Biological Opinions - Bureau of Reclamation

fish disease, die off, entrainment, dispersal, or migration. Water quality concerns or other
ecological issues that arise during spring/summer may also prompt deviation from the formulaic
distribution system. Any time a deviation from this approach is proposed, the process detailed in
Section 4.3.4 (Implementing Environmental Water Account Management) of Reclamation’s BA,
will be followed. As part of the Environmental Water Management process and protocol,
deviations from the formulaic approach to EWA distribution will be evaluated to ensure the
action will not result in effects to listed species greater than those analyzed in this BiOp.
During real-time operations of the proposed action, Reclamation may identify the need to deviate
from the formulaic calculation of IGD releases due to safety or operational constraints. If the
deviation under real-time operations is expected to result in lower magnitude peak flows below
IGD than calculated under the proposed action, Reclamation will ensure that the calculated daily
average peak flow magnitude is achieved. If there is uncertainty associated with the daily peak
flow magnitude at IGD, Reclamation will implement flows that are reasonably certain to exceed
the calculated peak flow at IGD under the proposed action (Reclamation 2013b).
Upon conclusion of a peak flow event, Reclamation will evaluate whether deviating from the
formulaic calculations resulted in the release of additional water from UKL to achieve the
calculated peak flow at IGD. If additional water is released from UKL in the October through
February period to achieve a calculated peak flow at IGD (resulting in a lower end of February
UKL elevation), the March 1st UKL Supply will be calculated as if the additional volume of
water remained in UKL, and this volume of water will be subtracted from the Project Supply. If
additional water is released from UKL to achieve a calculated peak flow at IGD in the March
through September period, the additional volume of water released will be counted against the
Project Supply. However, if the additional water release occurs prior to June 1st, and the UKL
Supply recalculation increases on May 1st or June 1st, the Project Supply will increase
accordingly up to the amount of the additional water release, prior to increasing the EWA
(Reclamation 2013b).
4.2.3.2.5 Yurok Tribal Boat Dance Ceremony
As a deviation from the EWA implementation, Reclamation proposes to increase flows to the
Klamath River in late August or early September to support the Yurok Tribal Boat Dance
Ceremony. Typically, the Yurok Tribe has requested increased flows at IGD on even calendar
years to ensure adequate flow and depth to support boat dance activities. The volume of water
required for the ceremony is estimated to be between 2,000 and 4,000 acre-feet depending on
real-time hydrologic conditions. The volume of water required to increase IGD releases for the
purpose of the boat dance ceremonies will not affect the EWA volume.
4.2.3.2.6 Project Supply
The Project Supply is calculated monthly from March through June, based on available UKL
Supply as follows:
Project Supply = [UKL Supply] – [EWA]
The Project Supply can increase or decrease in April relative to the initial calculation on March 1
based on changes to available UKL Supply; however, the April 1 calculation establishes the
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