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Home My WebLink AboutSuWa223sec9-15ptAAlaska Resources Library & Information Services Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project Document ARLIS Uniform Cover Page Title: Analysis of fish harvest in and downstream of the Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project area, Study plan Section 9.15 : Initial study report -- Part A: Sections 1-6, 8 SuWa 223 Author(s) – Personal: Author(s) – Corporate: R2 Resource Consultants, Inc. AEA-identified category, if specified: Initial study report AEA-identified series, if specified: Series (ARLIS-assigned report number): Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project document number 223 Existing numbers on document: Published by: [Anchorage : Alaska Energy Authority, 2014] Date published: June 2014 Published for: Alaska Energy Authority Date or date range of report: Volume and/or Part numbers: Final or Draft status, as indicated: Document type: Pagination: ii, 3 p. Related work(s): The following parts of Section 9.15 appear in separate files: Part A ; Part B ; Part C. 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) Analysis of Fish Harvest in and Downstream of the Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project Area Study Plan Section 9.15 Initial Study Report Part A: Sections 1-6, 8 Prepared for Alaska Energy Authority Prepared by R2 Resource Consultants, Inc. June 2014 INITIAL STUDY REPORT ANALYSIS OF FISH HARVEST IN AND DOWNSTREAM OF THE SUSITNA-WATANA HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT AREA (9.15) Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project Alaska Energy Authority FERC Project No. 14241 Part A - Page i June 2014 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 1 2. Study Objectives................................................................................................................ 1 3. Study Area ......................................................................................................................... 1 4. Methods and Variances in 2013 ....................................................................................... 2 4.1. Variances from Study Plan ............................................................................... 2 5. Results ................................................................................................................................ 2 6. Discussion........................................................................................................................... 2 7. Completing the Study ....................................................................................................... 2 8. Literature Cited ................................................................................................................ 3 INITIAL STUDY REPORT ANALYSIS OF FISH HARVEST IN AND DOWNSTREAM OF THE SUSITNA-WATANA HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT AREA (9.15) Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project Alaska Energy Authority FERC Project No. 14241 Part A - Page ii June 2014 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 PRM project river mile Project Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project RM river mile RSP Revised Study Plan SPD Study Plan Determination INITIAL STUDY REPORT ANALYSIS OF FISH HARVEST IN AND DOWNSTREAM OF THE SUSITNA-WATANA HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT AREA (9.15) Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project Alaska Energy Authority FERC Project No. 14241 Part A - Page 1 June 2014 1. INTRODUCTION On December 14, 2012, Alaska Energy Authority (AEA) filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) its Revised Study Plan (RSP), which included 58 individual study plans (AEA 2012). Section 9.15 of the RSP described the Analysis of Fish Harvest In and Downstream of the Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project Area. This study focuses on compiling and analyzing baseline information on the harvests of resident and anadromous fishes in and downstream of the proposed Project area to understand the potential for Project construction and operation to alter harvest levels and opportunity. RSP Section 9.15 provided goals, objectives, and proposed methods for data collection regarding the analysis of these fish harvests. On February 1, 2013, FERC staff issued its study determination (February 1 SPD) for 44 of the 58 studies, approving 31 studies as filed and 13 with modifications. RSP Section 9.15 was one of the 31 studies approved with no 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 Analysis of Fish Harvest In and Downstream of the Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project Area has been prepared in accordance with FERC’s ILP regulations and details AEA’s status in implementing the study, as set forth in the RSP approved by FERC’s February 1 SPD (referred to herein as the “Study Plan”). 2. STUDY OBJECTIVES The goal of this study is to compile and analyze baseline information on the harvests of resident and anadromous fishes in and downstream of the proposed Project area to understand the potential for Project construction and operation to alter harvest levels and opportunity. This study has two primary objectives: 1) Describe baseline harvest levels and harvest locations for commercial, sport, personal use, and subsistence fisheries for Susitna-River-origin resident and anadromous fish. 2) Describe the potential for the Project to alter harvest levels and opportunities on Susitna- River-origin resident and anadromous fish based on potential Project-induced changes in fish abundance and distribution from flow- and habitat-related changes as estimated from other Project studies. 3. STUDY AREA As established by RSP Section 9.15.3, the study area includes the Susitna River from its mouth upstream to and including the Oshetna River (Project river mile [PRM] 235.1; historic river mile [RM] 233.4). The study area includes tributaries that are connected to the mainstem of the INITIAL STUDY REPORT ANALYSIS OF FISH HARVEST IN AND DOWNSTREAM OF THE SUSITNA-WATANA HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT AREA (9.15) Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project Alaska Energy Authority FERC Project No. 14241 Part A - Page 2 June 2014 Susitna River and marine waters of Upper Cook Inlet where anadromous fish species originating from the Susitna River are intercepted in commercial fisheries north of the latitude of Anchor Point (59° 46.15’ N. lat.). 4. METHODS AND VARIANCES IN 2013 This Study Plan was not implemented in 2013. However, the Study Plan only required two components to be completed in 2013, with the remainder of the study implemented during the next study season (RSP Section 9.15.10). 4.1. Variances from Study Plan The Study Plan required two components of the study—compilation of harvest and effort statistics and apportionment of commercial harvest using genetics—to be undertaken in 2013 (RSP Section 9.15.10). These components have been rescheduled for the next study year. AEA will meet the study objectives by completing the entire study in one study season. This approach has the benefit of allowing the results of genetics studies being conducted by ADF&G to be incorporated into the study as part of the primary data compilation. 5. RESULTS There are no results to report for this study. 6. DISCUSSION As described in RSP Section 9.15, evaluating the potential for flow- and habitat-related changes to alter harvest rates for Susitna River fishery resources will require an integration of the results from multiple studies, consisting of the following: Geomorphology Study (ISR Study 6.5), Study of Fish Passage Barriers in the Middle and Upper Susitna River and Susitna Tributaries (ISR Study 9.12), Study of Fish Distribution and Abundance in the Upper Susitna River (ISR Study 9.5), Study of Fish Distribution and Abundance in the Middle and Lower Susitna River (ISR Study 9.6), Eulachon Run Timing, Distribution, and Spawning in the Susitna River Study (ISR Study 9.16), Fish and Aquatics Instream Flow Study (ISR Study 8.5), and Salmon Escapement Study (ISR Study 9.7). These other studies are ongoing and will inform the implementation and analysis of results for this study. 7. COMPLETING THE STUDY [Section 7 appears in the Part C section of this ISR.] INITIAL STUDY REPORT ANALYSIS OF FISH HARVEST IN AND DOWNSTREAM OF THE SUSITNA-WATANA HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT AREA (9.15) Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project Alaska Energy Authority FERC Project No. 14241 Part A - Page 3 June 2014 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 by the Alaska Energy Authority, Anchorage.” Published online at: http://www.susitna-watanahydro.org/study-plan.