1. COLUMBIA RIVER SYSTEM OVERVIEW
BRAZILIAN DELEGATION COLUMBIA RIVER STUDY TOUR
COLUMBIA RIVER SYSTEM OVERVIEW By
Jim Barton
Chief, Columbia Basin Water Management Division U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Northwestern Division
Portland, Oregon May 2009

2. Presentation Topics Physical Characteristics
Operational Considerations
Coordination

5. COLUMBIA RIVER SYSTEM HYDRO PLANT ELEVATIONS

6. AND USABLE RESERVOIR STORAGE
AVERAGE ANNUAL RUNOFF
AND USABLE RESERVOIR STORAGE
MAJOR WESTERN RIVER BASINS
250
240
230
220
210
200
190
180
170
Average Annual Runoff
160
150
Usable Reservoir Storage
MILLIONS OF ACRE FEET
140
130
120
110
100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10
Columbia
Colorado
Missouri
RIVER BASINS

7. Natural & Regulated Flows

8. Characteristics 4th Largest river in North America
Most powerful (35,000 MW total capacity)
Drainage area = 259,000 mi2 (669,500 km2) 219,000 (84% in 7 US states) + 39,500 (Canada)
Source in British Columbia, Canada; L= 1,214 mi. (1,950 km)
Major Sub-basins: Kootenay, Pend d’Oreille; Snake; Willamette
Climate: winter (wet, mild); summer (dry, warm)
Precip: 6 – 180” (1500 – 4600 mm); max. in winter
Snow: 400” (10,000 mm) in fall - early spring
Evaporation: 35 – 55” (900-1,400mm)
Runoff and Streamflow:
Eastern Basin = snow; Western = rain)
Discharge: Avg 275 kcfs (7,787 m3/s); Vol.: 198 maf (244 km3)
Highest recorded flow: (1894): 1,240 kfs (35,113 m3/s)

9. Indicates total flood control space available,
Minimum Elevation,
same as draft for flood control in
wet year (1997) 4
Indicates total flood control space available,
in million acre-feet
Comparison of space available
for system flood control storage
1.3 3 5
3.2 5 2 1
Total space available
for flood control:
Total active storage:
24.5 MAF
45 MAF 9

10. Operational Considerations
Projects within basin are operated as a system to meet regional needs for hydropower, flood risk management, etc.
System is operated for multiple purposes that can conflict with each other
Ex. Flood risk management requires lower reservoirs in winter and spring to store flood waters; fisheries requires reservoirs to be higher
Environmental and fisheries requirements have increased significantly in recent years due to Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, and other factors.
Infrastructure within the system is aging (average age is about 35 years), budget for improvements is constrained (spillways, gates, powerplants, etc.)
Awareness, interest, involvement, and expectations of stakeholders has grown significantly
Given all of these factors, operational flexibility is much more limited than in past

11. Multiple Purposes Hydropower Fish & Wildlife Irrigation Recreation
Mission Statement – The Civil Works Integration Division develops, defends and manages the Civil Works Program.
FY07 program – about $750 million
Point to make: Multiple water users, multiple interests; a challenge to keep balance to maximum greatest food for greatest number of people.
Recreation
Flood Damage
Reduction
Navigation

12. Endangered Species Act Operation
Oregon
Idaho
River
Willamette
Washington
Col um
bia
Pacific
Ocean
John Day
The Dalles
McNary
Chief
Joseph
Hungry Horse
Ice Harbor
Lower
Monumental
Little
Goose
Lower Granite
Dworshak
Montana
Libby
Albeni
Falls
Grand Coulee
Bonneville
Hells Canyon
Oxbow
Brownlee
Chum Salmon
Chinook Salmon
Steelhead
Sockeye Salmon
White Sturgeon
Bull Trout
Priest Rapids
Rock Island
Rocky Reach
Wells

13. River Flows for Multi Purpose Operations Scenarios13

14. OPERATIONS TIMELINE L I B Y H H U O N R G S R E Y A F L A B L E L N S
OPERATE TO CHUM
FLOW OBJECTIVES
OPERATE TO VERNITA BAR FLOW OBJECTIVES
OPERATE TO VERNITA BAR
FLOW OBJECTIVES
REFILL
FOR
KOKANEE
OPERATE TO PRIEST RAPIDS
OPERATE TO MCNARY SPRING
OPERATE TO MCNARY
SUMMER
Variable Draft limits
(Fish VECC)
BURBOT
FLOW
REQUEST
MINIMUM FLOW OR FLOOD CONTROL
BURBOT FLOW
OPERATE TO BULL TROUT
FLOW OBJECTIVES
OPERATE TO SALMON
POWER DRAFT
OPERATE TO STURGEON L I B Y
MINIMUM FLOW FOR COLUMBIA FALLS
OPERATE TO MCNARY
SUMMER FLOW OBJECTIVES
H H
U O
N R
G S
R E Y
SPRING FLOW OBJECTIVES
MINIMUM FLOW OR FLOOD CONTROL
Variable Draft Limits
(Fish VECC)
Draft To Winter Flood Control Elevation
A F
L A
B L
E L
N S I
Refill
Winter Flood Control Elevation
Full for Summer Recreation
Winter Flood Control Elevation
G C
R O
A U
N L
D E E
MINIMUM FLOW OR
FLOOD CONTROL
OPERATE TO LOWER GRANITE
SPRING
FLOW OBJECTIVES D W O R S H A K
MINIMUM FLOW OR FLOOD CONTROL
SUMMER
NOV
MAY
OCT
DEC
SEP
AUG
JUL
JUN
APR
MAR
FEB
JAN

15. Coordination
Integrated water resource management approach used in coordinating system planning and operation
Extensive coordination required to plan and operate system given multiple purposes, objectives, and interested parties (two countries, multiple states)
Examples of coordination groups:
Columbia River Treaty
Pacific Northwest Coordination Agreement
Technical Management Team

16. Columbia River Treaty Organization
CANADIAN GOVERNMENT
Ministry of External Affairs
Ministry of Natural Resources
BRITISH COLUMBIA
GOVERNMENT
UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT
Department of State
Department of Energy
Department of Army
TREATY
PERMANENT ENGINEERING BOARD *
CANADIAN UNITED STATES
CANADIAN
ENTITY *
United States
ENTITY *
PEB ENGINEERING COMMITTEE
***
CANADIAN UNITED STATES
CANADIAN
COORDINATOR
&
SECRETARY **
United States
COORDINATOR
&
SECRETARY **
OPERATING COMMITTEE **
CANADIAN UNITED STATES
HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL COMMITTEE **
CANADIAN UNITED STATES
* Established by TREATY ** Established by ENTITY *** Established by PEB

17. Pacific Northwest Coordination Agreement – Northwest Power Pool

18. Regional Fisheries Implementation Organization
BLM
USFWS
NMFS
(CHAIR)
BIA
CORPS
USFS
USBR
FEDERAL EXECUTIVES
NPPC
BPA
STATES
TRIBES
Independent
Scientific
Advisory Board
EPA
IMPLEMENTATION TEAM (IT)
SYSTEM CONFIGURATION
TEAM (SCT)
WATER QUALITY TEAM (WQT)
TECHNICAL MANAGEMENT
TEAM (TMT)

19. Summary
Columbia River is a very important resource in the regional in terms of economic development, environmental sustainability, and other areas.
Columbia River is operated as a system to meet multiple purposes
Operating requirements have become more difficult to implement as increasing demands are being placed on the river
Good coordination, communication, and working relations among the various parties involved are one of the major keys to success

20. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Northwestern Division Portland, Oregon
The End
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Northwestern Division Portland, Oregon