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Enhancing Montana's River Ecosystem: Biop Litigation Strategies for Fish Conservation

This document outlines key strategies for improving ecosystem conditions in Montana's rivers and reservoirs, emphasizing the necessity of minimizing impacts on fish populations during dry water years. It explores implementation of the Council’s Mainstem recommendations for the Libby and Hungry Horse dams, focusing on adjusting flow levels to maintain stable river conditions. The discussions also highlight the biological benefits expected from these modifications, particularly for resident fish populations and the downstream survival of anadromous fish species.

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Enhancing Montana's River Ecosystem: Biop Litigation Strategies for Fish Conservation

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  1. Flow Meeting 2004 Biop Litigation September 29, 2005 Jim Litchfield Montana

  2. Montana’s Interests • Provide improved ecosystem conditions in Montana’s rivers and reservoirs • Minimize any potential impacts on fish in the Lower Columbia in driest water years • Implement Council’s Mainstem recommendations for Libby and Horse • Evaluate – to the extent possible – the biological and physical effects of changes

  3. Background • Since the 95 Biop Libby and Hungry Horse have been drafted in ways that cause maximum impacts on fish in Montana • Both reservoirs have been drafted down 20 feet by 8/31 • The drafts were typically in August to backfill Grand Coulee • MT has sought the summer drafts to be limited to 5 feet from full – similar to GCL • In negotiating the Council’s Mainstem Amendments a compromise was reached at 20 feet in dry 20% and 10 feet otherwise

  4. Provide stable flows in Montana during July, August and September Draft Libby & Horse 20 feet from full by end of September – driest 20% Adjust flows gradually in response to changes in actual inflows Follow ramp rates and minimum flows for bull trout Montana’s SORs

  5. Forecast Biop Flows in 2004

  6. Summer Flows at Libby

  7. Summer Flows at Libby

  8. Summer Flows at Libby

  9. Summer Flows at Horse

  10. Summer Flows at Horse

  11. Summer Flows at Horse

  12. ISAB Recommendations • Resident fish influenced by Hungry Horse and Libby may receive important biological benefits from the flow modifications, assuming they are carried out as planned. • It is almost certain that the general productivity in the Montana reservoirs and in the immediate downstream reaches will benefit considerably. • Effects of the Council’s Mainstem Amendment on the survival of juvenile and adult anadromous fish in the Columbia River below Chief Joseph Dam will be immeasurable.

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