LAKE CREEK

FISH WATER RELEASE

REQUIREMENT STUDY

 

 

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

The enclosed information and data is intended for the consideration of those concerned with establishing fish water release in Lake Creek as provided by the WPPSS Packwood Project FPC License.

Based on the information presented, it is recommended that further studies be undertaken to more definitely establish the quantity of fish water releases required to obtain optimum protection of the fishery resources.

 

OWEN W. HURD, Managing Director

Washington Public Power Supply System

 

                                           March 13, 1967

 

 

 

Mr. Ross Williams

Forest Supervisor

Gifford-Pinchot National Forest

512 West 12th Street

Vancouver, Washington  98660

Dear Mr. Williams:

This letter is a comment on the waterflow in Lake Creek below Packwood Lake. It follows our recent telephone conversation with respect to a meeting of the fishery people which I understand is to be scheduled for March 22 at 9:30 a.m. in your building. These comments are made in behalf of the Washington Public Power Supply System and are intended to provide a basis for discussion at the March 22nd meeting.

All of the parties who are involved with the Packwood project are concerned about the maintenance of an appropriate quantity of water in Lake Creek to provide habitat for trout and spawning area for trout or salmon in lower Lake Creek and habitat for trout in the creek immediately below the project drop structure at the lake outlet.

I have had correspondence with Dr. L. E. Perry of the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries who indicates "all conservation agencies agreed that about 3 cfs of water would be needed for release at the drop structure to maintain a live stream that would support game fish. The same group agreed that probably 18 cfs of water is necessary in lower Lake Creek to allow unrestricted passage of salmon and steelhead in rearing areas for young of both species.”

The recent studies of temperature and flow in Lake Creek near the lake and near the mouth of the creek have fairly well established the amount of inflow between the lake and the mouth of the creek and the temperature patterns which may be expected.

The inflow between the upper and lower gauges did not go below 10 cfs during the months of December through July in 1964, 1965 and 1966, and did not go below 5 cfs at any time. The temperature data show that the inflow was somewhat cooler during the summer months than the water flowing out of the lake and the maximum temperature in the lower stream during the summer of 1966 was recorded as 57° at approximately the same time as the water flowing out of the lake was 67°. This indicates that the temperature in the lower creek is probably never going to rise to a level which would cause any difficulties for trout or salmon under conditions of reduced stream flow.

The flow data show also a major change in the flow pattern of the creek which can be expected eventually to make changes in the bottom composition. The maximum flows during flood conditions which make most of the physical changes


in the streambed will be reduced by at least 300 cfs and probably somewhat more because of storage in the lake. This reduction in peak flows can be expected to permit some accumulation of finer materials in the bed of the stream. Such accumulation can only be beneficial to trout and salmon because the existing streambed is composed predominantly of boulders which is a poor environment for trout or salmon spawning or for the young of either species. Some accumulation of gravel and small rubble will provide additional spawning area and additional area for fish food insects.

The Washington Public Power Supply System has estimated the costs of maintaining flows of varying size below the drop structure and in the lower creek.  Such computations are laborious because of the licensing arrangements, but they have provided me with estimates of the cost of three different conditions. The cost of maintaining a 5 cfs fish release at the drop structure would be $11,234 annually. The revenue penalty to Washington Public Power Supply System of maintaining a 3 cfs at the drop structure and 18 cfs minimum in the lower creek would amount to $20,474 annually. The revenue penalty of maintaining 2 cfs minimum at the drop structure, 10 cfs minimum in the lower creek August through December, and 15 cfs January through July, would amount to $4,219, annually. The estimated accumulative revenue penalty over a 50-year period compounded at 5% annually would be respectively $2,352,000, $4,275,000 and $833,239.

These figures indicate that the value or revenue penalty of maintaining water for fishery purposes is substantial, that the amount increases very rapidly as more than a few cfs is required, especially during autumn months, the period of low flow.

I would, therefore, argue that there should be a reasonable justification for the maintenance of these fishery flows based on an estimate of the actual effect of varying flows on the life of fish in the stream.

In my experience with salmon and trout streams, I have observed, once a suitable temperature is assured, that the fish capacity depends more on area and volume of water than on flow of water. I, therefore, suggest that it is desirable to measure the change in area of upper Lake Creek with changes in fish water release from 1 to 10 cfs and similar measurement of changes in area of typical sections of lower Lake Creek with changes in flow from about 5 to 18 cfs.

My impression of both ends of this stream is that there is very little reduction in area and volume of water in the stream as the flow approaches the lower limits which I have suggested. The pool structure is such that the water tends to be retained and I would doubt that there is a measurable effect on the populations of fish.

It would be relatively easy to obtain some specific data on this matter by observing the stream in late summer, 1967, when flows can probably be controlled through the ranges specified. At that time, observation could also be

 

made on whether barriers develop at low flows in the lower stream which would prevent the migration of trout and salmon during the period of such flows.

I believe the foregoing outlines the general problems which should be discussed in our meeting scheduled for March 22.

                                                Sincerely yours,

 

                                                William F. Royce
                                                Associate Dean

WFR:ac

cc:   Owen Hurd, Washington Public Power Supply System
      L. E. Perry, Bureau of Commercial Fisheries

PACKWOOD PROJECT

SUMMARY OF CALCULATIONS OF FISH RELEASE VALUE

FOR VARIOUS MIN. RELEASE OF INTAKE AND FLOWS AT MOUTH

OF LAKE CREEK

FISH RELEASE AT INTAKE

CONDITION 1      5 cfs min. fishwater discharge at intake

CONDITION 2      3 cfs min. at intake and 18 cfs min. flow at mouth of   Lake Creek

CONDITION 3      2 cfs min. at intake; 15 cfs flow at mouth, Jan - July and 10 cfs at mouth, Aug - Dec.

 

 

CRITICAL YEAR - 1936-37 – Controlling 1/

CONDITION

Annual Value

of Water

Released

50 Year Present Worth Amount

(5 pct.) of Energy

Equivalent

50 Year compounded

Amount (5 pct.) Value

of Energy Equivalent

1

$11,234.00

$205,088.00

$2,352,000.00

2

$20,424.00

$372,861.00

$4,275,000.00

3

$ 4,219.00

$ 77,022.00

$  883,000.00

1/    Plant capability during critical year governs revenue received during   all years of project operation.

CALCULATION OF EXCHANGE CAPACITY AND VALUE

OF FLOW WITH NO MIN. FISH RELEASE AT INTAKE DURING 1936-37

CRITICAL WATER YEAR

 

SEPT.

43.5

720

123

 3,852,360

OCT.

31.0

744

123

 2,836,872

NOV.

21.5

720

123

 1,904,040

DEC.

49.4

744

123

 4,520,692

JAN.

32.9

744

123

 3,010,744

FEB.

31.2

678

123

 2,601,892

MAR.

40.1

744

123

 3,669,631

APR. 1 – 15

57.6

360

122.5

 2,540,160

 

 

 

 

24,936,391

 

 

 

Draft

 4,500,000

 

 

 

T =

29,436,391

B =   0.965 T – 0.01025 PH – 0.01025 AH

  =   28,406,117 – 1.025 x 2m8878 x 5.448 X 105 – 1.102510+1 5.448(A)

  =   28,406,117 – 1,612,605 – 55-842 (A)

  =   26,793,512 – 55-842 (A)

    -2
x 10
   B
 
A =   (0.0025/9.0)B

B =   26,793,512 -  

B =   26,793,512 / 1.0 55117 = 26,384,238

A =   (0.0025/9) B = 7328 KW

 

Critical Period Revenue

      Capacity                                       $ 205,756

      Exchange Capacity 7328 x 12 x $.95           =    83,534

      Energy         0.01(28878+7053)5448x$.00125  =    2,446

                                                       291,741

Summer Revenue

      Capacity                                     =   123,453

      Energy 173x123 3312x0.975x0.95x1.25 mille    =    81,598

                                   TOTAL REVENUE        496,792

CONDITION 1

Value

      Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, the values of energy (kilo-watt-hours) and capacity (kilowatts) which shall be used in the determination of Exchange quantities shall be as follows:

Energy      - $0.0025 (2.5 mills) per kilowatt-hour

Capacity    - $9.00 per kilowatt year

Formula

      The following formula then shall govern:

A =

B = T – 0.035 T-(0.01 PH + 0.025 x 0.01 PH)

      - (0.01 AH + 0.025 x 0.01 AH)

The calculation of Energy and Exchange Capacity, which shall be in effect from the effective date of this agreement until modified in accordance with section 6 hereof, shall be as follows:

P = 28,878 kw

H = 5,448 Hrs. (Sept. 1 through Apr. 15)

PH = 157,327,344

T = 26,570,952

B = 0.965 T - 0.01025 PH - 0.01025 AH

B = 24,028,062 - 55.842 A

A = ($ 0.0025/$9.00) B

B = 24,028,062 - 55.842 (0.0025/9) B

B = 24,028,062/1.0155 = 23,661,607

A = 6573 kw

 

* - Above is copy of Page 2 (Rev. 2), Revised Exhibit A, of BPA-WPPSS   Exchange Agreement

CONDITION I (con’t.)

CALCULATION OF REVENUE

WITH 5 CFS MIN. RELEASE AT INTAKE

DURING CRITICAL YEAR 1936-37

 

ENERGY VALUE   1.25 mills/KWH

CAPACITY VALUE $0.95/KW

 

Revenue due to flow during critical period 9/1 - 4/15

Capacity   7.5 mo. x 28,878 KW x $.95            =    $205,756

Exchange Capacity  6573 x 12 x $.95             =      74,932

Energy     0.01 (28878 + 6573) 5448 x $.00125
                 =  0.01 35451 x 5448 x 1.25 mills        =        2,414

                                                     $283,102

Revenue due to flow during non-critical period

Capacity   4.5 x 28878 x $.95                    =    $123,453

Energy     167.5 x 123 x 3312 x 0.975 x 0.95
                    x 1.25 mills x 103                    =      79,004

                                                     $202,456

 

                                    ANNUAL TOTAL              $485,558

CONDITION 2

 

Calculation of annual value of 3 cfs min. release at intake and 18 cfs min. flow at mouth based upon decrease of firm capability during critical Northwest hydro period of September 1, 1936 to April 15, 1937.

MONTH

 

YEAR

 

USGS FLOW RECORD AT INTAKE GAGE 14-2255

 

EST. FLOW AT MOUTH BASED ON USGS RECORD RECORDED INFLOW SAME MONTH

 

INFLOW BELOW INTAKE

 

INTAKE RELEASE REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN 18 CFS AT MOUTH

 



ANNUAL AVERAGE

 

Sept.

1936

43.5

49.5 (1965)

6.0

12.0

 

Oct.

1936

31.0

36.6 (1965)

5.0

12.4

 

Nov.

1936

21.5

30.2 (1965)

8.7

9.3

 

Dec.

1936

49.4

57.0 (1914)

7.6

10.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9.0

Jan.

1937

32.9

46.2 (1913)

13.3

4.7

 

Feb.

1937

31.2

45.4 (1915)

14.2

3.8

 

March

1937

40.1

46.2 (1912)

6.1

11.9

 

April (1-15)

1937

57.6

81.4 (1965)

23.8

3

 

CALCULATIONS OF EXCHANGE ENERGY

MONTH

 

AVAIL. FOR
GENERATION
CFS

 

HOURS

 

H/K

 

GENERATION
KWH

 

Sept.

31.5

720

123

2,789,640

Oct.

18.6

744

123

1,702,123

Nov.

12.2

720

123

1,080,043

Dec.

39.0

744

123

3,568,968

Jan.

28.2

744

123

2,580,638

Feb.

27.4

678

123

2,284,995

Mar.

28.2

744

123

2,580,638

Apr.

54.6

360

122.5

2,407,860

Average

32.0

 

 

 

TOTAL

 

5448

 

18,994,725

 

CONDITION 2 (Con't.)

CALCULATION OF EXCHANGE CAPACITY

AVAILABLE WITH FISH RELEASE = 18 CFS

AT MOUTH OF LAKE CREEK

 

Plant Capacity =  31,500 KW

Less Losses                               Energy = 2.5 mills/KWH
      5%                                  Value

           3.5%                                Capacity = $9.00/KW Year
                                               Value
Adjustable Capacity = 28,878 KW

P = 28,878 KW

H = 5448 hrs. - Sept. 1 - April 15

PH = 157,327,344 KWH

T = 18,994,725 + Draft of 4,500,000 = 23,494,725

B = 0.965 T - 0.01025 PH - 0.01025 AH

  = 22,672,410 - 1.025 x 2.8878 x 5.448 x 105

               - 1.025 5.448 (A) x 101

  = 22,672,410 - 1,612,605 - 55,842(A)

  = 21,059,805 - 55.842 A

A = ($0.0025/$9.00) B

B = 21,059,805 - 5.5842 2.5 B x 10-2
                     9.0

  = 21,059,805 - 0.0155117 B

B (1.0155117) - 21,059,805

B = 21059805/1.0155117 = 20,738,121 KWH

A = ($0.0025/9.00) B = 2.5x20738121 x 104
                           9.0

A = 5,761 KW

CONDITION 2 (Con't.)

CALCULATED REVENUE OF PACKWOOD

18 CFS Min. Flow at Mouth and 3 CFS Min. Release

at Intake

During Critical Year 1936-37

                                                Energy Value = 1.25 mils/KWH

                                              Capacity Value = 0.95’/KW/MO

Revenue due to flow during critical period Sept. 1 thru Apr. 15

Capacity       7.5  28,878 x 0.85 MO  KW$      =       $ 205,758
                                      KW/MO

Exchange       5,761 x 12 x 0.95  KW  MO$      =          65,675
Capacity                              KW/MO

Energy   =  0.01 (28,878 + 5761) 5448 x 0.00125

         =  0.01  3.4639  5.448 1.25 x 102                 2,358

                                                      $ 273,789

Revenue due to flow during non-critical period

Capacity       4.5 x 28,878 x 0.95 MO KW $     =       $ 123,453
                                      KW/MO

Exchange       166.9 x 123 x 3312 x 0.975 x 0.95 cfs
               KW/hrs $    x 0.00125
               cfs     KWH

         =  1.669 x 1.23 x 3.312 x 0.975 x 0.95 x
            1.25 x 104                         =       $  78,720

                                                      $ 202,509

                                    ANNUAL TOTAL      $ 476,298

APR.

71.6-3

=

68.6 cfs

MAY

161-3

=

158 cfs

JUNE

309-3

=

306 cfs

JULY

172-7

=

165 cfs

AUG.

65.3-11.9

=

53.4 cfs

 

 

 

166.9 cfs

CONDITION 3

 

The following is a calculation of annual production based on number of cfs min. release of intake and 10 cfs min. flow at mouth; August thru December and 15 cfs; January thru July.

MONTH

 

YEAR

 

USGS RECORD

 

EST. LOCAL INFLOW

 


REQUIRED RELEASE

 

AVAIL. FOR GEN.

 

H/K

 

HRS.

 

 

SEPT.

36

43.5

6.0

4

39.5

123

720

3,498,120

OCT.

36

31.0

5.6

4.4

26.6

123

744

2,434,219

NOV.

36

21.5

8.7

2

19.5

123

720

1,726,920

DEC.

36

49.4

7.6

2.4

47.0

123

744

4,301,064

JAN.

37

32.9

13.3

2

30.9

123

744

2,827,720

FEB.

37

31.2

14.2

2

29.9

123

678

2,493,480

MARCH

37

40.1

6.1

3.9

46.2

123

744

4,227,854

APR. 1-15

37

57.6

23.8

2

55.6

122.5

360

2,451,960

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Draft

4,500,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

Critical

28,461,337

APR 16-30

37

71.6

30

2

69.6

123

360

3,081,883

MAY

37

161

72

2

159

123

744

14,550,408

JUNE

37

309

50

2

307

123

720

27,187,920

JULY

37

172

50

2

170

123

744

15,557,040

AUG.

37

65.3

5.1

4.9
2.8

60.4

123

744

5,527,324

 

CONDITION 3 (Con’t.)

PROPOSED FISH RELEASE TO

MAINTAIN 15 CFS, JAN. – JUL. AND 10 CFS, AUG. – DEC.

MIN. FLOW AT MOUTH WITH MIN. 2 CFS RELEASE AT INTAKE

P  =  28878

H  =  5448

PH =  157,327,344

T  =  28,461,337

B  =  0.965 T – 0.0.025 PH – 0.01025 AH

B  =  27,465,190 – 1,612,605 – 55.842 (A)

B  =  25,852,585 – 55842  2.5 B x 10-2
                                    9.0

   =  25852585  =  25,457,685
      1.0155117

A  =  2.5   B x10-7 =  x 104  =  7072
        9.0

 

Critical Period Revenue

Capacity                                        =     205,756

Exchange
Capacity          7072 x 12 x 0.95              =     80,620

Energy     0.01 (28878 + 7072) 5448  0.00125     =       2,448
                                                288,824

Noncritical Period Revenue

Capacity                                        =     123,453

Energy  170.2 x 123 x 3312 x 975 x 0.95 x 00125  =     80,276
                             TOTAL REVENUE      492,553

 

This program would cost $4,219/yr. or $1,507/cfs.

1.    Based on present rates and control period, the cost of maintaining 5 cfs min. fish release of intake over a fifty year period compounded at 5 percent annually would be:

$11,234/yr. x 209,348                    =       $2,352,000

2.    The similar cost of maintaining a minimum of 18 cfs at the outlet would be:

$20,424/yr. x 209,348                    =       $4,275,000

3.    The cost of maintaining 10 cfs, August - December and 15 cfs January - July, at the mouth with 2 cfs minimum at the intake would be:

$4,219/yr. x 209,348                     =       $ 883,239