Middle Fork Project Entrainment Direct Sampling Approach (Contingency Study) September 8, 2008

Study Objectives Sample Reservoir Fish Distribution and Abundance French Meadows and Hell Hole Reservoir Tunnel Deep Water Intakes Directly Sample Entrainment Ralston Afterbay, Middle Fork Interbay, and Duncan Diversion Sample Young-of-the-year Fish Abundance and Timing Duncan Creek

Study Area Small Stream Diversion Duncan Creek Deep Water Intakes French Meadows Reservoir Hell Hole Reservoir Shallow Water Intakes Middle Fork Interbay Ralston Afterbay

Study Approach Fish Distribution and Abundance near Deep Water Intake Structures (French Meadows and Hell Hole Reservoirs) French Meadows-Hell Hole Tunnel & Hell Hole-Middle Fork Tunnel Intakes Sample during four representative time periods spring, early summer, late summer, and fall Use single beam sonar to sample Number, elevation (depth), and relative size of fish throughout water column Sample a minimum of four 200 meter transects Day and Night samples, at least one hour total effort each

Hell Hole and French Meadows Reservoirs Hell Hole-Middle Fork Tunnel Outlet Depth 229 feet (93-313) Avg Depth Dam Outlet Works Depth 263 feet (127-347) Avg Depth French Meadows-Hell Hole Tunnel Intake 102 feet (43-149) Avg Depth Dam Instream Flow Outlet 151 feet (92-198) Avg Depth Dam Low Level Outlet 169 Feet (110-216) Avg Depth All Numbers Are Preliminary and Subject to Change -- Do Not Cite

Study Approach Continued… Direct Sampling for Entrainment at Middle Fork Interbay and Ralston Afterbay Middle Fork Interbay Dam – Down Stream Side Ralston Afterbay Intake Structure

Middle Fork Interbay and Ralston Afterbay cont… Use split-beam sonar array (3 sonars) to identify number and relative size of fish potentially entrained Fix sonar array to the inside of the trash racks of the tunnel intakes Install and maintain equipment from ~Feb - Nov 2009 (process ~ 120 days of data) Sonar array will ensonify approximately 50% of the tunnel intake openings

Middle Fork Interbay and Ralston Afterbay Sampling cont… Acoustic Beams Inside Intake Structure Trash Rack Transducers Inside Trash Rack Example of a Transducer Middle Fork Interbay and Ralston Afterbay Sampling cont… Picture Illustrating the Hydroacoustic Sampling Design at Ralston - Oxbow Tunnel Inlet Structure.

Middle Fork Interbay and Ralston Afterbay Sampling cont… General Schematic Illustrating the Orientation of Acoustic Beam and Sample Volume at Each Intake Intake Acoustic Beam Trash Rack Flow Normal Upper Pool Level Normal Lower Pool Level Transducer Intake Side View Intake Front View

Middle Fork Interbay and Ralston Afterbay Sampling cont… Reservoir Water Levels Sonar equipment will be turned off if reservoir water surface elevations in the reservoirs drop below the equipment (equipment is damaged if it is not submerged) Data collection will resume once water surface elevations increase above the equipment

Middle Fork Interbay and Ralston Afterbay Sampling cont… Data Processing Process a maximum of 120 days of data at each intake Every 6th day of data (60 days total) Review data & process up to a max of 60 additional days of data at each intake Collaboratively determine additional sampling with the Aquatic TG (e.g., when entrainment is variable) Correct entrainment estimates for the percent of the intake actually ensonified Calculate actual percent ensonified after installation of the sonar arrays.

Middle Fork Interbay and Ralston Afterbay Sampling cont… Direction of fish travel and depth analysis Direction of fish travel is translated into a compass angle Fish traveling at angles towards the intakes and at the depth of the intake are assumed to be entrained

Direction of Travel Intake Entrainment Quadrant (Top View) Cross-section of Acoustic Beams Trash Rack Flow 45 270 180 225 135 90 315 Entrainment Quadrant (angles 0-45° & 315-360°)

Direction of Travel (cont.) 0-45° 315-360°

Depth and Direction of Travel Determine Entrainment Risk (example) Number of fish at risk of entrainment Hypothetical depth of intake

Study Approach Continued Sampling for Entrainment at Duncan Creek Use Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tags Sample one diversion season (winter through early summer) Duncan Creek Diversion Dam Tunnel Intake

Duncan Creek Sampling cont… PIT Tags Sample for 5 days or 1000 trout (Oct – Nov 2008) 0 to 2 miles above diversion Tag >=60 mm juvenile/adult fish 12.5 mm tags

Duncan Creek Sampling cont… Install Tag Reader into Diversion Intake (Nov 2008) Calibrate Reader beginning, middle, and end of diversion season Minimum of 10 tags through reader each time Monitor reader through winter (visits or satellite telemetry) One of largest antenna openings Biomark has made (5’x 6.6’) Example 17’ x 4’ antenna installation. Example side-by-side 5’ x 5’ antennas.

Duncan Creek Sampling cont… Hydrology “Passive” Diversion ... when flows exceed ~8 cfs water goes through the tunnel.

Duncan Creek Sampling cont… Other Necessary Equipment Propane generator Propane tank Electronics box Satellite Transponder Propane Generator Electronics Box Propane Tank

Duncan Creek Sampling cont… Young-of-the-Year (YOY) Timing and Abundance Sample upstream of the diversion Sample on four occasions in May and June

Duncan Creek Sampling cont… Assumptions and Permits Antenna can be constructed that will work (size, metal interference, etc.) and be protected from damage or malfunction through the winter/spring (i.e.,difficult access) A USFS special use permit (propane, generator, etc.), if needed, and CDFG permits for PIT tagging can be obtained. PIT tag sampling, YOY timing and abundance upstream of the diversion (May and June), and fish population and other data (literature) will provide sufficient information to evaluate entrainment. Successful completion of the PIT tag study depends on the above assumptions. If the assumptions cannot be met, then PCWA will not be held responsible for completing the study.

North and South Forks Long Canyon Creek Entrainment Data Available Duncan Creek Entrainment Sampling Fish population data above and below diversion Similar populations above and below (based on data to date) Many YOY (not YOY recruitment limited?) Resident trout, relatively small size about 22.5 cm West Panther Creek and literature movement data Hydrology/Temperature 5 months of extremely low flows <1 cfs limiting factor for fish population Short diversion season (limited summer diversion) Lower Long Canyon warm temperature Existing barriers above and below diversions Limited recreational fishery

Hydrology North Fork & South Fork Long Canyon Creek ~5 Months Low Natural Flows (no diversion) ~30% time flows less than 1 cfs South Fork 90% Exceedance 0.45 cfs North Fork 90% Exceedance 0.25 cfs Diversions Typically End Early Summer Flow pattern similar to Duncan Creek, but low lower magnitude

North Fork Long Canyon Creek Summer/Fall flow Below Diversion: NFLC 1.9 Above Diversion: NFLC 3.8

South Fork Long Canyon Creek Summer/Fall Flow Below Diversion: SFLC 2.3 Above Diversion: SFLC 4.2

North Fork Long Canyon South Fork Long Canyon

North Fork Long Canyon South Fork Long Canyon

Duncan Creek

Temperature

Fish Data Fish Distribution in North and South Forks Long Canyon Creek Above and Below Diversions

Density and Biomass of Trout Above and Below Small Diversions

Density and Biomass of Trout Above and Below Small Diversions

Age, Growth Rates, and Size of Trout

Direct Sampling and New FERC License Collaboration Schedule