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Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project Document
ARLIS Uniform Cover Page
Title:
The future Watana reservoir fish community and risk of entrainment study,
Study plan Section 9.10 : Initial study report
SuWa 207
Author(s) – Personal:
Author(s) – Corporate:
R2 Resource Consultants, Inc.
AEA-identified category, if specified:
Draft initial study report
AEA-identified series, if specified:
Series (ARLIS-assigned report number):
Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project document number 207
Existing numbers on document:
Published by:
[Anchorage : Alaska Energy Authority, 2014]
Date published:
February 2014
Published for:
Alaska Energy Authority
Date or date range of report:
Volume and/or Part numbers:
Study plan Section 9.10
Final or Draft status, as indicated:
Draft
Document type:
Pagination:
iii, 5 p.
Related work(s):
Pages added/changed by ARLIS:
Notes:
All reports in the Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project Document series include an ARLIS-
produced cover page and an ARLIS-assigned number for uniformity and citability. All reports
are posted online at http://www.arlis.org/resources/susitna-watana/
Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project
(FERC No. 14241)
The Future Watana Reservoir Fish Community and
Risk of Entrainment Study
Study Plan Section 9.10
Initial Study Report
Prepared for
Alaska Energy Authority
Prepared by
R2 Resource Consultants, Inc.
February 2014 Draft
INITIAL STUDY REPORT THE FUTURE WATANA RESERVOIR
FISH COMMUNITY AND RISK OF ENTRAINMENT STUDY (9.10)
Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project Alaska Energy Authority
FERC Project No. 14241 Page i February 2014 Draft
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Executive Summary ..................................................................................................................... iii
1. Introduction............................................................................................................................ 1
2. Study Objectives .................................................................................................................... 1
3. Study Area .............................................................................................................................. 2
4. Methods and Variances in 2013 ............................................................................................ 2
5. Results ..................................................................................................................................... 2
6. Discussion ............................................................................................................................... 2
7. Completing the Study ............................................................................................................ 3
8. Literature Cited ..................................................................................................................... 4
9. Figures .................................................................................................................................... 4
List of Figures
Figure 3-1. Map of study area for Future Watana Reservoir Fish Community and Risk of
Entrainment Study. ................................................................................................................. 5
INITIAL STUDY REPORT THE FUTURE WATANA RESERVOIR
FISH COMMUNITY AND RISK OF ENTRAINMENT STUDY (9.10)
Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project Alaska Energy Authority
FERC Project No. 14241 Page ii February 2014 Draft
LIST OF ACRONYMS, ABBREVIATIONS, AND DEFINITIONS
Abbreviation Definition
ADF&G Alaska Department of Fish and Game
AEA Alaska Energy Authority
FERC Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
ILP Integrated Licensing Process
ISR Initial Study Report
Project Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project No. 14241
RSP Revised Study Plan
SPD Study Plan Determination
INITIAL STUDY REPORT THE FUTURE WATANA RESERVOIR
FISH COMMUNITY AND RISK OF ENTRAINMENT STUDY (9.10)
Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project Alaska Energy Authority
FERC Project No. 14241 Page iii February 2014 Draft
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Future Watana Reservoir Fish Community and Risk of Entrainment Study 9.10
Purpose The purpose of this study is to predict the fish community that will develop in
the Project reservoir and identify the effects of the Project on the future
reservoir fish community.
Status This study was rescheduled for implementation during the next study season.
Study
Components
Major study components include:
• Development of scenarios for anticipated daily and seasonal changes in
reservoir habitat characteristics, based on the alternative Project
operating scenarios developed by Project engineers.
• Development of alternative potential fish community structure.
• Development of alternative fisheries management scenarios.
• A desktop potential fish entrainment analysis.
2013 Variances The study was deferred until the next study season rather than 2013 (RSP
Section 9.10.10). As noted in the Study Plan, this study is largely a desktop
analysis that is to be completed as information from other studies becomes
available. These other studies are continuing, and AEA will meet study
objectives by completing this study as data is available through the next study
season.
Steps to
Complete the
Study
As explained in the cover letter to this draft ISR, AEA’s plan for completing
this study will be included in the final ISR filed with FERC on June 3, 2014.
Highlighted
Results and
Achievements
No results specific to this study have been obtained as of this ISR.
INITIAL STUDY REPORT THE FUTURE WATANA RESERVOIR
FISH COMMUNITY AND RISK OF ENTRAINMENT STUDY (9.10)
Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project Alaska Energy Authority
FERC Project No. 14241 Page 1 February 2014 Draft
1. INTRODUCTION
On December 14, 2012, Alaska Energy Authority (AEA) filed with the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) its Revised Study Plan (RSP) for the Susitna-
Watana Hydroelectric Project No. 14241 (Project), which included 58 individual study plans
(AEA 2012). Included within the RSP was the Future Watana Reservoir Fish Community and
Risk of Entrainment Study, Section 9.10. Study 9.10 focuses on understanding the relationship
among Project design, operations, lacustrine habitat, and the potential fish community in the
proposed Watana Reservoir.
On February 1, 2013, FERC staff issued its study plan determination (February 1 SPD) for 44 of
the 58 studies, approving 31 studies as filed and 13 with modifications. RSP Section 9.10 was
one of the 13 approved with modifications. In its February 1 SPD, FERC recommended the
following:
We recommend modifying AEA’s proposed evaluation of the potential to establish viable
populations of anadromous salmonids upstream of the project, specified in task 4 of
section 9.10.4.2, to include evaluation of the production potential for Chinook, sockeye,
chum, and coho salmon in reservoir and riverine habitats upstream of the dam.
In accordance with the February 1 SPD, AEA has adopted the FERC requested modifications.
Following the first study season, FERC’s regulations for the Integrated Licensing Process (ILP)
require AEA to “prepare and file with the Commission an initial study report describing its
overall progress in implementing the study plan and schedule and the data collected, including an
explanation of any variance from the study plan and schedule.” (18 CFR 5.15(c)(1)) This Initial
Study Report (ISR) on Future Watana Reservoir Fish Community and Risk of Entrainment has
been prepared in accordance with FERC’s ILP regulations and details AEA’s status in
implementing the study, as set forth in the FERC-approved RSP as modified by FERC’s
February 1 SPD (collectively referred to herein as the “Study Plan”).
2. STUDY OBJECTIVES
As described in RSP Section 9.10, the overarching goal of this study is to predict the fish
community that will develop in the Project reservoir based on the existing species and the habitat
that will be created in the inundation zone, and to characterize the potential loss from
entrainment.
Specific objectives include the following:
1. Develop scenarios for anticipated daily and seasonal changes in reservoir habitat
characteristics based on predicted reservoir operations, size, temperatures, and water
quality and depth profiles.
2. Develop scenarios for future reservoir fish communities based on current fish species
composition upstream of the proposed dam site and enhancement potential for select
INITIAL STUDY REPORT THE FUTURE WATANA RESERVOIR
FISH COMMUNITY AND RISK OF ENTRAINMENT STUDY (9.10)
Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project Alaska Energy Authority
FERC Project No. 14241 Page 2 February 2014 Draft
salmon species incorporating anticipated daily and seasonal changes in reservoir habitat
characteristics.
3. Characterize potential management options including recreational, commercial, and
subsistence uses of the reservoir fishery.
4. Conduct a qualitative desktop analysis on the potential for entrainment of fish species
inhabiting the proposed reservoir upstream of Watana Dam.
3. STUDY AREA
As described in RSP Section 9.10.3, the study area (Figure 3-1) encompasses all portions of the
basin to be inundated by the proposed Watana Reservoir up to the maximum reservoir water
surface elevation to be determined during finalization of design and operational scenarios.
4. METHODS AND VARIANCES IN 2013
As explained in the Study Plan (RSP Section 9.10), this study is highly interrelated to ongoing
operations modeling work, and several other studies in AEA’s licensing program provide
necessary input information for the initiation of this study. These other studies, which include the
Water Quality Modeling Study (Study 5.6), Study of Fish Distribution and Abundance in the
Upper Susitna River (Study 9.5), Study of Fish Passage Feasibility at Watana Dam (Study 9.11),
and Recreation Resources Study (Study 12.5), are ongoing as of this ISR. As a result, a variance
occurred in this study because AEA did not initiate this study in late 2013 as contemplated in the
Study Plan (RSP Section 9.10.6). AEA will fulfill study objectives by incorporating results from
these other studies during the next study season.
5. RESULTS
While there are no results to report for this specific study, AEA made considerable progress in
gathering data from other licensing studies that will be used in completion of this study [as
described in ISR Studies Water Quality Modeling (Study 5.6), Fish Distribution and Abundance
in the Upper Susitna River (Study 9.5), Fish Passage Feasibility at Watana Dam (Study 9.11) and
Recreation Resources (Study12.5)].
6. DISCUSSION
Implementation of Study 9.10 was rescheduled to begin during the next year of study.
Rescheduling of the study is not expected to affect the ability to meet study objectives.
The Future Watana Reservoir Fish Community and Risk of Entrainment Study is interrelated
with the Project design and at least five other AEA Project studies, all of which made
considerable progress in 2013 in developing data that will be used to complete this study, as
identified below:
INITIAL STUDY REPORT THE FUTURE WATANA RESERVOIR
FISH COMMUNITY AND RISK OF ENTRAINMENT STUDY (9.10)
Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project Alaska Energy Authority
FERC Project No. 14241 Page 3 February 2014 Draft
• Water Quality Modeling (ISR Study 5.6):
o The Environmental Fluid Dynamics Code modelling approach was selected for
modeling reservoir and downstream water quality.
o The reservoir water quality model has been built and tested using the 1984
historical inflow and a corresponding load following outflow that includes an
approximately 45 meter variation in pool level.
o The model includes 20 vertical layers. Preliminary temperature simulations for
ice-free conditions indicated the 20 layer configuration adequately represents
vertical stratification.
• Operations Modeling (ISR Study 8.5.4.3.2):
o A reservoir operations model was developed using HEC-ResSim Version 3.0.
o The HEC-ResSim model will provide results for simulated reservoir elevation
under alternative operational scenarios.
o A 61-year hydrologic record of monthly inflows to Watana Reservoir was
synthesized.
• Fish Distribution and Abundance in the Upper Susitna River (ISR Study 9.5):
o Over 12,600 fish observed from sampling at over 150 sites. Individuals from nine
species were observed: Chinook salmon, Arctic grayling, burbot, Dolly Varden,
lake trout, longnose sucker, sculpin, humpback whitefish, and round whitefish.
o Over 1,300 fish were tagged for biotelemetry studies of fish movement.
o Juvenile Chinook salmon are rare in the Upper River.
o Juvenile Chinook salmon were documented in the Black River, Oshetna River,
Kosina Creek, and other tributaries.
o A relatively high abundance of Arctic grayling and Dolly Varden were observed
in Watana Creek.
• Fish Passage at Watana Dam (ISR Study 9.11):
o Biological, physical, and engineering information was compiled.
o A site visit by the passage technical committee occurred.
• Recreation Resources (ISR Study 12.5):
o Regional sportfishing harvest information from ADF&G was compiled and
reported several sites in the Upper River with a low level of use (fewer than 30
annual responses to user surveys).
AEA expects that the implementation of the above listed studies will inform the implementation
of this study during the next year of study.
7. COMPLETING THE STUDY
[As explained in the cover letter to this draft ISR, AEA’s plan for completing this study will be
included in the final ISR filed with FERC on June 3, 2014.]
INITIAL STUDY REPORT THE FUTURE WATANA RESERVOIR
FISH COMMUNITY AND RISK OF ENTRAINMENT STUDY (9.10)
Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project Alaska Energy Authority
FERC Project No. 14241 Page 4 February 2014 Draft
8. LITERATURE CITED
AEA. (Alaska Energy Authority) 2012. Revised Study Plan: Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric
Project, FERC Project No. 14241. December 2012. Prepared for the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C.
9. FIGURES
INITIAL STUDY REPORT THE FUTURE WATANA RESERVOIR FISH COMMUNITY AND RISK OF ENTRAINMENT (9.10)
Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project Alaska Energy Authority
FERC Project No. 14241 Page 5 February 2014 Draft
Figure 3-1. Map of study area for Future Watana Reservoir Fish Community and Risk of Entrainment Study.