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Flexible Spill Agreement Aims to Benefit Salmon and Hydropower in U.S. Pacific Northwest by Staff HydroWorld, December 21, 2018

Federal, state and tribal partners in the U.S. Pacific Northwest have come together to develop an agreement on a key component of operating federal dams in the Columbia River Basin.

Parties to the 2019-2021 Spill Operations Agreement have aligned on a flexible spring spill operation premised on achieving improved salmon survival while also managing costs in hydropower generation, according to a press release from the Bonneville Power Administration.

Key supporters of the agreement are jointly issuing this statement:

"Collaboration is key to this new approach to Columbia River system management. Working together, the region’s states, tribes, and federal agencies have developed an approach that demonstrates environmental stewardship and affordable sustainable energy are not mutually exclusive."

The agreement parties are the states of Oregon and Washington, the Nez Perce Tribe, BPA, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation. In addition, the states of Idaho and Montana reviewed the agreement and are supportive of the flexible operation.

The agreement covers up to three years of fish passage spill operations at eight lower Columbia and Snake River dams. During this time, the agreement avoids litigation while the co-lead agencies complete the Columbia River System Operations Environmental Impact Statement Records of Decision.

The agreement calls for flexible spill operations that meet three objectives: provide additional fish benefits by increasing spill; manage power system costs and preserve hydro system flexibility; and retain operational feasibility. Specifically, these operations involve increased spill during certain times of the day for fish migration and lesser amounts for the hours when hydropower production is needed most.

Related Pages:
Columbia, Snake Salmon Get Three Years of Spring 'Spill' Help by Pete Danko, Portland Business Journal, 12/18/18
Flexible Dam Spill Agreement Aims to Aid Salmon, Hydropower by News Sources, KTVZ, 12/18/18
Northwest Dams to Spill More Water to Help Salmon & Orca by Karina Brown, Courthouse News, 12/18/18
Changes to Dams on Columbia, Snake Rivers to Benefit Salmon, Hydropower and Orcas Lynda Mapes & Hal Bernton, Seattle Times, 12/18/18