results

• Collaborative Collaborative oversightoversight