WRIA 62 WMP 032305 - Washington State Department of Ecology

March, 2005 -49- 023-1289-003.3040
The lake is scheduled to be held at 2,055 ft amsl between November 15, 2004 and March 31, 2005.
The 2004 Biological Opinion for the Columbia River Power System (which includes the Pend Oreille
River system) will establish the schedule for Lake Pend Oreille elevations. A schedule of two or
three years high (i.e. 2,055 ft amsl) followed by one year low (2,051 ft amsl) is being considered.
The schedule for Lake Pend Oreille elevation will be confirmed on an annual basis by the Technical
Management Team (TMT). The TMT was established by the 2000 Biological Opinion by the
National Marine Fisheries Service and the US Fish and Wildlife Service to advise the operating
agencies on dam and reservoir operations. Additional information on the TMT is provided in Section
4.1.4.4.1.
4.1.4.1.2 FERC Licensed Dams
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) licensing is required of all non-federal hydroelectric
power projects that affect navigable waters, occupy U.S. lands, use water or hydropower at a
government dam, or affect the interests of interstate commerce. FERC licenses are issued for periods
between 30-50 years. After an initial FERC license expiration, interim yearly permits may be issued
until the facility completes relicensing. Following the relicensing process, another 30-50 year permit
is issued. Depending on the relicense process selected, there may be an opportunity for stakeholders
to become involved during relicensing and have an impact on how the projects are operated and the
mitigation and enhancement measures taken by the operator to achieve a new license. Considering
flood control in WRIA 62, the most important FERC licensed dams are Box Canyon Dam and
Boundary Dam.
4.1.4.1.2.1 Box Canyon Dam
Box Canyon Dam (FERC project 2042) is located at RM 34.4, 2.5 miles north of the town of Ione.
Box Canyon Dam is owned and operated by the Pend Oreille Public Utility District (PUD) No. 1 and
has been licensed by FERC since 1952. Box Canyon is being operated on annual licenses since
expiration of the original FERC license in February 2002. The PUD is currently working towards a
long term FERC license.
With very little active storage capacity (about 60,000 AF), Box Canyon is essentially a run-of-theriver
project. The Box Canyon reservoir (and project) extends 56.6 miles along the Pend Oreille
River to downstream of the Albeni Falls Dam during normal operations. According to its FERC
license, Box Canyon Dam is operated with two mandatory constraints at Pend Oreille River flows of
less than about 90,000 cfs when the dam gates are in place and the dam has control of river
elevations:
1. Operations at Box Canyon will not result in greater than two feet of backwater at Albeni Falls
Dam; and,
2. Operations at Box Canyon will not result in an elevation greater than 2041 ft amsl at USGS
Cusick gage at river mile 70.1.
The first constraint is in place to minimize head loss at Albeni Falls Dam and the latter constraint is in
place to minimize flooding in the town of Cusick and the Calispell Valley.
In addition, the PUD has placed the following informal constraint on its operations that it expects to
be included in its new long term license. The purpose of this constraint is to reduce the potential for
river bank sloughing caused by rapid dewatering of the banks along the Box Canyon reservoir.
WRIA 62 WMP 032305