Biological Opinions - Bureau of Reclamation

O&M activities are carried out either by Reclamation or the appropriate irrigation district, based
on whether the facility is a reserved or transferred work, respectively. Operation of non-Federal
facilities by non-Federal parties is not included as part of this proposed action.
4.3.1 Dams and Reservoirs
4.3.1.1 Exercising of Dam Gates
The gates at Gerber, Clear Lake, Link River, and Lost River Diversion Dams, and the A Canal,
Ady Canal, and Link River Dam headgates are exercised twice annually, before and after each
irrigation season, to be sure they operate properly. The gates are usually exercised between
March 1 to April 15, and October 15 to November 30, and potentially in conjunction with any
emergency or unscheduled repairs. Exercising gates takes from 10 to 30 minutes depending on
the facility. Associated maintenance activities performed when exercising gates at specific
facilities are as follows:
1. Link River Dam is operated by PacifiCorp, and scheduled exercising of the gates does not
occur because the dam is operated continuously. As such, gates are considered exercised
whenever full travel of the gates is achieved. A review of O&M inspection is performed
every 6 years.
2. Clear Lake Dam activities include exercising both the emergency gate and the operation gate.
Depending on reservoir elevations and conditions, water may be discharged to allow for
sediment flushing at the dam face. Flushing requires flows less than or equal to 200 cfs (5.7
m 3 /sec) for approximately 30 minutes. Maintenance occurs once a year, generally in March
or April.
4.3.1.2 Dam Facilities
Dam conduits associated with irrigation facilities typically have an average lifespan of 30 years,
and are replaced on an as-needed basis. O&M activities include land-based observation and
deployment of divers to determine if replacement is necessary. Divers are deployed at Clear
Lake, Gerber Reservoir, and Link River Dam every 6 years prior to the Comprehensive Facilities
Review for inspection of underwater facilities. If replacement is necessary, Reclamation will
evaluate the potential effects to federally listed species and determine if additional ESA
consultation is required.
Design Operation Criteria, which outlines O&M guidelines for facilities maintenance, is required
at Link River Dam, Clear Lake Dam, Gerber Dam, and the Lost River Diversion Channel gates.
The Design Operation Criteria is used to develop Standard Operating Procedures for
Reclamation facilities. The Standard Operating Procedures outline the maintenance procedures,
requirements, and schedule. The activities address the structural, mechanical, and electrical
concerns at each facility. Some of the components of facilities that require maintenance are
typically reviewed outside of the irrigation season and include, but are not limited to, the
following:
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