Biological Opinions - Bureau of Reclamation

Reclamation incorporated the 1981 through 2011 dataset into WRIMS to assess the effects of the
proposed action as it relates to operations on the west side of the Project. WRIMS, formerly
called CALSIM, is a generalized water resources model for evaluating operational alternatives of
large, complex river basins. In previous consultations, the WRIMS model used monthly data
and could only provide output on a monthly time step. For this consultation, a substantial effort
was made to convert the available monthly data into a daily dataset, and upgrade the WRIMS
model to a version that uses daily data and provides output on a daily time step. Daily datasets
compiled and calculated for the new version of the model include UKL net inflow, west side of
the Project historical use, Keno Reservoir accretions, and Keno Dam to IGD accretions.
The version of WRIMS used to model various proposed action scenarios is referred to by
Reclamation (Reclamation 2012) as the Klamath Basin Planning Model (KBPM). The specific
model study of the proposed action is named 2L_MW_7_O, distributed on December 7, 2012.
Although the model is called a planning model, it is also an operational model in the sense that it
provides specific guidance and procedures for management and allocation of water throughout
the water year. The order in which water management procedures are conducted and decisions
made during operation of the proposed action are specifically intended to be the same as those
used in the model. The equations upon which decisions are made during operations are the exact
equations used in the model, and the order in which equations are applied and decisions made are
intended to be the same operationally as in the model.
The KBPM includes data for the west side of the Project, the Williamson River, UKL, and the
Klamath River between Link River Dam and IGD. The KBPM does not explicitly model Clear
Lake, Gerber Reservoir, or the Lost River on the east side of the project. However, the net
effects on the west side of the Project and Klamath River that result from east side operations
and hydrologic conditions are included in the model via the gains and losses from the Lost River
Diversion Channel. The KBPM also does not model operational details for facilities on the
Klamath River, such as IGD or other reservoirs owned and operated by PacifiCorp. Operation of
the west side of the Project was simulated over the POR using daily input data to obtain daily
results for Klamath River flows, Project diversions (including the Lower Klamath NWR), and
UKL elevations and storage. Daily results are converted to 3- or 7-day moving averages or
weekly, monthly, and annual volumes during evaluation of the model results, depending on how
the user chooses to view and use the model output.
Three primary elements derived from the model and included in the proposed action are the
concepts of Project Supply, Environmental Water Account (EWA), and Upper Klamath Lake
Reserve (UKL Reserve). These are defined as follows:
The Project Supply is defined as the volume of water provided from UKL to the
Project for irrigation use between March 1 and September 30 of any given water
year.
The EWA is defined as the volume of water available from UKL to the Klamath
River for instream flow between March 1 and September 30 of any given water
year.
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